What does the Xiaomi 17 really deliver in photography — as one of this year’s flagship phones? How close does it get to the more advanced Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and who is it actually meant for? To find out, I tested it across several European countries, from the Czech Republic to Spain.

Who is the Xiaomi 17 actually for?

Let’s be honest: these non-Ultra models haven’t had it easy in recent years. On one hand, they remain in the shadow of the fame and specs of the top-tier Ultra models—this year the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (review here). On the other hand, they face competition from the highly popular T-series, currently represented by the truly impressive Xiaomi 15T Pro (review here).

In other words: those who want truly maximalist performance usually reach for the stellar Ultra model, while those who insist on a great price/performance ratio usually look toward the T-series. Just a heads-up so we don’t get lost in the generation numbers: to keep pace with iPhones, Xiaomi skipped the 16th generation and jumped from the Xiaomi 15 (Ultra) directly to the Xiaomi 17 (Ultra).

The truth is that models like the Xiaomi 14 or Xiaomi 15 suffered from a slight identity crisis. Although they usually earned praise from reviewers, the background noise remained: for maximum performance, get the maximalist Ultra; for everyday use, the T-series suffices.

And how about this year? The fundamental assessment from the previous paragraph still holds, but at the same time, it’s a fact that the Xiaomi 17 simply makes sense for photography this year. It features a very clever zoom capable of shooting details from as close as 10 cm, which is—firstly—simply useful. And secondly: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra model lost this type of lens, which I personally find a bit disappointing (see below).

In short: here is my detailed review. As usual, I carried the phone in my pocket through daily life, which at the time took me to several European countries including Spain, where I personally attended the official launch of these Xiaomi phones for the European market.

Video: Xiaomi 17 camera test – 11 min in 4K

Xiaomi 17 and Camera – Specifications

Let’s start with an overview of the Xiaomi 17’s photographic gear. As usual, the famous German Leica is signed under the lenses and filters. The camera system bears the official name VARIO-SUMMILUX 1:1.67-2.4/17-60 ASPH.

Xiaomi 17 – Camera: Lenses and Sensors
Main Camera	23mm, 50 Mpx f/1.67, OIS Light Fusion 950 sensor
Telephoto Lens	60mm, 50 Mpx f/2, Samsung JN5 sensor 10cm macro photography
Ultra-wide Lens	17mm, 50 Mpx f/2.4, 102° FOV OV50M sensor
Front Camera	21mm, 50 Mpx f/2.2, 90° FOV

So, what does the table of main parameters tell us about its photographic performance?

It’s a combination of three main lenses/sensors plus a front lens, all of which have 50 Mpx. This is, of course, a significant feature, especially for “lesser” lenses like the ultra-wide—where manufacturers often cut corners.

The main lens will, of course, be the key element—it’s not a so-called one-inch sensor, which is one of the main draws of the higher Ultra models. Even so, it offers very solid performance.

The telephoto lens is also quite crucial here. It offers the ability to shoot details from as close as 10 cm, which experienced photographers will find very useful. Most importantly, it’s a feature that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has lost. Last year’s Xiaomi 15 Ultra model offered two telephoto lenses, one of which allowed for these interesting close-up details. This year’s model lost it. True, it was at the expense of a unique 75-100mm optical zoom. But the base Xiaomi 17 simply has something the Ultra doesn’t.

What’s important to mention: this is not a “lite” version of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, as many might think. Yes, with iPhones and Samsungs it’s often the case—the basic lenses stay the same, and the difference is only in the telephoto. That doesn’t apply here: Xiaomi, as always, goes a different way, and this is a truly distinct model with a different main lens and telephoto lens (though the ultra-wide lens is clearly the same).

The ultra-wide lens is another essential element—mobile manufacturers usually don’t give it as much attention as other components, but here it is a very good tool. And that counts.

Plus, of course: everything happens under the baton of the famous German company Leica, one of the world’s most famous photography brands. For many years, I had the impression that it was a somewhat formal partnership, but this year and last, I had the chance to listen and ask Leica representatives in Barcelona, and I admit: they convinced me again that they take all of this very seriously and it is a relatively deep collaboration.

Leica has a stake in both the optics and the image processing, where they use very similar processes during development to those key to manufacturing those beautiful traditional cameras. Mobile owners thus have a set of popular filters at their disposal that can simulate results with very similar toning to the cameras. I admit, personally I’m not a big fan of these (or any other) filters, but I acknowledge: sometimes it can come in handy.

We will, of course, find a range of special functions here, including manual control in Pro mode, working with RAW files, and various portrait mode tools. This is very important, even though no revolutionary shifts are happening here. The same can be said for video, which is very solid but not revolutionary.

Xiaomi 17 – What I Liked

It’s a likable phone—yes, I admit the word “likable” might sound very unprofessional and empty, yet it truly fits here. The Xiaomi 17 has a likable size (neither too big nor too small), pleasant craftsmanship, a nice design, and it’s pleasant to operate. This simply counts more and more—especially at a time when even manufacturers admit it’s not possible to endlessly improve performance and functions. And a pleasant user experience is what people are interested in more and more.

The performance of the main sensor is very good—yes, we expect top performance from flagships, and yes, reviewers write similar sentences quite often. But that’s how it really is, and expectations are growing. “Shooting very well” with the Xiaomi 14 was simply something different than with the Xiaomi 17. User demands are rising, technology is moving forward. So yes, the essence sounds banal: the main sensor’s performance undoubtedly ranks the Xiaomi 17 among the top phones on the current scene.

Secret weapon: a telephoto lens that can do great details. I’ve already mentioned this “little thing”—from an experienced photographer’s perspective, it’s exceptionally valuable that the telephoto lens (60mm) offers the ability to photograph details even from 10 cm, which has many uses for shooting not just details but various complex scenes. Additionally, we have an f/2 aperture available, which means an elegantly blurred background (see photos and video). I’m a bit hesitant to describe it with the word “macro” as Xiaomi does—true macro in cameras would be created from much closer. But this, in its own way, is more useful.

Secret weapon once more—what the Xiaomi 17 Ultra no longer has. To repeat, this disappointed me a bit this year. Last year’s Xiaomi 15 Ultra had truly great equipment, including two telephoto lenses, one of which served exactly this role as a tool for shooting close-up details. This year, however, that has disappeared. You have a unique 75-100mm telephoto lens at your disposal, but it only handles details from 30 cm. That is simply a dramatic change. Yes, most likely this won’t bother a significant portion of users. But for me personally, what’s likable about the Xiaomi 17 is precisely that it more or less maintains and adopts this function (albeit with a slightly different lens and sensor).

Very good ultra-wide lens—many underestimate the function of this lens, but for experienced photographers, it’s an exceptionally valuable addition that comes in handy in many situations, from cities to certain types of landscape shots. And as I mentioned, it’s not formally the “third wheel,” but a sincere and essential part of the camera.

A clever combination of other functions: as you’ll see in the video, I tested it in a wide range of situations and thus tried out a number of additional functions: from shooting motion at night to testing filters in spring Prague and Barcelona. Here too, it holds that Leica really makes sure the phone isn’t cluttered with tons of useless functions. And that the specialized filters make sense. In short: in the overall sum, it works.

Xiaomi 17 – What to Watch Out For

Competition from the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is considerable. This has already been mentioned, of course, but yes: it really is crucial. The disadvantage of “non-Ultra” models is simply the competition from their more souped-up siblings. Those who want something extraordinary will find that Xiaomi’s Ultra models (but also Samsung’s, for example) simply offer everything maximalist and will always be a magnet for those wanting the highest performance. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra will draw people in with its one-inch sensor (which is truly noticeably better) and its special telephoto lens with remarkable optical zoom.

Competition from the Xiaomi 15T Pro is also considerable. Those who don’t want (or can’t afford) to purchase stellar phones will find themselves trapped by offers with an exceptionally good price/performance ratio, which is currently primarily the Xiaomi 15T Pro—for me, one of the most distinctive affordable phones of recent years. The question of what exactly to buy will, at any given moment, naturally depend on the price, but if the Xiaomi 17 is significantly more expensive, it could be a significant limitation.

A few small things in image processing still need tweaking—this is actually just a formal note: yes, I occasionally encountered minor errors and hesitations in image processing, but they are details. Firstly, only a specialist would notice them, but mainly: in a significant number of cases, everything is resolved within a few weeks or months via updates (I tested the phone partially even before its official launch date, i.e., with early firmware versions).

Xiaomi 17 – Summary in Two Sentences

Similar to its predecessors, the Xiaomi 17 is a very prominent model offering demanding users very good performance in various situations, thanks to a truly tuned combination of lenses, sensors, and software tools developed under Leica’s supervision. The telephoto lens is exceptional, being useful for shooting details, but even here it holds that competition from more expensive and cheaper models is and will be quite noticeable.

Xiaomi 17 – Additional photos from the test

Review Summary