Xiaomi 17 Ultra - More Camera than Phone!
Marques Brownlee reviews the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition, a flagship smartphone that prioritizes camera capabilities above all else. The device features a triple camera setup with a massive 1-inch main sensor, a 200MP telephoto with variable zoom, and a physically interactive camera ring that mimics professional camera controls, making it arguably the most camera-centric smartphone experience available.
Key takeaways
- • The Leica partnership goes beyond branding, with integrated image profiles (Vibrant, Authentic, M9, M3 monochrome) built into the capture pipeline rather than post-processing filters.
- • The main 50MP camera with a 1-inch sensor and f/1.67 aperture delivers excellent autofocus, shallow depth of field, and reliable point-and-shoot results, producing natural-looking images with strong detail.
- • The camera ring is a creative hardware innovation that allows zooming, exposure adjustment, and manual focus control depending on the mode, offering more flexibility than Apple's camera control but can be awkward in real-world usage.
- • The variable zoom telephoto (75-100mm) is technically impressive but offers only 3.2x-4.3x magnification, meaning practical results could be achieved by simply stepping forward.
- • Beyond cameras, the phone is a full flagship device with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 6.9-inch 120Hz display (3,500 nits), 6,800mAh battery with 90W charging, and IP69 water resistance.
- • The premium accessory package (custom case with MagSafe, aluminum lens cap, microfiber cloth, wrist strap) creates a camera-like unboxing experience but settings like binning mode don't persist between app sessions, a limitation for a device marketed as a serious camera.
Recommendations (1)
"I wouldn't crown it necessarily the absolute best set of smartphone cameras, but I would still crown it the best overall most fun smartphone camera shooting experience that I've ever had."
Marques Brownlee · ▶ 3:40
Mentioned (7)
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