{"id":20509,"date":"2026-02-28T22:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-02-28T14:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/nylon.com.sg\/?p=20509"},"modified":"2026-03-03T13:49:42","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T05:49:42","slug":"the-true-ultra-revolution-xiaomis-newest-flagship-smartphone-the-17-ultra-feels-like-a-camera-first","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/glutenfreepleasure.com\/__proxy_domain\/nylon.com.sg\/the-true-ultra-revolution-xiaomis-newest-flagship-smartphone-the-17-ultra-feels-like-a-camera-first\/","title":{"rendered":"The True Ultra Revolution; Xiaomi\u2019s Newest Flagship Smartphone, the 17 Ultra Feels Like a Camera First.\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Adele Chan
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As a portrait and travel photographer, I\u2019ve always believed that the best camera isn\u2019t just the one you have with you \u2014 it\u2019s the one that doesn\u2019t get in the way of the story. For years, Xiaomi\u2019s “Ultra” line has been at the top of their game: brilliant, yes, but with polarising designs (with its duo-toned version meant to resemble actual classic Leica M cameras), and competing in a tough market against strong competition from Oppo and their Hasselblad collaboration, and vivo with their Zeiss lenses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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This year with the new Xiaomi 17 Ultra, however, something has shifted. It feels less like another mobile phone, and more like a pocket camera I can proudly brandish without being obtrusive. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Masterclass in Industrial Elegance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There’s still the circular camera system` that we’ve been seeing since the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, but this latest version appears significantly flatter, leaner and hence more discreet. This camera design upgrade, coupled with a less curvier phone body, is a winner in industrial elegance. Even the “sparkly” black shade of the 15 Ultra has improved to a solid matte charcoal that we much prefer. Furthermore, the “2D” flat display feels intentional \u2014 a canvas that doesn’t distort your frame at the edges, and protected by the new Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The camera system on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, co-engineered with Leica.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Leica Soul and the 1-Inch Giant<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

At the heart of this device remains the Leica Summilux optical system, but like everything else about this phone, it’s been refined. The 1-inch Light Hunter 1050L sensor is, quite simply, the closest thing to “cheating” at physics in mobile photography. In the low, amber light of an old-school shophouse, the 17 Ultra pulls detail out of the shadows with a texture that feels organic, not over-sharpened (see pics below).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Then there’s the 200MP Leica APO telephoto lens. It features a continuous optical zoom ranging from 75mm to 100mm. For most portrait photographers, the 75mm to 90mm range is the “sweet spot” for shooting natural-looking, undistorted headshots (see pics below captured using Master Portrait mode). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra might win on sheer AI-driven HDR processing, and the vivo X300 Pro offers a punchier, social-media-ready saturation, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra wins on vibe. It captures light with the “Leica Look” \u2014 that subtle, moody fall-off that makes a digital file feel like a memory. Also, for the sake of transparency, my main everyday camera is the Leica M11, so I do have a bias toward Leica-styled photos, so will naturally gravitate towards the look produced by the Xiaomi \/ Leica combo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Tourist at Blu Jaz Bar along Bali Lane, captured in Leica Vibrant mode on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Competitive Landscape<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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The Xiaomi 17 Ultra in Black, lit by the Harlowe Sol 40W<\/a> light.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

How does the Xiaomi 17 Ultra hold up against the current titan class of the best photography smartphones?<\/p>\n\n\n\n