When somebody lately requested me why I don’t take my very own pictures, I didn’t have a solution. Truthfully, I simply don’t know. I’m not an actor, nor do I want to be an influencer who enjoys being in entrance of the digicam. I’d quite be behind the digicam, capturing on a regular basis moments that I like to do. It’s one of many perks of being a tech journalist: travelling the world, assembly new folks, and experiencing completely different cultures. And, most significantly, testing new gear forward of anybody else.
I hear it…those that hold pushing me to be on Instagram however it’s not going to occur, ever. Nonetheless, I promise you this: I’d love to point out how I see the world by way of my lens in personal every time you’re round over a cup of espresso. I’ve over 2TB of images that I’ve captured on my telephone over time.
This jogs my memory of the Xiaomi 17 Extremely, the “Leica telephone”, as I wish to name it, which travelled with me to 4 cities all over the world: San Francisco, London, Los Angeles, and New York over the previous couple of days or so. (And don’t ask me the place I’m headed subsequent.)
The Xiaomi 17 Extremely is an interesting machine, which I really feel is a cross between a smartphone and a digicam. It’s not the primary time I’ve used a smartphone that has the soul of a digicam, however this machine feels mature to the purpose the place you start to consider the telephone can morph into an expert digicam.
My overview of the Xiaomi 17 Extremely.
What: Xiaomi 17 Extremely| Value: Rs 1,39,999
Disclaimer: Xiaomi despatched me a loaned unit of the Xiaomi 17 Extremely together with the Pictures Equipment Professional, which prices an extra Rs 19,990. When you go for each the machine and the package, the overall value of possession involves Rs 159,989.
Designed like an actual digicam
Since my main telephone today is the iPhone Air, utilizing the Xiaomi 17 Extremely was a totally completely different expertise. Actually, the 2 telephones differ not solely by way of design but additionally in general usability.
The package additionally features a digicam grip with conventional controls, together with a shutter button and publicity dial. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
The 17 Extremely appears and appears like a Xiaomi flagship, a design I’ve seen throughout high-end telephones from Chinese language producers. It’s thicker, with an aluminium body, flat back and front glass panels, and a Nokia Lumia 1020–like round digicam design. There’s undoubtedly heft whenever you maintain the machine, and at instances it appears like you’re holding an actual digicam. Sure, the digicam module is big, as you will have observed within the footage by now.
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I really feel there’s an try to make the 17 Extremely resemble a Leica digicam–not precisely, however Xiaomi has added bodily buttons to the telephone. As an illustration, the quantity buttons on the facet are spherical (really tablet formed) and etched with “+” and “−” markings, reminding me of the round quantity keys on my iPhone 4s. Nonetheless, the ability button is a bit too small, although it’s not a problem for me. Xiaomi may have added a customisable digicam button on the facet, and because it’s a camera-focused telephone, it will have made plenty of sense.
It options a big 50 MP 1.0″-type OV50X50 sensor with 1.6 µm pixels, produced by OmniVision and licensed by Leica. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
I need to say the 17 Extremely doesn’t really feel like an inexpensive machine. Whereas it’s not a small telephone, it does really feel a bit top-heavy. At 8.25 mm and 224 g, it’s not the thinnest or lightest telephone on the market, however I didn’t count on it to be just like the iPhone Air or some other customary smartphone available on the market. Fortunately, it has IP68/IP69 water and dirt resistance, which provides to its sturdiness in opposition to the weather.
The 17 Extremely has a single 200 MP telephoto digicam with a vario 75-100 mm equal vary. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
One factor I wish to spotlight is the non-compulsory pictures accent package, which provides a digicam grip and a filter mount. As well as, it comes with a two-stage shutter, a customisable dial to regulate EV, filters, ISO, shutter pace, or white steadiness, a zoom leveler, and a video button. Linked by way of Sort-C, the grip may function an influence financial institution, housing a 2,000mAh battery. With the package hooked up, the Xiaomi 17 Extremely will be held and used very similar to a compact digicam. I beloved it. Not solely does it add character to the telephone, however with the digicam package on, you’re feeling the urge to take the 17 Extremely out for a spin in a brand new metropolis, no less than in my case, and seize no matter catches your eye.
A digicam {hardware} present
The primary motive you’re studying this overview (if I have been in your home, I’d do the identical) is due to the 17 Extremely’s digicam. It options a big 50 MP 1.0″-type OV50X50 sensor with 1.6 µm pixels, produced by OmniVision and licensed by Leica. It additionally comes with LOFIC HDR expertise, which helps stop overexposure in high-contrast scenes reminiscent of sunsets and fireworks.
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Inside, you will see that Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
There’s a brand new telephoto lens as nicely, that includes a world-first 200 MP 75–100mm mechanical optical zoom, permitting for lossless, zero-crop imaging throughout your complete focal vary. To be clear, there’s just one telephoto lens this yr that slides between 3.2X (75 mm) and 4.3X (100 mm) optical zoom. As well as, there’s a 50 MP ultra-wide digicam with a 115° subject of view and a Samsung JN5 sensor, which additionally helps 5 cm macro pictures for close-ups.
However how does the digicam carry out?
The 1-inch sensor works like a dream and delivers excellent leads to quite a lot of conditions, particularly in low mild. The digicam captures sharp, detailed, and correct images. Nonetheless, don’t count on the images to be pitch-perfect. As a result of the famend German digicam maker is closely concerned right here (I visited Leica headquarters a number of years in the past, and you may examine how Xiaomi and Leica collaborate on digicam telephones), the 17 Extremely’s photographs have a method of their very own, typically dramatic, typically barely oversharpened.
The 17 Extremely presents two Leica modes: Genuine, which is barely extra contrasty, and Vibrant, which reinforces color saturation. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
That is what makes the digicam particular and really completely different from iPhones and Samsung Galaxy telephones. It’s a enjoyable digicam to make use of, and with the Leica identify hooked up, I used to be anticipating a flexible digicam, which it actually is. As an illustration, the 17 Extremely ships with two color profiles: Leica Vibrant and Leica Genuine. Vibrant is the default mode, and I’ve used it for all my images, however I want Leica Genuine. You additionally get a variety of filter choices to stylise your footage after urgent the shutter.
The primary digicam encompasses a 50MP 1-inch Gentle Fusion 1050L sensor with LOFIC HDR expertise. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
Let me say that the 17 Extremely’s digicam closely leans on its {hardware}. As a photographer, there’s a bigger scope for trial and error, in contrast to when utilizing an iPhone digicam or any telephone digicam today the place software program and AI typically deal with many of the picture corrections.
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I can see that the 17 Extremely’s digicam has massively improved at taking portrait photographs, and the bigger picture sensor undoubtedly helps. Pores and skin tones and textures are correct and reasonable, one thing Xiaomi cameras have struggled with loads up to now.
Like an actual digicam, the 17 Extremely takes footage which are barely softer and don’t have good particulars–precisely how an precise digicam works.
I observed that at instances the 17 Extremely overdoes color saturation and leans in direction of underexposure in shiny backlighting, leading to footage with lack shadows and overly excessive distinction. It additionally lacks a protracted zoom vary, which different flagships supply. Video tops out at 8K/30fps, and I observed that the 17 Extremely produces great-looking 4K footage. The front-facing lens, which has jumped from 32 MP to 50 MP, has additionally been upgraded.
As I discussed at first, I took the 17 Extremely to 4 completely different cities and spent plenty of time with the digicam. These digicam samples you will notice are straight out of the digicam.
Xiaomi 17 Extremely digicam pattern. Picture resized for internet
Xiaomi 17 Extremely digicam pattern. Picture resized for internet
Xiaomi 17 Extremely digicam pattern. Picture resized for internet
Xiaomi 17 Extremely digicam pattern. Picture resized for internet
Xiaomi 17 Extremely digicam pattern. Picture resized for internet
Xiaomi 17 Extremely digicam pattern. Picture resized for internet
Xiaomi 17 Extremely digicam pattern. Picture resized for internet
Xiaomi 17 Extremely digicam pattern. Picture resized for internet
Xiaomi 17 Extremely digicam pattern. Picture resized for internet
Prime-notch efficiency and battery life
The 17 Extremely has a 6.9-inch OLED show, and it’s an incredible panel, although not fairly as wonderful because the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely’s show. You continue to get a variable refresh price (1 to 120 Hz), excessive peak brightness to maintain it legible in direct daylight, and eye-care dimming that makes it equally comfy to make use of in a darkish room.
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Inside, you will see that Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, paired with 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512 GB or 1 TB of UFS 4.1 storage. Efficiency upgrades over Xiaomi’s earlier flagship telephones are evident, however the enhancements aren’t game-changing, and most common customers received’t even discover. The CPU is 20 per cent quicker, and graphics efficiency is 23 per cent higher. From working apps and taking pictures to gaming and watching films, my expertise with the 17 Extremely was utterly clean and error-free.
Linked by way of Sort-C, the grip may function an influence financial institution. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
The 17 Extremely packs a 6,000mAh battery made with silicon carbon, containing 16 per cent silicon, which helps with longevity and effectivity, now widespread in many more recent Android smartphones. The battery life is nice, however what actually impressed me is how the telephone helps quick charging. Actually, it will probably draw as much as 100W by way of each Xiaomi’s proprietary charger and common USB Energy Supply PPS chargers. Sadly, the telephone nonetheless lacks Qi2 assist.
The 17 Extremely has a big digicam bump in the course of the higher portion of the rear casing. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)
For me, Xiaomi’s customized HyperOS isn’t on par with iOS or the expertise Google presents on Pixel telephones, however it isn’t unhealthy both. Certain, HyperOS typically mimics iOS, and I discover the interface a bit too cartoonish. Oh, add bloatware on high. On the optimistic facet, you possibly can customise it to your style. And generative AI options, although I doubt they’re as helpful as some tech firms declare, are baked proper into HyperOS 3.
Is the dear Xiaomi 17 Extremely value it?
So, is the Xiaomi 17 Extremely really value it–by way of each cash and what you get with a Leica-camera telephone? When it comes to worth, there’s an argument to be made that it’s. This machine is designed to be a digicam first and a smartphone second. The Xiaomi 17 Extremely is an costly smartphone, and if you happen to add the pictures package, the overall value will increase.
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That mentioned, the Xiaomi 17 Extremely genuinely intrigued me for what it will probably do proper now–that’s, being a terrific digicam with out venturing into the territory of promising options that aren’t there. Xiaomi has executed job of bringing a style of a Leica digicam to these of us who can’t afford one, and the Leica collaboration doesn’t really feel prefer it’s simply in identify. You probably have the cash for a photography-first telephone, I’d say go for it and no less than give it a attempt. For common shoppers, even these flush with money, the 17 Extremely isn’t for you. It’s an fanatic telephone, and it ought to stay that manner.