Xiaomi 17 Ultra Signals a New Era in Smartphone Photography
The smartphone landscape is bracing for a potential shift in photographic capabilities with the arrival of Xiaomi’s 17 Ultra. While competition from industry giants Samsung and Apple remains fierce, Xiaomi is carving out a distinct path, focusing on delivering a camera experience tailored to professionals and photography enthusiasts.
The company’s previous models, the 14 Ultra and 15 Ultra, laid the groundwork, with the 14 Ultra earning particular praise for its photography prowess. However, the 17 Ultra is shaping up to be a significant leap forward, building on a foundation of large sensors and a commitment to user control, rather than relying on automated “AI gimmicks,” as one professional photographer put it.
At the heart of the 17 Ultra’s advancements lies a new imaging sensor – the LightFusion 1050L. This 1-inch type chip, substantially larger than those found in most smartphone cameras, is designed to capture more light, resulting in improved dynamic range and detail. This principle mirrors the approach taken in professional cameras like the Hasselblad X2D II, which utilize large sensors for exceptional image quality.
Xiaomi is moving beyond simply increasing sensor size. The LightFusion 1050L incorporates LOFIC HDR (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) technology. This innovative feature aims to deliver true HDR images from a single capture, a departure from the traditional method of combining multiple exposures. LOFIC HDR promises to achieve dynamic ranges of up to 20 stops, surpassing the capabilities of many existing smartphone cameras and even some professional mirrorless systems.
Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica is deepening, with a special branded version of the phone being produced that will include various Leica exclusives.
Complementing the new sensor is a versatile camera array. The 17 Ultra features a 50-megapixel main camera with a 23mm equivalent f/1.7 lens, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera with a 14mm equivalent lens offering a 115° field of view and a 200-megapixel telephoto lens with a 75-100mm equivalent periscoping zoom. Notably, the telephoto lens incorporates a physical zoom ring, allowing for continuous optical zoom from 3.2x to 4.3x.
Xiaomi has already launched the 17 Ultra in China, and plans to release it in the UK and wider Europe in the coming months. While some specifications, such as the battery capacity (6,800 mAh in the Chinese version), may vary in other markets, the core camera technology is expected to remain consistent.
Beyond the camera, the 17 Ultra boasts high-end specifications, including Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite Gen 5 chip, up to 16GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. The phone is also IP68 rated for water and dust resistance and measures 8.29mm at its thinnest point.
The 17 Ultra represents a deliberate move by Xiaomi to cater to a discerning audience of photographers who prioritize control and quality over automated convenience. As one photographer noted, Xiaomi seems to be building phones “for professionals and enthusiasts” who want to “control every aspect of the photo-taking process.” This approach, coupled with the innovative camera technology and Leica partnership, positions the 17 Ultra as a strong contender in the competitive smartphone market.
