Xiaomi 17 Extremely is the ‘Leica’ digicam telephone I didn’t know I wanted

This jogs my memory of the Xiaomi 17 Extremely, the “Leica telephone”, as I prefer to name it, which travelled with me to 4 cities around the globe: San Francisco, London, Los Angeles, and New York over the previous few days or so. (And don’t ask me the place I’m headed subsequent.)

The Xiaomi 17 Extremely is an enchanting system, 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 system 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| Worth: Rs 1,39,999

Disclaimer: Xiaomi despatched me a loaned unit of the Xiaomi 17 Extremely together with the Pictures Equipment Professional, which prices a further Rs 19,990. Should you go for each the system and the package, the whole value of possession involves Rs 159,989.

Designed like an actual digicam

Since my major telephone today is the iPhone Air, utilizing the Xiaomi 17 Extremely was a very completely different expertise. In truth, 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 seems to be and looks 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 positively heft once you maintain the system, and at instances it looks like you’re holding an actual digicam. Sure, the digicam module is big, as you will have seen within the footage by now.

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. For example, the quantity buttons on the aspect are spherical (really capsule formed) and etched with “+” and “−” markings, reminding me of the round quantity keys on my iPhone 4s. Nonetheless, the facility button is a bit too small, although it’s not a difficulty for me. Xiaomi might have added a customisable digicam button on the aspect, and because it’s a camera-focused telephone, it might have made quite a lot of sense.

The 17 Extremely 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 have to say the 17 Extremely doesn’t really feel like an inexpensive system. 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 commonplace smartphone available on the market. Fortunately, it has IP68/IP69 water and dirt resistance, which provides to its sturdiness towards 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 optionally available images 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 stability, a zoom leveler, and a video button. Linked by way of Kind-C, the grip may function an influence financial institution, housing a 2,000mAh battery. With the package connected, the Xiaomi 17 Extremely will be held and used very similar to a compact digicam. I cherished it. Not solely does it add character to the telephone, however with the digicam package on, you are feeling the urge to take the 17 Extremely out for a spin in a brand new metropolis, a minimum of in my case, and seize no matter catches your eye.

A digicam {hardware} present

The primary purpose you’re studying this overview (if I had been in your house, 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.

Inside, you’ll find Qualcomm’s flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. (Picture credit score: Anuj Bhatia/Indian Categorical)

There’s a brand new telephoto lens as effectively, that includes a world-first 200 MP 75–100mm mechanical optical zoom, permitting for lossless, zero-crop imaging throughout the complete focal vary. To be clear, there’s just one telephoto lens this 12 months 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° discipline of view and a Samsung JN5 sensor, which additionally helps 5 cm macro images for close-ups.

However how does the digicam carry out?

The 1-inch sensor works like a dream and delivers very good leads to a wide range of conditions, particularly in low mild. The digicam captures sharp, detailed, and correct photographs. Nonetheless, don’t count on the photographs to be pitch-perfect. As a result of the famend German digicam maker is closely concerned right here (I visited Leica headquarters just a few 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, generally dramatic, generally barely oversharpened.

The 17 Extremely provides 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 title connected, I used to be anticipating a flexible digicam, which it actually is. For example, 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 photographs, however I favor Leica Genuine. You additionally get a spread of filter choices to stylise your footage after urgent the shutter.

The primary digicam incorporates a 50MP 1-inch Mild 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 usually deal with many of the picture corrections.

I can see that the 17 Extremely’s digicam has massively improved at taking portrait photographs, and the bigger picture sensor positively helps. Pores and skin tones and textures are correct and sensible, one thing Xiaomi cameras have struggled with lots previously.
Like an actual digicam, the 17 Extremely takes footage which are barely softer and don’t have excellent particulars–precisely how an precise digicam works.

I seen 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 an extended zoom vary, which different flagships supply. Video tops out at 8K/30fps, and I seen 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 quite a lot of time with the digicam. These digicam samples you will note 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 important panel, although not fairly as glorious because the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely’s show. You continue to get a variable refresh fee (1 to 120 Hz), excessive peak brightness to maintain it legible in direct daylight, and eye-care dimming that makes it equally snug to make use of in a darkish room.

Inside, you’ll find 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 gained’t even discover. The CPU is 20 per cent sooner, and graphics efficiency is 23 per cent higher. From operating apps and taking images to gaming and watching motion pictures, my expertise with the 17 Extremely was utterly clean and error-free.

Linked by way of Kind-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. In truth, it could actually draw as much as 100W via 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 midst 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 provides on Pixel telephones, however it isn’t dangerous both. Certain, HyperOS generally mimics iOS, and I discover the interface a bit too cartoonish. Oh, add bloatware on high. On the constructive aspect, you’ll be able to customise it to your style. And generative AI options, although I doubt they’re as helpful as some tech corporations declare, are baked proper into HyperOS 3.

Is the expensive Xiaomi 17 Extremely price it?

So, is the Xiaomi 17 Extremely really price 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 system is designed to be a digicam first and a smartphone second. The Xiaomi 17 Extremely is an costly smartphone, and for those who add the images package, the whole value will increase.

That mentioned, the Xiaomi 17 Extremely genuinely intrigued me for what it could actually do proper now–that’s, being a terrific digicam with out venturing into the territory of promising options that aren’t there. Xiaomi has achieved a superb 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 title. When you’ve got the cash for a photography-first telephone, I’d say go for it and a minimum of 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 approach.