Xiaomi’s new beast, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition, expected to revolutionize the world of photography, immediately caught the attention of the tech world as soon as it went on sale in China. Popular technology reviewer “Ben’s Gadget Reviews” got their hands on the device and shared the world’s first “hands-on” video.
A Design First: The Iconic “Red Dot”
The biggest surprise in the device’s design is the first-ever appearance of Leica’s world-famous “Red Dot” logo on a Xiaomi phone. This is the biggest indication that the device is positioned not just as a phone, but as a serious optical tool.
- Zoom Ring: The haptic zoom ring integrated around the camera module gives the feeling of using a professional lens.
- Global Name: The review suggests that this model may be released internationally not under the Xiaomi name, but directly under the Leica brand as a “Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi.” A Minor Disadvantage: The only disappointing aspect of the design is the lack of a dedicated shutter button on the side of the body.
The video focuses on the camera performance of the two flagship models. The initial results are quite interesting:
- Colors and Details: While the Vivo X300 Pro offers sharper details in some scenes, Xiaomi handles yellow tones and color transitions much more naturally.
- Portrait Mode: Vivo’s software over-smooths faces, while Xiaomi produces softer but much more realistic portraits.
- Video Performance: Transitions between optical and digital zoom up to 15x are quite fluid. However, image distortions (artifacts) begin to appear above this level.
In shots taken under the night lights of Hong Kong, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s low-light performance looks promising at first glance. However, it is noted that there is still a way to go in terms of clarity when shooting moving objects.
Ben’s overall opinion is quite positive: This camera system, optimized by Leica, clearly demonstrates its potential in both everyday use and professional shooting.
