What it’s like to take photos with the Xiaomi 17

2026-03-20 - 06:01

Some photos in this article may have been compressed for easier online viewing. What makes a good photograph? There are some measures most photographers use, such as color capture, framing, and subject selection. But the best images do more – they make you feel things. They pull you into a moment or a memory and remind you of how the air felt, the light, and the mood of that instant. And this is perhaps the experience Xiaomi is chasing with its latest flagship release. The Xiaomi 17 line once again carries a camera system co-developed with German brand Leica—a partnership that began in 2022 and has since produced smartphone cameras designed to capture the look and feel of shooting with a Leica. And after a week of taking photos with this phone, I can tell that a lot of heart and soul were put into building this. Visual and gustatory Maybe it’s just the allure of using a Leica-branded camera, but I found myself becoming more deliberate with each shot because of how nice the images looked after taking them. Instead of firing off dozens of near-identical frames and hoping one would turn out fine, I slowed down and composed with intention. And it turns out, I wasn’t alone. Chef Josh Boutwood—whose restaurant Helm earned two Michelin stars and whose other ventures are Michelin-selected—is both a photographer and a long-time Leica user. At an event at Helm, he showed images taken with both his Leica and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Each photo carried vivid memories—and he translated those into dishes that told their own stories. “Usually, I just take photos with my phone just to remember something, but this time I paid more attention to them. And this is the first camera and phone that I’ve been able to do that seamlessly,” Chef Josh shared. Throughout the night, he flashed photographs that he cherishes and brought us into each moment. A photo of a crab fisher he took in Sweden inspired a dish of rice porridge, crab fat, and tomato oil. A dish put together with tuna, coconut, and dill gave us a taste of a calm morning in Balesin. Our table’s favorite dish and one that I’m still dreaming about as I review my shots of the night? A beautifully plated dish of Arctic toothfish, ink, and hay that was inspired by a black and white photo of the ocean that Chef Josh took using a monochrome filter on his phone. Mundane to memorable In recent years, most phone makers have leaned heavily into camera features. After all, people love taking photos, and the best camera is the one you always have with you. Many brands now offer impressive shooters, but few manage to craft truly exceptional systems. With the Xiaomi 17, even the baseline model earns a spot among the best. Its trio of 50 MP Leica lenses—wide, telephoto, and ultrawide—gives you flexibility without compromise, so even a quick crop holds up beautifully. The lenses are matched with a 1/1.31′′ pro-grade Light Fusion 950 high dynamic sensor. This combination grants the phone a wide dynamic range that allows it to capture sharp and vibrant images in various lighting conditions. There are two main camera modes. Turned on by default is Leica Authentic, which is great for natural, true-to-life colors. There’s also Leica Vibrant for more saturated and punchy tones, great for social media. Then there are also other filters that change up the mood of a photo. Overall, using the Xiaomi 17 to capture images is a great experience. The Leica touch just gives the photos a realism that pulls you in. If I had one suggestion to make to whoever is convinced enough to get this phone so they can experience taking photos with it, don’t just post your snaps on social media. Make them your desktop wallpaper. Put them into your digital picture frames. Better yet, have them printed! Give the photos you’ve taken with the Leica lenses of the Xiaomi 17 some space to live. – Rappler.com Note: This piece contains an affiliate link. We earn a small commission every time you shop through this link.