Less than a year after its release in China, the global version of Xiaomi 17 has appeared in Russia — the new flagship from one of the leading smartphone manufacturers on the planet. Leaving the “Pro” models for Chinese residents, the company released only Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra for the international market. These are the two smartphones sitting side by side on store shelves, prompting a reasonable question: which one is better to buy? Let’s figure it out.
Compact Xiaomi 17 — on the left, and the larger Xiaomi 17 Ultra — on the right
Xiaomi 17 is a compact flagship, while Xiaomi 17 Ultra is an advanced camera phone. And although both smartphones run on the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, all other specifications differ.
| Specifications | Xiaomi 17 | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.3 inches, AMOLED (2656×1220), 1-120 Hz | 6.9 inches, AMOLED (2608×1200), 1-120 Hz |
| Main Camera | 50 (OIS) + 50 + 50 (OIS) MP | 50 (OIS) + 50 + 200 (OIS) MP |
| Front Camera | 50 MP | 50 MP |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Memory | 12/256 or 12/512 GB | 16/512 or 16/1024 GB |
| Battery | 6330 mAh | 6000 mAh |
| Charging | 100W (wired) 50W (wireless) | 90W (wired) 50W (wireless) |
| Dimensions and Weight | 151.1×71.8×8.1 mm, 191 g | 162.9×77.6×8.3 mm, 224 g |
| Price | From 61,000 ₽ | From 87,000 ₽ |
Being a larger smartphone, Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a smaller battery capacity. That’s because a significant portion of its body is occupied by the camera, which is the main distinguishing feature of the Ultra version compared to the Xiaomi 17.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Xiaomi 17 Camera
The smartphones have identical front cameras and ultra-wide lenses. The difference between Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra lies in the main sensor and telephoto lens. Let’s see how this affects photo quality.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra features the main Light Hunter 1050L camera with a 1/0.98″ sensor size and LOFIC technology support, while the main sensor of the regular Xiaomi 17 is the simpler Light Fusion 950 (1/1.31″). It’s virtually impossible for an average person to notice the difference even in challenging conditions, though a mobile photographer will notice that the Ultra smartphone’s main camera has more accurate color reproduction.
Photo from the main camera of Xiaomi 17. Image: gsmarena.com
Photo from the main camera of Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Image: gsmarena.com
But the main advantage of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera is not the main sensor, but the periscope-type telephoto lens. It features a large Samsung HPE sensor (1/1.4″) and provides optical zoom in the 3.2x-4.3x range. In comparison, the Samsung JN5 (1/2.76″) with its 2.6x optical zoom looks noticeably weaker when it comes to shooting portraits and distant objects.
5x zoom on Xiaomi 17. Image: gsmarena.com
8.6x zoom on Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Image: gsmarena.com
The total zoom range on Xiaomi 17 is 60x, while on Xiaomi 17 Ultra it’s 120x. So when it comes to zoom photography, the more expensive smartphone wins hands down.
Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra Battery Life
Although Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the larger smartphone, it has a smaller battery capacity (6000 mAh vs. 6330 mAh). Does this affect battery life? Absolutely! According to GSMArena.com test results, Xiaomi 17 lasts approximately 15% longer in all scenarios, despite its compact dimensions.
Xiaomi 17 predictably lasts longer. Source: gsmarena.com
However, the charging speed is roughly the same for both smartphones. Xiaomi 17 reaches 100% from the included power adapter in 46 minutes, while Xiaomi 17 Ultra takes 43 minutes. You could say there’s parity in this regard.
Which Is Better: Xiaomi 17 or Xiaomi 17 Ultra
The choice between Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra is clear. Formally, both smartphones are flagships, but the Ultra version’s camera is significantly better. Xiaomi 17 also shoots at a high level, as you’d expect from a premium smartphone, but still not quite as impressively. Especially when it comes to portraits and long-range photography. The question is: are you willing to pay more for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and also sacrifice comfort for an advanced camera?
If you need a compact or simply a good smartphone with enough longevity for 4-5 years, Xiaomi 17 would be the ideal choice. It has a decent camera, a powerful processor, and excellent battery life for its size. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is only worth getting if you really love photography, and your trained eye is ready to spot differences even in the smallest details.
