In terms of flagship telephones, the phrase “Extremely” has began to lose which means. Each model throws it round, however only a few truly ship one thing that feels… extremely. Take the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely, as an example. It’s a strong telephone, positive, however thrilling? Not fairly. And that’s the larger challenge with the US market proper now. A number of the most fascinating Android flagships merely don’t make it right here.
In the meantime, manufacturers like Vivo, Oppo, and Honor are quietly pushing smartphone cameras into territory that feels nearer to devoted cameras than ever earlier than. After which there’s the Xiaomi 17 Extremely. After utilizing it for a few weeks, one factor is evident: this isn’t only a telephone with a terrific digicam. It’s a digicam that occurs to be a telephone. And actually, it sort of feels like a modern-day revival of the Samsung Galaxy Digicam.
If this factor formally launched within the US, it could shake issues up in an enormous method.
Spec Sheet Flex, However Make It Actual
The Xiaomi 17 Extremely doesn’t simply present up with a spec sheet — it reveals off. You’re taking a look at a Leica-tuned triple-camera setup led by a 50MP 1-inch Mild Fusion 1050L sensor with an f/1.67 aperture and LOFIC HDR, which is mainly a flowery method of claiming it handles highlights and shadows like a champ. Then there’s the actual occasion trick: a 200MP periscope telephoto (Samsung HP9, 1/1.4″) with a slick steady optical zoom from 75mm to 100mm (round 3.2x to 4.3x), stretching all the best way to a wild 400mm equal by way of in-sensor crop.
Xiaomi
Rounding issues out is a 50MP ultrawide with a 115° area of view and macro assist, plus a surprisingly severe 50MP autofocus selfie digicam up entrance. And sure, it shoots 8K at 30fps and 4K at 120fps with Dolby Imaginative and prescient and ACES Log, which is as shut as a telephone will get to saying, “Yeah, I can do cinema too.” Moreover, there’s Leica optics and shade tuning throughout all lenses. The truth is, that Leica partnership isn’t simply branding both. It reveals up in how the images look, really feel, and behave.
Daylight Drama, Minus the Drama
Let’s begin with daylight photographs, as a result of that is the place most telephones already do effectively. The Xiaomi 17 Extremely does higher. Pictures are sharp, detailed, and wealthy with out wanting artificially processed. You get two main profiles: Leica Genuine and Leica Vibrant. I discovered myself leaning towards Vibrant extra usually, and right here’s the factor: it doesn’t go overboard.
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Colours pop, however they don’t scream. Greens look full of life with out turning neon, blues keep managed, and total distinction feels extra… intentional.
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Actually, it’s a refreshing break from the oversharpened, overprocessed look that some flagships lean into. Moreover, the HDR efficiency is one other spotlight. Even in tough lighting, the telephone balances highlights and shadows superbly, with out flattening the scene.
Zoom Recreation That Really Feels Like a Digicam
That is the place issues begin getting actually enjoyable. The mixture of a number of lenses and a steady optical zoom system means you’re not simply leaping between fastened focal lengths. You’re truly working with one thing that feels nearer to an actual digicam lens. From 1x to 2x, 3.2x, and even past, the outcomes keep impressively sharp. Colours stay constant throughout zoom ranges, which is one thing many telephones nonetheless wrestle with.
1x Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
2x Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
3.2x Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
8.6x Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
And right here’s the shocking half. I ended up utilizing the digicam at round 3.2x more often than not. It simply hits that candy spot for composition, perspective, and background separation.
Portraits That Don’t Attempt Too Onerous
Portrait pictures is one other sturdy swimsuit right here, and it advantages massively from that telephoto {hardware}. You’ll be able to shoot portraits utilizing the tele lens for pure depth, or change to portrait mode for extra processing. Both method, the outcomes are wonderful.
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Edge detection is clear, topic separation appears to be like pure, and the background blur doesn’t really feel faux or overdone. In lots of circumstances, it genuinely holds its personal in opposition to an honest DSLR setup.
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
What I actually appreciated, although, is that you just don’t at all times want portrait mode. Simply utilizing the telephoto lens offers you that pure compression and bokeh, particularly for topics like pets or candid photographs.
Low Mild, No Panic
Whereas daylight pictures is nice, it’s nice on a variety of different telephones too. Nonetheless, low-light pictures is the place this telephone actually flexes. That 1-inch sensor mixed with the large f/1.67 aperture permits it to drag in a ton of sunshine. And the outcomes present.
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Even in difficult circumstances with minimal lighting, the Xiaomi 17 Extremely manages to retain element, management noise, and protect the general temper of the scene. Importantly, it doesn’t attempt to flip evening into day. You continue to get that nighttime really feel, simply with higher readability and element. Highlights are managed, lens flare is minimal, and textures don’t get smudged into oblivion.
Ultrawide, However Really Helpful
The ultrawide digicam right here isn’t an afterthought. At 14mm, it captures a critically large area of view, which is nice for landscapes, structure, and group photographs. Even higher, picture high quality holds up surprisingly effectively, together with in decrease mild.
Regular Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Ultrawide Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
That stated, there’s one small annoyance. The position of the ultrawide lens close to the sting of the digicam module means it’s very simple to by accident get a finger within the body. It’s not a dealbreaker, however undoubtedly one thing to be aware of.
The Pictures Package Professional
Talking of the digicam array, among the finest issues Xiaomi did with this telephone was to introduce the Pictures Package Professional, and the second neatest thing they did was to produce me with the package, too. You get higher ergonomics, bodily controls for taking pictures, and an total expertise that makes you need to take extra images. It bridges that hole between smartphone pictures and conventional cameras in a extremely satisfying method. The grip additionally doubles as a battery pack, which is extremely helpful throughout lengthy taking pictures periods.
Xiaomi
There’s even a USB-C passthrough, so it’s simple to cost each the telephone and grip concurrently. That stated, I want Xiaomi added knowledge passthrough as effectively, enabling one to attach an exterior SSD whereas the grip is connected. Perhaps in future iterations, they might additionally add a microSD card slot to this, or higher but, a full-sized SD card slot to enchantment to the photographers on the market.
Selfie Cam… Exists
Now, all isn’t excellent right here, and that brings me to the selfies. It’s… advantageous. Simply advantageous.
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
HDR is usually a bit inconsistent, colours usually lean a little bit too punchy, and whereas there’s an try and clean out pores and skin textures, the consequence feels a bit off.
Xiaomi 17 Extremely Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
Apple iPhone 16 Varun Mirchandani / Digital Developments
After all, pictures is subjective, however personally, that is one space the place I’d nonetheless choose a Google Pixel any day. Even the iPhone does a strong job for those who favor softer-looking photos, as you may see within the comparability shot above.
The Finest Digicam You Can’t (Formally) Purchase?
So… is that this the most effective digicam telephone proper now? If pictures is your precedence, it’s actually very laborious to argue in opposition to it. The Xiaomi 17 Extremely brings collectively industry-leading {hardware}, genuinely considerate picture processing, full RAW assist for many who wish to tweak each pixel, and good AI instruments that really really feel helpful as an alternative of gimmicky. And the most effective half? It’s not only a one-trick pony. Past the digicam, you’re nonetheless getting a correct flagship expertise with a top-tier chipset, a beautiful show, and battery life that comfortably goes the space.
However right here’s the irritating bit: you may’t formally purchase it within the US. And that’s an actual disgrace. As a result of if a telephone like this have been broadly obtainable, it could pressure the likes of Apple and Samsung to push their digicam techniques additional, sooner. The Xiaomi 17 Extremely isn’t making an attempt to be essentially the most balanced smartphone on the market. As a substitute, it’s aiming to be the most effective digicam you may carry in your pocket. And after spending time with it, it’s laborious to not really feel just like the US market is critically lacking out.
