Xiaomi 17 review: the compact Leica camera flagship tested

The Xiaomi 17 is the Chinese brand’s new standard-bearer. It focuses on a refined, compact design, while promising an impeccable camera experience. Does it deliver? We put it to the test.

Unveiled at MWC Barcelona, the Xiaomi 17 is Xiaomi’s latest flagship smartphone. To stand out in an increasingly competitive market, it highlights two key strengths: a compact format and a camera system developed in partnership with Leica.

Photography has been one of the brand’s main priorities for several years. While the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is designed to appeal to photographers, the standard 17 takes a more restrained approach to keep its price in check without compromising on quality. Elsewhere, Xiaomi delivers a smartphone at the cutting edge of current technology. Is it convincing? Why choose it over a rival? After using it for around ten days, here is our verdict.

Xiaomi 17 at the best price

Base price: €999

Retailer	Discount	Price	Offer
eBay	-20%	€799	View offer
Rakuten	-11%	€885	View offer
Amazon	-10%	€903	View offer
Xiaomi	-10%	€903	View offer
Rueducommerce		€999	View offer
Boulanger		€999	View offer
FNAC		€1,002	View offer
Darty		€1,002	View offer

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Price and availability

The Xiaomi 17 is available now from the manufacturer’s official website and partner retailers. The listed prices are as follows:

• 256 GB: €999
• 512 GB: €1099

It is a smartphone with the good sense to remain below €1,000, something that is no longer true of every flagship in 2026.

What we loved about the Xiaomi 17

Its compact design

The Xiaomi 17 has a 6.3-inch display, which is not especially large. It is not alone in using this size-the Galaxy S26 and Pixel 10 do too-but it remains a welcome format, particularly for smaller hands. It is easy to operate with one hand, which will be a deciding factor for many people.

Xiaomi has given its 17 an elegant and coherent design. Its refined lines and heavily rounded corners are particularly pleasing. Visually, there is a clear influence from pre-iPhone 17 Apple models, alongside the legacy of older Xiaomi handsets in the corner-mounted camera module. Unfortunately, that module protrudes by several mm, making the phone wobble when it is placed face-up. This is inconvenient when typing with one finger, although it is a common issue on smartphones.

The Xiaomi 17 benefits from immaculate finishing, pairing a brushed aluminium frame with a toughened glass rear panel. Its durability impressed us-there were no micro-scratches after our test despite using it without a case-as did its texture, which feels pleasantly soft beneath the fingers. Above all, we love the green finish, which gives it genuine character. If that is not for you, the handset is also offered in sky blue, black and pink.

It is a real pleasure to hold and use. Its compact dimensions and flat sides provide an excellent grip, while its 191-gram weight is very well balanced. The display area is equally successful, with slim bezels and a fingerprint sensor beneath the panel. Finally, Xiaomi has wisely avoided adding an extra button alongside the volume and power keys. We like that simplicity.

Although the Xiaomi 17 is not the most attractive phone we have tested this year-that honour goes to the Motorola Signature-it unquestionably ranks among the three nicest to handle. It is an ideal handset for anyone seeking something elegant that is not too large.

Performance and battery life

Let us start with the obvious: the Xiaomi 17 is a premium smartphone. As such, it uses the best technologies currently available. This includes its display: a 6.3-inch AMOLED panel with a 2656 x 1220-pixel resolution and a dynamic 1 to 120 Hz refresh rate. What we especially appreciate is its brightness-3500 nits peak HDR-which ensures perfect readability even outdoors in bright sunshine. As expected from AMOLED, the panel offers an infinite contrast ratio, with deep blacks from switched-off pixels and brilliant whites. We were particularly impressed by its colour calibration, which is simply flawless. This is not merely an impression, as our colleagues at 01net reached the same conclusion using measurement equipment.

The processor is of the same calibre. The Xiaomi 17 uses a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, currently the most powerful on the market. Beyond placing it among the top five smartphones in benchmark tests, this chip brings comfort and peace of mind: every app launches instantly, there are no stutters or slowdowns, photo processing is quick and, above all, every demanding game on the market runs at full settings at 60 fps. Heat management also deserves praise. Even after an hour of Genshin, the warmth remains noticeable but acceptable under the fingers. That is not the case with every handset, as some become genuine hotplates after only a few minutes.

Battery life also deserves attention. The Xiaomi 17 is one of the smartphones equipped with a silicon-carbon battery. Its 6330 mAh cell provides two full days of use, or even three with typical use. That is a real advantage when leading products such as the Galaxy S26 and iPhone 17 barely last a single day. Add 100 W wired charging, which fully replenishes the battery in under 30 minutes. Technically, the Xiaomi 17 performs superbly, while its excellent endurance makes it a genuinely enjoyable device to use. A great result.

Its Leica camera system

The camera department is where Xiaomi has placed its focus for several years. The Chinese brand has partnered with optics specialist Leica for both sensor tuning and software processing. This collaboration has already proved persuasive in the past, and it remains so today. The Xiaomi 17 includes the following cameras:

• 50-megapixel f/1.7 wide-angle sensor
• 50-megapixel f/2.4 ultra-wide-angle sensor
• 50-megapixel f/2.0 telephoto sensor with X2.6 optical zoom

Xiaomi is genuinely unique on the market with its Leica processing. The software offers two modes: Authentic and Vibrant. Both produce highly satisfying results, and the German specialist’s signature is immediately recognisable. Images are consistent and attractive, but above all very accurate in terms of sharpness and colour rendering. We only regret a slight lack of control over contrast in difficult conditions. Samsung, Google and Oppo do much better in that respect.

There is no macro sensor on the Xiaomi 17, but its dedicated mode delivers very respectable results. It is ideal for capturing small objects or fine details. Portrait mode is successful too.

The ultra-wide-angle camera is of a similar standard to the wide-angle unit. Although its photos are good, there is a certain lack of consistency in contrast rendering, which can occasionally produce unusual yet usable results. Nothing serious.

The telephoto sensor delivers excellent X2.6 optical zoom, after which digital zoom takes over. Results are impressive up to X5, except in night mode, and remain decent up to X10. The Xiaomi 17 offers digital zoom up to X60, where images are unusable, even if its algorithm attempts to rescue them.

Night mode is a success on the main sensor, though less so on the other two. We like its light handling and realistic rendering, rather than artificially boosting visibility. The sky, for example, appears pitch black-as it does to our own eyes-instead of navy blue as on certain competing phones.

Finally, Xiaomi provides good video quality, with a 50 Mp selfie sensor for video calls and a main sensor capable of recording up to 8K/30 frames per second. It is fairly conventional, but still effective.

Xiaomi delivers an exciting camera package with the Xiaomi 17. While its quality is what one would expect from a €1,000 phone, it manages to stand apart from the competition thanks to Leica’s expertise. One thing is certain: shots taken with the Xiaomi 17 do not look like those from other handsets in this segment.

What we liked less about the Xiaomi 17

Its HyperOS 3 interface

Xiaomi is making every possible effort to improve its HyperOS interface, but it unfortunately remains tiresome to use day to day. The Xiaomi 17 runs Android 16 with the HyperOS 3 overlay. While we like its look, inspired by what comes out of Cupertino, as well as its extensive customisation options, we are still not convinced by the software’s often peculiar logic. Xiaomi installs a whole host of apps by default, for example. They either duplicate Google’s apps, such as the calculator and alarm clock, or prove completely unnecessary. It is worth noting, however, that unlike the brand’s mid-range smartphones, the Xiaomi 17 does not fill its apps with excessive adverts. Thankfully, one might say. The result remains visually pleasing and fluid software that is often cumbersome.

Should you buy it?

In the premium smartphone market, the Xiaomi 17 succeeds in carving out a place for itself thanks to its original, carefully crafted camera offering. Leica’s signature is clearly present, delivering an exciting experience for amateur photographers.

Beyond that, the Xiaomi 17 is a technically impeccable smartphone: compact, long-lasting and equipped with a very appealing design. So, should you buy it? At this price point, it is difficult to recommend another handset instead. It more than holds its own against the Pixel 10 Pro and Galaxy S26, both excellent devices but weaker in battery life. The Xiaomi 17 is therefore a new essential in the premium phone world. It won us over-will it win you over?

Xiaomi 17 at the best price

Base price: €999

Retailer	Discount	Price	Offer
eBay	-20%	€799	View offer
Rakuten	-11%	€885	View offer
Amazon	-10%	€903	View offer
Xiaomi	-10%	€903	View offer
Rueducommerce		€999	View offer
Boulanger		€999	View offer
FNAC		€1,002	View offer
Darty		€1,002	View offer

See more offers

Xiaomi 17

€999

9

Category	Score
Design and ergonomics	8.5/10
Technical performance	9.5/10
Camera	9.0/10
Battery life	9.0/10
Value for money	9.0/10

We like

• Compact, refined design
• Powerful
• Very good battery life
• Impeccable screen
• Original and successful camera system

We like less

• HyperOS 3, a cumbersome interface
• Some inconsistencies with contrast

View the Xiaomi 17