The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a high-end smartphone. It competes directly with Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra and Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro Max. It uses a very fast Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Reviews are very positive, with scores above 90%, which means people think it performs extremely well.
You can buy the base version with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage from China for a little over $1,000 on Trading Shenzhen. That’s cheaper than the last model’s $1,345 price. A worldwide version might launch in March at Mobile World Congress, but Xiaomi hasn’t said yes yet.
When you open the box, it’s bigger and heavier than Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra box. Why? It comes with a fast 100W charger (weighs 113 grams) that works with the phone’s 90W charging. But filling the battery takes longer than you’d like. There’s also a light, clear case (17 grams) made of hard plastic—not squishy silicone. It lets you see the phone’s pretty colors and design. These extras are probably only in the Chinese version. Global buyers might have to buy them separately.
NEW VIDEO – This phone had me nervous because I thought this could just be a Leica branding exercise but turns out… Xiaomi 17 Ultra is more camera than phone, and it's excellent: https://t.co/xw99ykv4sK pic.twitter.com/5sFaCvObmC
— Marques Brownlee (@MKBHD) January 22, 2026
One annoying thing: The cable still uses old USB-A plugs for charging and connecting to computers. Most laptops now only have USB-C ports—no USB-A. This feels outdated and makes things harder.
The phone has very advanced technology. It comes with Leica zoom cameras. It’s really great to take photos. Many people call it the “best all-round smartphone.” However, the charging won’t be fine but is not very fast. For the price and power, it’s worth getting—especially if you import now. This phone mixes high-end features with smart pricing, but fix that USB issue, Xiaomi!
