The very best digital camera telephone of 2026 has a significant issue

Overlook your Pixel and Galaxy telephones, Xiaomi has returned with the Xiaomi 17 Extremely, a digital camera telephone that’s set to be an early contender for one of the best of 2026.

You might assume I’m giving all the things away concerning the assessment within the introduction, however in actuality, whereas the digital camera is certainly excellent, there’s much more you’ll want to know concerning the telephone earlier than handing over your cash.

8/10

SoC

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Show dimensions

6.9-inch

Battery

6,000mAh

Working System

Android 16 / Hyper OS 3

The Xiaomi 17 Extremely’s digital camera, co-created with Leica, is the explanation to purchase the telephone, and it will not disappoint with its unimaginable skill.

Execs & Cons

• Excellent digital camera
• Good efficiency
• Extremely customizable, logical software program

• Poor battery life
• Sturdiness considerations

Specs, value, and availability

Xiaomi has not introduced the value or the discharge schedule for the Xiaomi 17 Extremely on the time of writing. We expect it to launch within the UK and Europe, and it has been accessible in China for a short time already. Xiaomi doesn’t formally promote its smartphones within the US, nevertheless it could possibly be imported for those who’re eager.

Design has misplaced its aptitude

No extra Leica appears to be like

The Xiaomi 17 Extremely has an identification drawback. In contrast to earlier Xiaomi Extremely telephones, it doesn’t have the identical Leica-inspired digital camera design on the again, which helped justify the large digital camera module.

As a substitute, it has shunned all this for a extra iPhone-like design, with flat aluminum sides and a flat fiberglass rear panel. It is moderately skinny at 8.2mm, and the 219-gram weight makes it manageable.

It’s actually not ugly, however it’s solely forgettable, in contrast to the earlier Extremely telephones. I’ve been utilizing the inexperienced, sparkly mannequin, which has the unlucky air of a 70s rest room suite about it. It additionally doesn’t really feel very costly in your hand.

What’s extra, as a result of the digital camera module provides a lot of the weight, the telephone is unbalanced in your hand, and this has put me off holding it for lengthy intervals, as it could possibly get fairly fatiguing.

The large digital camera module additionally means the telephone doesn’t sit flat when the display screen is up, and wobbles about as a substitute. Worse, I discover it makes the telephone awkward to carry in panorama orientation when taking part in video games.

On a extra constructive notice, the bezels across the display screen are small, and I like the equally small buttons and the best way the quantity keys are spherical, separating them from the stadium-shaped energy key.

Additionally, the biometric safety is superb, with the face-recognition and fingerprint sensor each working rapidly and reliably. I’ve loved the Xiaomi 17 Extremely, however I might have favored to see Xiaomi proceed to construct round earlier designs, as a substitute of throwing all of it away and not using a clear plan for a brand new identification.

Excellent digital camera

Shaping as much as be certainly one of 2026’s greatest

The digital camera is the explanation to purchase the Xiaomi 17 Extremely, and whereas the corporate has left the previous design behind, it has introduced the digital camera again to the highs of the Xiaomi 14 Extremely. It’s an actual winner, no matter state of affairs you employ it in.

It has a 1-inch 50-megapixel most important sensor with optical picture stabilization, a 200MP 75mm to 100mm telephoto, and a 50MP wide-angle. Leica has offered its Summilux optical lens.

The Xiaomi 17 Extremely has one of many perfect zoom options I’ve ever used, taking colourful, sharp, and detailed photos from 2x all the best way as much as 8.6x, with a 3.2x to 4.3x seamless mechanical zoom within the center, making it splendidly versatile.

Let me paint the image for you. The 17 Extremely’s most important digital camera begins at 23mm 1x, and with a faucet goes to 28mm and 35mm, whereas the optical telephoto kicks in at 3.2x or 75mm, and features a cease at 85mm and 90mm earlier than reaching 4.3x or 100mm. Lastly, there’s an 8.6x or 200mm zoom. The gallery beneath reveals all the things from 2x onward, together with the 30x, 60x, and 120x digital zoom.

What makes it particular is the mechanical zoom between 3.2x and eight.6x; there’s no discernible change in shade or distinction, and the consistency makes it a pleasure to make use of. There’s a change in consistency between 1x and three.2x, nevertheless it’s not too dramatic.

Images taken at 8.6x are so detailed, it jogs my memory of how spectacular Samsung’s optical 10x zoom was after we first noticed it. The depth of subject at any zoom is superb, making your photographs punchy and professional-looking.

The Xiaomi 15 Extremely’s digital camera suffered a bit in comparison with the wonderful Xiaomi 14 Extremely, however the 17 Extremely returns to the 14 Extremely’s heights. I am keen on the pure, but nonetheless vibrant colours, the number of Leica-tuned filters, and the velocity of the digital camera app itself. Evening efficiency in any respect zoom ranges can also be excellent.

Versatility isn’t as fascinating if the digital camera isn’t succesful, however the Xiaomi 17 Extremely nails each points, and this encourages you to make use of it at each alternative. It’s unbelievable, and different telephones launched in 2026 are going to should work very arduous to beat it.

Battery life critically disappoints

Larger capability, shorter use time?

It’s time for instance the huge gulf between the highs of the digital camera and the lows of the Xiaomi 17 Extremely’s battery life and charging.

Sure, the 6,000mAh battery is smaller in capability than the Chinese language model of the telephone, however I’ve struggled to get two days use from a single cost, and that’s when utilizing the telephone calmly. Push in the direction of 5 hours of display screen time, and the battery lasts for a single day.

That is poor efficiency, and the Xiaomi 17 Extremely falls nicely behind the successful OnePlus 15, the Google Pixel 10 Professional XL, and the Apple iPhone 17 Professional Max. My common use sees the battery in all these telephones simply attain day three on a single cost.

It doesn’t appear to be an effectivity situation, at the least by means of apps. Comparatively easy video games like Retro Racing 2 take only a few % from the battery when taking part in for half-hour, and a 30-minute 1440p YouTube video takes 4%. That is what I’d count on from any present smartphone.

The telephone doesn’t include a charger within the field. I used an Anker charger, which charged at round 40W, and it took 20 minutes to achieve 50%, and 100% in about an hour. Use proprietary charging {hardware}, and it’ll cost at 90W with a cable, and 50W wirelessly.

I’ve been utilizing the Xiaomi 17 Extremely forward of its official launch, and the brief battery life could also be improved with a software program replace sooner or later. Within the meantime, and positively based mostly on my expertise now, the Xiaomi 17 Extremely’s battery life is a substantial draw back, and much behind one of the best of the competitors.

Sturdiness considerations

An sudden drawback

For my assessment, I used the Xiaomi 17 Extremely as my on a regular basis Android telephone for at the least two weeks, and as I entered the third week, I encountered an issue.

Upon going to cost the battery in a single day, I encountered sudden resistance from the USB-C port, virtually like one thing was caught inside it and wouldn’t let the cable finish seat correctly. This had not occurred earlier than.

My remedy of the telephone was the identical as another assessment system, and I had not dropped it. It nonetheless appeared to cost accurately once I tried it the day after, however I didn’t like the thought of leaving it to recharge whereas I used to be asleep, if the cost cable wasn’t making a safe connection.

I used to be left not trusting the telephone and anxious over sturdiness. This can be an remoted incident, and I’m utilizing an early assessment pattern of the telephone, which can additionally play an element, however I check dozens of telephones annually, and {hardware} considerations or failures are very uncommon.

Elsewhere, the telephone has Xiaomi’s Defend Glass 3.0, which it claims is 30% extra drop resistant than the 15 Extremely, and an IP68 mud and water resistance score.

What else do you’ll want to know?

High spec smartphone

The Xiaomi 17 Extremely is one other top-tier Android telephone with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and, in my assessment mannequin, 16GB of RAM.

Xiaomi isn’t eager to tell us extra about its efficiency as a result of it blocked the benchmarking app 3DMark from working, however Geekbench 6 labored. It returned a 3684 single-core and 11111 multi-core rating. The OnePlus 15, which additionally makes use of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, recorded a 3504 single-core and a 10657 multi-core rating in the identical check.

The 6.9-inch OLED display screen has a 1-120Hz refresh fee, HDR10+, and a 3500 nits peak brightness. The 2608 x 1200 pixel decision loses out to telephones just like the Samsung Galaxy S26 Extremely, nevertheless it nonetheless appears to be like nice, and I have not seen any points with viewing in daylight. Colours and distinction ranges are robust, and mixed with the actually clear and highly effective stereo audio system, watching video and taking part in video games is unbelievable.

The telephone has Android 16 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS interface put in. There are numerous pre-installed apps to kind out, settings to be modified, and changes to be made throughout startup and the primary few days. Setting your individual wallpaper is a ache due to a complicated interface, however the remainder of the telephone is easy to know and use.

I’ve used the telephone within the UK related to EE’s 5G community, and reception has been wonderful, and it has maintained a 5G sign even in low protection areas. Sadly, I did discover Wi-Fi efficiency being slower than I anticipated, notably when downloading apps from Google Play.

Must you purchase the Xiaomi 17 Extremely?

This all brings me to the irritating inconsistency with Xiaomi telephones, which has been highlighted by my time with the 17 Extremely. The final Xiaomi telephone I reviewed was the 15T Professional, the place the battery life was stellar, Wi-Fi efficiency was robust, and the {hardware} felt sturdy and costly.

It’s a disgrace Xiaomi hasn’t nailed the basics with the 17 Extremely, as a result of the digital camera is unbelievable, and a return to kind after the 15 Extremely’s slight misstep. It’s the primary motive to purchase the telephone, offered you’re conscious that another points essential to on a regular basis use could let it down.

I say “could,” as a result of I don’t assume my points with the telephone will have an effect on each Xiaomi 17 Extremely. Nevertheless, I’ve to assessment the telephone in entrance of me, and treating a smartphone buy as “pot luck” in terms of battery longevity and {hardware} sturdiness is a dangerous resolution.

It doesn’t cease me enthusiastic about the sensible digital camera, although.

8/10

SoC

Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5

Show dimensions

6.9-inch

Battery

6,000mAh

Rear digital camera

50MP most important / 200MP telephoto / 50MP wide-angle

When the digital camera is that this good, it is doable to forgive the brief battery life and sturdiness considerations, however these have stopped the Xiaomi 17 Extremely from being a 9/10 telephone.