One of the best mid-range camera smartphones of 2026 | Xiaomi 17T in review

In addition to its Leica camera hardware, the Xiaomi 17T also has a lot to offer in terms of photography software. You can customize the settings in the camera app in both standard Photo mode and Pro mode. The device also supports RAW images and photos captured at the sensor’s native resolution.

Using a variety of subjects and lighting conditions, we examine the performance of both the main and telephoto cameras. To better contextualize the results, each scene was also captured with the Find X9 Ultra as a reference device.

We really like the photos taken with the Xiaomi 17T. They are very good for a mid-range device. In terms of exposure and color reproduction in particular, the Xiaomi 17T is every bit as good as the Find X9 Ultra. In fact, from our perspective, the Oppo flagship performs slightly worse in these areas. While Oppo visibly applies artificial sharpening to its photos, the shots from the Xiaomi 17T appear slightly softer and more natural. Overall, Xiaomi strikes a good balance in terms of image sharpness.

When we zoom in heavily on the photos, the advantage of the Find X9 Ultra’s larger sensors becomes apparent. The flagship phone also offers better dynamic range. Since the Xiaomi 17T is significantly more affordable (prices start at around $700 on Amazon.com), the quality it offers, especially at longer focal lengths, is quite impressive.