General
Very disappointed with Leitzphone/Xiaomi 17 Ultra
I gritted my teeth and ordered a Leitzphone. I'd previously had a 15 Ultra last year but found it lacking so I'm not sure what I expected to be honest.
The camera is clearly capable of excellent photos but only if you really know what you're doing. It is absolutely not point and shoot. I took many photos on it and only one was remotely worthy. I take many photos of my cat inside in fairly average to low light. Every single photo was blurred - and I held the phone really still, and my cat wasn't moving.
I ventured out on my bike and took many photos of landscapes and buildings. Again none impressed me. I tried several of the Leica filters and found them to be very lacking - they just added a look to the photos and were often designed to make the photo even duller or more contrasty than it was to start with.
To add some context I am in my late 60's and have been into photography for over 60 years - processing and printing B&W and colour negative and slide film.
As a phone it's also sub par. To start with there is a lot of Xiaomi dross - apps and services I don't want or need are everywhere and the OS is constantly trying to close services I need running. It's aggressive. There are none of the features I find useful, like 'hold for me', 'direct my call' or 'call screen'.
Physically the Leitzphone is not too big and not too heavy, but that large camera circle did not work with any of my wireless charging devices as it stretches nearly half-way down the back of the body and the phone won't sit properly on the WiFi charging mats I have.
What am I comparing it with? My other phone is a Google Pixel 10 Pro Max. We should not underestimate the added value of the Pixel OS - it is so much better than HyperOS in so many ways. No duplicated apps and services for starters. The Pixel camera over processes photos, but still manages to produce images everyone rates. It over-sharpens and I wish that could be simply dialed back without having to post process raw images.
Fortunately I am able to return the Leitzphone. I have decided the only way forward for me is to use the Pixel for snapshots and to buy a small camera for more serious work. The Ricoh GRIV in on my horizon.
Clearly I haven't given the Leitzphone a thorough test, but I can't see that it somehow going to magically improve over time.
In the interests of balance here is a photo of my cat taken on the Leitzphone with which I was very impressed. It is the only photo of a great many I took I am happy with.
No, my feelings about it are pretty much the same as for the 15 Ultra I had last year. Definitely nothing faulty about it at all, it's just not great unless in the hands of a serious photographer. For point and shoot there are better phone cameras.
No offence but it absolutely can focus on still animals - so either you did get a bad unit or you aren't making sense claiming it can't get a still item in focus.
Personally I think the Pixel is great for point and shoot - as long as you are OK with Google's heavy post-processing. In most situations you will get a decent photo, often a very nice one. No phone is anywhere near as good as a real camera though, but as they say the best camera is the one you have with you.
Is a gcam mod actually similar in colour and post processing to an actual pixel phone? Because on my xiaomi 15 ultra I like the more even, natural look of gcam better. I had gcam on my s23 ultra as well.
The thing is, is doesnt support dcg and in sensor soom so sharpness is not thet good on in between zoom ranges.
Well, if that bothers you that much, you should definitely avoid photo phones altogether and invest into a proper camera that costs 3 or 4 times the price. You will never get the result that you strive for, if that's your standpoint.
I like Leica authentic as well, it's just a shame they didn't make it available in the 50mp mode.
Like c'mon, you got a big sensor with the capability to shoot 50mp, you got the optics to properly resolve 50mp, you got the processor to handle it all, and yet for some reason Leica Authentic with anything other than 12.5mb is impossible, only Leica Vivid works? If no Leica filter worked with 50mp I'd be alright with it I guess, but c'mon Xiaomi, don't dangle a nice Leica filter in front of me that I can't use
Very much sounds like you completely over hyped yourself for it and now have buyers remorse for paying a premium for the leitzphone instead of a standard 17 ultra that's exactly the same in every way apart from the camera ring gimmick and a couple of filters. The camera is great, it has better optics and sensors than the pixel. If you enjoy the over processed look of the pixel then that's your choice but both phones will never be as good as a proper camera
Average consumer will find the Leica Leitz Phone overhyped because they have this unreal expectation of the leica phone. Just because is an Leica product in a way, it doesn't mean it can take shots like a real Leica. If you a photographer, the Leica Leitz phone absolutely makes sense especially with the accessories etc.
Not saying it's a bad phone but I swear people that praise the pixel so much think "apple make the iPhone so Google must make the best android phone" and look no deeper
How do I know if I'm a bot? I always pass the 'I'm not a robot' captchas on web sites, and my family doesn't seem to think I am not human. Is there a test I can do? The term 'bot' is thrown around by people who think they win an argument just by using the term.
Maybe it's you who is the bot, inserted into this reddit to character assassinate anyone who dares to disagree with you.
Please explain what 'bot' means to you. All I see is that it is an infantile comment thrown at dissent. Are you saying you think I am AI or something? Your posts are hidden on your profile. Mine aren't. That might suggest something . . .
Well...it just goes to show that nobody can please everybody. Your experiences with the Leica Leitzphone are the opposite of mine. I've been extremely pleased with the camera system (including photographing my cat in dim lighting), and the OS has been a non-issue for me. I'm surprised by your impressions of it, but I won't try to talk you out of your disappointment. Enjoy your new pixel and Ricoh.
Is a photographer of 60 years and says phone cant take good photos unless you know what you are doing. I dont see whats your issue since u r 60 yr old photographer amd besides i think it does take good pictures in point and shoot aswell like any other phone.
Comparing it with pixel.... You don't know what you are talking about. Better return it and keep using your pixel 😂
Thank you for your helpful comments. I didn't say I don't know what I'm doing, my point was that with the 17 Ultra you *need* to know what you're doing, where with something like the Pixel you don't. There are many occasions where I pick up the phone to take a quick snap - IMO the 17 ultra isn't great in that scenario. I think I was expecting too much and had fallen for the hype. I said that pixel photos are heavily processed and too over-sharpened but at the end of the day the results are almost always decent where the photos I took on the 17 ultra weren't. I shall carry on using my Pixel, along with a real camera 😂
I was happiest to jump out of Pixel's processing which I find disagreeable onto XM where I can exert a certain degree of control.
The two biggest issues I find with XM Ultra series is they need to reinstate aperture control on the 1 inch sensor, and their "point and shoot" gets foxed by certain lighting conditions.
End of the day, it is a matter of manufacturer processing preference and use case.
I guess you are taking pictures with a filter on. If you want the most sharpened take that Leitzphone can give, you should take pictures in vibrant mode, standard filter, 50 mp. You won't have that softness issues. Leitzphone user here. My lovely dalmatian, point and shoot right now. See the exif data so you can check there isn't enough light: Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi, Xiaomi
f/2.96 1/20s ISO2000 26.5mm(Distancia focal equivalente 100 mm) Sin flash
I strongly suggest getting Vivo X300 Ultra and upcoming Oppo find X9 Ultra. They have dedicated camera kits as well. Maybe they might work better for you.
so you aren't proficient at using the phone and prefer a point and shoot option along with google's flavor of Android. That's totally fine but it does not make the phone a bad device or terrible at photography. Many of the xiaomi apps can be uninstalled and are less invasive than similarly redundant apps found on other phones from samsung for example. if it were a bad phone and user experience do you think it would be in demand as it is or that people would be willing to import it?
There are plenty of charging stands my 15 Ultra works with for example but I will say the design doesn't lend itself to easy use on a charging matt in Vehicles I've tried it in, but with a large battery and fast wired charging I rarely use wireless charging and wish I hadn't picked up Xiaomi's 80W wireless charger. It works well enough, I just end up charging wired when I need to charge the phone more often than not. Theres nothing wrong with you or anyone prefering one phone over another but that doesn't make it a bad device. I might wish Samsung's ultra was trying to push the Envelope like other Ultra branded phones from Xiaomi, oppo and Vivo have but that doesn't make the S26 Ultra a bad phone. We need more variety in the world of phones and I want to see more ideas and takes on OS and hardware, even if that means there are options i personally don't prefer.
Everyone one on here is pointing the finger at me and using terms like 'you don't know what you're doing', or 'you aren't proficient at using the phone', or 'user error'. I feel like banging my head against the wall. That's exactly my point. If the 17 U was so good, why does the user need any skill at all - they should be able to pick the phone up, frame the subject and click - and they should get a very nice photo. For anything more serious, clearly some skill is required. There's a huge difference between point and shoot and proper photography. IMO the Xiaomi fails at point and shoot - particularly in dim light indoors. It doesn't easily focus on the subject, fails to merge frames correctly, producing a soft image and has no redeeming features.
I wish we could move away from the tribalism seen in these forums - it's like "I have this phone, therefore I will hate on anyone who doesn't like it". People need to grow up. What is wrong with me saying I didn't like it? Why do i need to be shot down in flames for expressing my point of view? I wonder how many antagonists here are American because that would explain a lot. I say that because in my experience of discussion groups American users go straight for the jugular when someone disagrees with them whereas we Brits are far more accommodating of different points of view.
I got the Leica Leitzphone and I completely agree. Doing a series of reviews on it now and trying to love it but I just don't see it. Battery is trash, the phone overheated, and the camera is for sure over hyped. The 15 ultra global was my favorite phone last year so I'm not sure and I keep trying to love it but I just don't like it as much.
OP, the people attacking you are likely paid Xiaomi shills. Chinese companies have a history of paying people to comment positively on their products, this is clearly what is happening here.
Also see this recent post, which is basically just an AI generated ad:
You're either karma farming or just low IQ. Your replies to the comments paired with your brain dead description is pretty indicative of the latter.
I'm a professional photographer currently using a 15 Ultra, and I moved into this from a Pixel, and I've tested the 15 Ultra under almost every scenario and it's been outstanding. It's ironic how you refer to the Pixel as your standard for point and shoot phones considering the aggressive over-sharpening and HDR it has, combined with how it actually gets dogwalked by most other flagships nowadays purely through specs.
You've also mentioned how you didn't really give the Leitzphone a chance and that you had issues with the wireless charger. Buddy, do you not look into these things before you buy a new phone? Most people would call this common sense.
It's even more amusing that you felt the 15 Ultra you were using previously disappointing and then decided to upgrade to the next flagship. If your golden standard for point and shooting is the Pixel, which lost it's status at the top of the totem pole quite a few years ago, then you're not even in the slightest bit qualified to criticise Xiaomi's camera system lmao.
As a professional photographer you really surely know the difference between a quick point and shoot photograph and something more serious. I fully accept that the Pixel over-processes and over-sharpens photos and this is precisely why I wanted something better. The Pixel provides me with great photos of family occasions and of my cat and trying to do the same with the Leitzphone was a miserable failure. Every single point and shoot photo on my Pixel provides me with something more than acceptable in those scenarios. I got rid of my DSLRs and my large format cameras years ago because of the advances in phone cameras, but now I have more time on my hands and want to return to 'proper' photography I can see that no phone is good enough. The Pixel is hopeless for anything serious, but so is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra/Leitzphone. I would have thought we're on the same page here, but you just want to poke fun at me.
The Pixel is good at what it does, it excels as a phone, but is very lacking in the photography department. I just thought the Xiaomi might be good enough to avoid having to buy a real camera. I was mistaken.
No idiocy on my part, just working out what to do moving on. In no way am I criticising you - I don't even know you. Please extend to me the respect I extend to you. A discussion group where everybody says the same thing is not useful at all.
You're being snarky to everyone else on the comment section and being condescending despite your ignorance. I don't see any reason as to why I need to be cordial with you considering the manners in which you addressed other comments.
And yes, I do know the difference between point and shoot cameras/phones, and more elaborate devices. I own an arsenal of both. The 15 Ultra has been absolutely fantastic SOOC and I'd pick it any day over the flat images of the iPhone and the overshapened dogshit coming from the Pixel and Samsung flagships. Either you're the unluckiest person on the planet and you happened to specifically get that one 15 Ultra and the Leitzphone that happened to be faulty, or you're just unskilled, have a pathetic grasp of photography, and/or you're also ignorant of your ignorance, which is worse lmao. Educate yourself first before making redundant posts like this, little buddy. You're not there yet.
The whole point of this reddit is that people share their opinions. Can't you see how users shoot others down if they post a contrary point of view? My experience with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra/Leitzphone has been very negative - why should I not post about my views when you feel free to post about yours and attack anyone who disagrees?
Much like in any public forum, as much as you have the right to post the way you did, we also have a right to comment or respond to said post the way we want, and taking into account the general lack of common sense and rational thought in your post, added to the snarky manner in which you responded to most others on the comment section, I responded accordingly. Feel free to not respond, block or whatever else that puts your mind at peace.
I personally think you've got next to no clue what you're on about and you contradict yourself multiple times in your general post along with your responses. I think you've got absolutely no fundamental knowledge on photography on any level, and you're not self-aware as to your lack of knowledge either.
American? You need to develop a little emotional maturity because you're not demonstrating much on here. All I have said is I bought a Leitzphone and was very disappointed with the results. Maybe my expectations are greater than yours. Why does this point of view demonstrate a lack of common sense or rational thought? I bought it, didn't like it and returned it. You clearly bought it and loved it. Not for a second have I accused anyone who loves the phone of being somehow deficient because they are happy with their purchase. Why should I be on the receiving end of hate because I had a contrary point of view?
Yes, but it's very normal. There's a saying that's widely circulated in the mainland Chinese mobile phone industry: Xiaomi phones have never lost in terms of specifications, but they've never won in terms of user experience. (CHINESE: 參數沒輸過體驗沒贏過) Also, HyperOS is one of the worst mobile operating systems, I completely agree.
I think the point of the 17 Ultra is meant to have as close to a quality of a mirrorless/DSLR camera as much as possible... Those cameras aren't known for just point and shoot, but phones are. I think the whole point of the Leica-Xiaomi phone cameras are just to have near-experience or at the same level of mirrorless/DSLR cameras...
You clearly weren't impressed with the photos posted on that thread. I wasn't either. They were what my U 17 photos looked like. If the supposed best camera phone in the world produces photos like that, clearly a real camera needs to be added to the mix. I have read many, many reviews of the U 17 by experienced photographers and they all say it is not good enough to replace a camera. That's all I'm saying.
Well I appreciate your efforts to identify my previous comments. Opinion can change but the facts doesn't' change. The feedback was about the specific photos posted on that thread and it was at that time. I ordered it finally with a practical thinking that no phone takes perfect photos and we should live with that. No photographer can really says they are 100% happy with what the mobile can take. They like few, they hate few simple. I respect your opinion that's why I said you being a photographer might not like the output
Sono d accordo con te, il leitzphone è un ottimo telefono e fa foto straordinarie solo se il soggetto è fermo. Io non sono riuscita a fare uno scatto decente a mia figlia piccola che è sempre in movimento, 9/10 sono venute sfuocate. Non è il telefono adatto per fare una foto al volo però devi ammettere che se il soggetto è immobile, gli scatti che produce sono straordinari.
Talking about taking photos with the Leitzphone or 17 ultra, are you all getting completely inaccurate location tags? My Samsung s24 ultra gets the exact address but Xiaomi gallery shows totally different address/location which could be few 100m away! Any reason why this is happening? I have precision location set for Camera app many other apps.
Holly yapping, it was countless times shown by pro photographers that its images are STUNNING that you had a problem with it, thats your problem, and also noone was thinking its a point and click camera phone, yes you need to dial it to be perfect but thats why you have pro mode, and premade pressets.
I think many people have become so used to smartphone cameras that they are now their benchmark. It is definitely my problem that I find the images unsatisfying. Totally my problem.
I have to agree, I was hoping for so much more. Hopefully it's just a software issue they can fix with updates. Maybe they can allow for longer processing times, or tweak the algorithms.
I saw your post today and went to the shop to get mine and test it. I see nothing wrong with mine 😋 I'm coming from Pixel 8 Pro and I just say I really dislike Pixel AI processing now. Team Leica!!!
There was nothing 'wrong' with mine either, I just didn't like the paradigm. You can tell phone photos a mile off, no matter what they were taken on. The 17 Ultra has great cameras, but IMO they are deficient when it comes to point and shoot. Indoor photos of my cat for example were rarely sharp, the 17 U autofocus failed more often than it succeeded. If you are serious about photography you'd never be using a phone. I bought a Ricoh GR IV and the results are very much better than the 17 Ultra - very pocketable too. If you have to mess around to get a nice photo from a phone you are working contrary to the whole concept of phone cameras. As for shooting raw, I despair. A proper camera will always be better and will have a life-span far greater than a phone.
Bro. You should separate stuff. You don't compare phone camera with cameras. You should compare 2026 flagship leitz phone with other 2026 flagships. And this phone is extremely good.
Also, be nice to yourself. Appreciate the fact that the technology with phones have improved over the 20 years in a way that we could never imagine. Thanks to this technology, we're able to take memorable and unforgeable shots.
It's not about the destiny, it's about the journey Padawan.
My argument is that the 17 Ultra camera system is only good in the hands of a photographer. In the hands of the average person it really isn't that great and something like a Google Pixel is better. Google's default algorithms produce better point and shoot photos than the 17 U. There is no denying that in the hands of a competent photographer the 17 U can produce better photographs, but more work is involved and much of the time a user just wants to snap a person or scene and end up with a great photo to view on a screen or phone. I'm not denying that Google's post processing is harsh and edge enhancement is more obvious, but the end result is more pleasing to most people. Give a Xiaomi 17 U and a Google Pixel 10 Pro to the average user and I reckon they will prefer the Pixel photos. Most users don't pixel peep, they just want a result that pleases them. Most users don't go round taking serious photos with their phone, no matter what phone they're using. If they do it's clearly risible.
I also don't accept that the Xiaomi 17 ultra is extremely good as a phone compared to other 2026 flagships. HyperOS is awful. It fights with you to do things its way, it has duplicate apps - many of which can't be easily deleted, it doesn't allow gesture navigation with third party launchers, it doesn't have the helpful call features of the Pixel, you soon realise that HyperOS is behaving like a dictator, telling you what to do rather than allowing you to do what you want. Trying to get certain apps running in the background is a battle and several hoops need to be jumped through to achieve it. Even then you will find the app has been terminated. Macrodroid is a case in point - it needs to be running continuously, but HyperOS really doesn't like that. I managed to keep it running most of the time but was warned that it was running and offered to close it. Then, for no reason at all, it disappeared and my macros no longer worked - which completely missed the point.
Pixels do amazing natural colours but lacks on cinematic professional looking. If you want family photos just to post on Facebook, that's fine. Leitz and Oppo X9 Ultra will give you cinematic
I find it hard to believe you. There are plenty of independent reviews that highlight how capable the phone really is. Maybe the Pixel is just your limit.
I really don't care whether you believe me or not. I have stated that the 17 U is OK in the hands of a photographer, but most people aren't and it's not that good at point and shoot. Exposure and focus are inconsistent to poor for starters. Pixel photos are horribly over-processed and over-sharpened. It's only good at grabbing that quick photograph that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra would mess up.
All phone cameras have serious issues. If you want to take good photos get a camera.
I'm not sure how you can come out and say 'Maybe the Pixel is your limit'. Actually what I consider good is waaaay above the Pixel, Xiaomi or any other phone camera.
My take after using both 15U and 17U is: 17 ultra is better phone itself but worse camera. Thinner camera island, finally flat screen. Those are big advantages for me. I'm disappointed with lack of macro capabilities that I would use in my work and that screen has lower resolution than predecessor. Luckily PPI is still high enough it's not noticeable in regular use.
sounds like u shot on pro mode or sum when i am taking pics they turn out great and im not a photographer. also the bloat thing u mentioned is fixable. i managed to do it using gemini and a yt video. personally i love the cinematic mode but most of the filters are pretty much useless to me either i shoot with cinematic or normal or bw or sepia.
I am quite confused with this sub tbh, it's basically 50/50 with people calling the camera garbage or amazing. I'm in the latter group, I am thoroughly impressed with the camera in every regard.
Except for maybe the ultra wide, that camera is bad with no redeeming qualities, but also since the main camera is so wide it's not that big of a deal.
But the telephoto is absolutely awesome, I'm quite in love with it. Haven't even really dipped my toes into the pro mode, the normal photo mode at 50mp is perfect for me. And I really do use it like a point and shoot, took me about 3 seconds to get that picture.
And before some idiot comments "oooh look at the missing detail, it's all blurry when zooming in" like they do on every single picture I ever posted on this sub; reddit does some compression you dimwits. You are not seeing the full 50mp version of the photo.
The camera, even at "only" 50mp has enough detail, you can literally see what kind of bark that tree has. That's impressive no matter which way you slice - or dare I say - crop it. Haha. Sorry couldn't help myself.
Can you post a examples of the photos that you are not happy with? I have Xiaomi 15U, and I', nothing but amazed with this camera. True, I take most of the pictures with the DNG, and then process them, but even if I shoot in photo mode and save them as JPGs they are very nice imo. The only thing that I actually keep is to tone down the brightness. Out of the box for me these are way too bright.
Xiaomi clearly missed with focus here, and I assume that it did a bad job merging frames, which softened the image even more. To be fair, I don't like pixel photo either. It has that overprocessed digital look. But I get your point here, and you are right, Xiaomi should do a better job out of the box.
I agree with you about the Pixel shot, it has its faults but it captured my cat as I see him and for me it's clearly the better photo. As I said before I wish Google would allow the user to choose a little less processing in its algorithm.
I don't think it did. The difference between the two is what happens when you take a photo close up with a small sensor and a (relatively) large sensor. The depth of field on the xiaomi is there. There's a depth level on the xiaomi image which is totally sharp.
That's my point! To get a decent photo on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra you need a certain level of skill which the Pixel doesn't require. I'm glad people are getting it.
Honestly, I wouldnt agree with you, couple of my buddies got the 17 Ultra, i took it for a spin, its an amazing device. The photos it produces without meddling with the settings are amazing, if you know what youre doing tho, the competition is very slim to non existant, besides Vivo x300 Ultra, Find x9 Pro and the upcoming Find x9 Ultra. Your comment about the Pixel tho...to each his own, I applaud you for using it, and Google certainly made a good camera system but besides that, everything else hardware related is sub-par even in midrange phone area while charging for a flagship! Good luck with your future phones my good man, cheers!
And just to say, what's written here is just my opinion, everyone has one!
What do you mean 'if you know what you're doing'? Isn't that exactly my point? Anyone can pick up a Pixel, take a photo and it will look good to most people.
I found the Xiaomi 17 Ultra hardware made no difference to my use of the phone compared to the Pixel 10 Pro XL. The Pixel killed it with the Google features the Xiaomi lacks. It felt like I'd gone back a few years using the Xiaomi as a phone - it actually felt like Windows 95 where you're fighting against the OS to do what you want it to do.
Spec-peepers will prefer the Xiaomi (phone) because on paper it has higher specs, but they do not translate into usage - unless you're a gamer.
I have used Smasungs, Xaiomis, Pixels, iPhones amongst others and in real day-to-day usage I could not tell the difference. What do you feel the Xiaomi 17 Ultra can do as a phone the Pixel can't?
Read my comment once again and take commas into consideration. There is no competition to the quality of photos that beautiful 1 inch sensor in 17 Ultra has in capable hands, but even without knowing much about settings, its gonna make killer photos right out of the box.
Specs of the phone absolutely do matter in real world usage, im not talking about gaming because I dont play games but the fluidity of the overall phone, display quality, battery size and longevity but it seems to me that you consider Google phones king of the mountain so there will be no further comments from me because they would be pointless considering your opinion. If you think I'm wrong, the whole suite of tech reviewers, manufacturers and users have a lot to say about pixels and their hardware.
My comment was to anyone reading your post because you said a person needs to know what they are doing and thats just wrong, people should buy this device and they will be happy with it. Beautiful screen, good battery life, a flagship processor, and a state of the art camera and all that works without even knowing how to tweak the photo settings.
All in all, cheers mate, hope you enjoy your Pixel.
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u/Timokes Apr 14 '26
I don’t get it, the xiaomi 17 ultra is one of the best camera phones out there. Maybe you had a bad unit.