A detailed look at the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max’s triple camera system

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max carries one of the most advanced camera systems Xiaomi has ever produced. With Leica co-engineering, large sensors, and enhanced optical design, this flagship aims to compete with the very best from Samsung and Apple. Here’s a breakdown of how each lens performs — main, ultra-wide, and telephoto — based on verified specifications and early user impressions.

The main camera is a 50MP sensor with a large aperture of f/1.67 and Leica Summilux optics. This lens captures incredible detail in nearly all lighting conditions, with standout clarity and dynamic range. Daylight photos are rich in colour and sharpness, but what sets it apart is how it handles difficult lighting — highlights and shadows are balanced with minimal loss of texture. Indoors, the camera continues to perform impressively, maintaining detail and accurate white balance even under mixed artificial lighting. Thanks to the wide aperture and advanced processing from HyperOS, low-light performance is excellent, with very little noise. In side-by-side comparisons, this main lens rivals the iPhone 17 Pro Max in realism while producing slightly more vibrant colours.

The ultra-wide lens provides a 17mm equivalent focal length, also rated at 50MP. It delivers excellent colour consistency with the main sensor, which is a strong point for Xiaomi’s current camera tuning. The ultra-wide’s sharpness and distortion control are both well managed — edges remain crisp with minimal warping. Daylight landscapes look punchy and detailed, although the field of view is a bit narrower than some rivals, such as Samsung’s 14mm ultra-wide. Under lower light, performance remains decent, though not quite as clean as the main lens, as smaller apertures limit light capture. Even so, photos are usable, with only mild softening at the corners.

The telephoto lens might be the most exciting of the three. It offers a 5x optical zoom with a focal length around 115mm, making it ideal for portrait and distant shots. The telephoto’s detail preservation is particularly strong in daylight, where fine textures remain intact without over-sharpening. Colours stay natural, and depth of field is excellent for isolating subjects. In low light, the telephoto maintains good clarity, outperforming many Android competitors at the same zoom level. Digital zoom up to 10x still looks decent, though anything beyond that starts to show typical grain and processing artefacts.

In portrait mode, the combination of Leica optics and depth mapping results in natural bokeh, smooth subject separation, and impressive tonal accuracy. The phone also offers two Leica shooting profiles — Authentic and Vibrant — allowing users to choose between true-to-life tones or a richer cinematic look. Both options produce pleasing results, though the Vibrant mode tends to appeal more to those who enjoy punchier visuals.

When it comes to colour science, Xiaomi has fine-tuned all three lenses to deliver consistency. This is a significant improvement over older models where switching between lenses could result in noticeable colour or exposure shifts. Now, photos from the ultra-wide, main, and telephoto lenses blend seamlessly, giving a professional-grade look across the board.

Video recording is equally strong. The main lens supports up to 8K recording, while all three cameras offer 4K stabilised footage. Optical image stabilisation works effectively, keeping handheld shots smooth even while walking. The telephoto lens also delivers crisp 4K zoom footage with minimal jitter, giving the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max excellent versatility for mobile videography.

Overall, Xiaomi’s triple-lens setup delivers one of the most balanced camera performances seen in any smartphone so far. The main sensor provides flagship-level power, the ultra-wide lens ensures creativity and flexibility, and the telephoto adds genuine reach without sacrificing quality. Combined with Leica’s precision tuning and strong low-light capability, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max stands as one of the most complete camera systems on any Android flagship.

For UK buyers, the takeaway is simple — the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max delivers professional-grade photography in all conditions. Each lens offers its own strength, and together they provide a cohesive, premium imaging experience that can comfortably challenge the biggest names in the market.

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