Xiaomi 17 vs 17 Ultra Review: 3 Reasons to Buy the Regular

Xiaomi has significantly advanced its flagship smartphone offerings, as evidenced by the Xiaomi 17 series. When compared to most other options available today, these phones leave little room for criticism.

Having used the newly-released Xiaomi 17 for some time, I found it surpassed my initial expectations. While Alex Walker-Todd conducted the full review, my personal experience with the device has underscored its competitive edge, even when compared to its pricier sibling, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.

In recent weeks, I’ve been evaluating both the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra to determine which model is more suitable for most consumers. Surprisingly, the Xiaomi 17 stands out. It offers nearly everything expected from a flagship at a lower starting price of £899, compared to £1,299 for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.

Moreover, its compact nature is a rare find among flagship phones. The 6.3-inch display of the Xiaomi 17 is smaller than the trending 6.8- or 6.9-inch screens of many modern devices. While not as small as older models like the iPhone mini, it remains comfortably compact and easy to handle with one hand.

Does the Xiaomi 17 truly offer the ideal balance compared to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, or is the larger model worth the extra expense? Let’s explore further.

1. You get the same performance

Performance is a major factor favoring the Xiaomi 17 over the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor, Qualcomm’s latest flagship chip using a 3 nm process. With identical chipsets, the performance difference is negligible, with price being the only distinguishing factor.

I tested both models with intensive mobile games to identify any performance variations. Playing Genshin Impact on both the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra revealed no lag or stutter; both provided smooth gameplay. Similarly, Call of Duty Mobile ran seamlessly on both devices.

The memory and storage technologies are consistent across both models, featuring LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage, ensuring rapid app loading, multitasking, and file transfers.

The main distinction lies in configuration options. The Xiaomi 17 offers 12GB RAM with either 256GB or 512GB of storage, whereas the Xiaomi 17 Ultra expands to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage.

For those who prioritize maximum RAM and storage, the Ultra is a logical choice. However, for most users, the Xiaomi 17 offers an equivalent performance experience.

2. The form factor is better

I have a preference for smaller phones. Historically, I used the compact Samsung Galaxy S23 and spent time with the Galaxy S21 FE. Displays around 6.2 or 6.3 inches tend to suit my needs best.

The Xiaomi 17 fits into this category with its 6.3-inch display. Despite its compact body, it provides a high-quality display experience.

The phone features an OLED screen protected by Xiaomi Shield Glass, the company’s answer to Gorilla Glass. After using the device for a month without a case or screen protector, I haven’t noticed any scratches.

The display offers a 120Hz LTPO refresh rate, dynamically adjusting between 1Hz and 120Hz based on usage. This is especially noticeable during gaming, social media browsing, or menu navigation.

With peak brightness of 3500 nits, outdoor visibility in bright sunlight is excellent. Other display features include HDR10+, Dolby Vision, and DC dimming. 

Thanks to its balanced design, the Xiaomi 17 is easy to operate with one hand, whether scrolling, typing messages, or taking photos and videos.

Larger phones often don’t allow for such ease of use. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra, for instance, feels top-heavy due to its large camera module. Using it one-handed can be awkward, requiring you to adjust your grip and stretch your thumb to access the top of the screen.

Chris Martin / Foundry

Another concern is grip. On the Xiaomi 17, the camera module is positioned in the upper-left corner, leaving ample space for finger placement. By contrast, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s larger, more centrally located camera island forces your index finger into an awkward position.

3. The battery and charging are better

One might expect the pricier Xiaomi 17 Ultra to excel in battery life and charging speed, yet this isn’t the case.

While the Xiaomi 17 Ultra boasts a 6000mAh battery, the Xiaomi 17 manages to include a slightly larger 6330mAh battery within its smaller frame.

Charging capabilities are also superior in the Xiaomi 17, supporting 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. In comparison, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra supports 90W wired and only 15W wireless charging.

During testing, the Xiaomi 17 achieved over 35 hours in a continuous video playback test. For daily use, the phone consistently lasted a full day, handling Wi-Fi browsing, video streaming, app usage, video recording, and even a couple of hours of gaming.

Foundry | Alex Walker-Todd

Charging efficiency is also noteworthy. In my tests, the Xiaomi 17 reached 50 percent in about 22 minutes, allowing a quick charge to last the rest of the day.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra takes closer to 30 minutes to reach around 60 percent. Although still fast, it doesn’t match the Xiaomi 17’s speed. Moreover, the Ultra’s larger display consumes more power, affecting battery longevity.

Xiaomi 17 is ideal for most people

Unless you’re seeking a phone that competes with a DSLR, the Xiaomi 17 is the better option. It’s compact, features an outstanding display, and offers exceptional performance. The camera quality remains strong, with a capable triple-camera system of 50+50+50Mp that meets most needs.

Notably, one of the three advantages isn’t even its lower price!