Xiaomi 17 Ultra
The claim: The Xiaomi 17 Ultra's telephoto lens is the world's first smartphone camera to receive Leica APO (apochromatic) optical certification.
by Xiaomi
◐ Mixed evidence · Well sourced (9 sources)
By PixPause Editorial · 2 min read · Verified September 22, 2026
Mostly true but oversold. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra genuinely is the first smartphone with a Leica APO-certified telephoto lens, and its camera is excellent, but independent DxOMark testing ranks it 6th overall, behind rivals like the Vivo X300 Pro, not the outright best camera phone the marketing implies.
Make your guess on the slip to reveal the answer- "The Xiaomi 17 Ultra's telephoto lens is the world's first smartphone camera to receive Leica APO (apochromatic) optical certification."✓ HOLDS
- "The Xiaomi 17 Ultra sets a new imaging benchmark and represents the best camera phone available."◐ PARTLY TRUE
BUYING THE HYPE
▸ HYPE VS REALITY
Xiaomi and Leica marketed the 17 Ultra as a camera-first flagship built around a genuine imaging breakthrough: its 200MP periscope telephoto is billed as the world's first smartphone lens to earn Leica's APO (apochromatic) optical certification, paired with a 1-inch Leica main sensor, positioning the phone as a new benchmark for Android imaging.
DxOMark's independent lab testing gave the 17 Ultra a combined camera score of 166 (170 photo / 157 video) -- a strong result that beats the Honor Magic 8 Pro, but one that lands the phone 6th overall, behind the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra, the Vivo X300 Pro, and a tie between the Oppo Find X8 Ultra and Apple iPhone 17 Pro, according to DxOMark's own ranking as covered by Gizmochina and Phandroid. Android Central's hands-on review was more enthusiastic, calling the imaging system an upgrade that 'makes the Galaxy S26 Ultra obsolete,' and multiple outlets including PetaPixel, CineD and LeicaRumors independently confirmed the headline claim: this is the first Leica APO-certified lens on any smartphone.
The headline claim -- first Leica APO-certified smartphone lens -- is real and independently confirmed, and reviewers agree the telephoto camera is excellent. But the implicit 'best camera phone' framing oversells it: DxOMark's own numbers put three separate phones, including a same-generation Vivo, ahead of it.
This verdict would change if new, credible evidence emerged contradicting the claim "The Xiaomi 17 Ultra's telephoto lens is the world's first smartphone camera to receive Leica APO (apochromatic) optical certification." — for example, an independent test or investigation finding the opposite of what's currently confirmed.
▸ CLAIM CHECK
- Xiaomi 17 Ultra Announced – Leica Co-Designed Triple Camera, 200MP Optical Zoom Telephoto — Xiaomi and Leica confirm the 17 Ultra's telephoto camera is the first Leica APO-certified optical design in a smartphone.
- I used the Xiaomi 17 Ultra for two weeks, and it makes the Galaxy S26 Ultra obsolete — Android Central calls the imaging system an upgrade that 'makes the Galaxy S26 Ultra obsolete.'
- Xiaomi 17 Ultra ranks among the world's best camera phones, beats Honor Magic 8 Pro on DXOMARK — DxOMark's own scoring puts the 17 Ultra 6th overall at 166 points, behind the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra, Vivo X300 Pro, and the tied Oppo Find X8 Ultra/iPhone 17 Pro.
Scorecard AI opinion ⓘ
▸ THE EVIDENCE ON YOUTUBE
The New Wave of Imagery is arriving | Xiaomi 17 Series
Xiaomi 17 Ultra - More Camera than Phone!
Marques Brownlee · 21.3M subscribers
Xiaomi 17 Ultra (Global model) review: Peak cameraphone
GSMArena Official · ~2M subscribers
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Review: More Camera Than Phone | All Things Mobile
CNET · 4.08M subscribers
Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica | Photographer's Honest Take - Game Changer or Overhyped?
Through Jermaine's Lens
▸ FAQ
Is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra's Leica APO certification real?
Yes. Xiaomi and Leica jointly confirmed the 200MP periscope telephoto lens is the first in any smartphone to earn Leica's APO (apochromatic) optical certification, a designation Leica normally reserves for its own dedicated cameras.
How does the Xiaomi 17 Ultra's camera compare to rivals?
DxOMark scored it 166 points overall, placing it 6th in their camera rankings: strong, but behind the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra, the Vivo X300 Pro, and a tied Oppo Find X8 Ultra/iPhone 17 Pro.