Geolette Marie Esguerra

Article (news)

Xiaomi 17T Pro is a Photographer's Dream

<p>Whenever someone asks me why I’m so enamored with the Leica system, I tell them that Leica gives a feeling of street photography at its finest.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17819360604601781884315189.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Taken using the Xiaomi 17 for our upcoming 48 Hours in Singapore story</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>Somehow it translate how you feel in the scene having taken the photo, capturing that alchemy of color magic and tonal atmosphere. Which is why it’s a photographer’s system, one that is uniquely personal. Many photographers would have a work system, but the Leica, often is what they bring when they are most themselves, whether traveling or just exploring.</p><p>Having the<a href="https://metro.style/culture/2026/6/20/chef-josh-boutwood-s-culinary-tribute-to-the-xiaomi-17-series-0800" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Leica system on a phone</a> as smart and intuitive as the Xiaomi was such a delight when I tried the Xiaomi 14 Ultra in 2024. At that time, I lined it up with the <strong>Leica TL2 </strong>and the <strong>Leica SL2</strong> and found the colors so similar that it became my camera for the next few days I had the phone. It was sad when I eventually had to return the unit, but it left me with many beautiful photos in the process.</p><p>Years after, 2026, it was a delight when I discovered that Xiaomi added to its T series of premium flagship phones to unveil the <strong>Xiaomi 17T</strong> and <strong>Xiaomi 17T Pro</strong>. And how it is so reasonably priced that it’s almost a steal.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>Leica in the Xiaomi 17T Pro</strong></div><p>A lot of people have a hard time believing that the Leica system is really a living, breathing part of the Xiaomi 17T series, but are pleasantly surprised that it’s in all the little details. It combines Leica optics with Xiaomi’s technology, so the Xiaomi 17T Pro in particular comes with a 50MP main camera and an ultra-large 1/1.31-inch sensor that both combine Leica UltraPure optical design with a 1G + 6P hybrid Leica lens structure. This is actually what helps render fine detail with amazing quality, while the large aperture gives a dynamic range and can beautifully render depth of field.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17819365563731781926680040.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">At 24mm wide for a full city view</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><br/><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17819367420341781926680006.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Then closer at 115mm</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17819367765141781926679982.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">And fully zoom in on an object that not even the naked eye can see well, at 807mm using the telephoto lens</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>What’s special about this line is that the Xiaomi 17T series brings in the <strong>Leica 5x telephoto camera</strong> to both models, and it opens up a whole range, all 50 megapixels of it. From 30cm macro photography, to optical-grade zoom, to 120x AI Ultra Zoom—at moonshot levels. So much so that the Xiaomi 17T series is called The Telephoto Master. For creators, it gives flexibility to shoot from very near, like in food photography, to very far.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17819368541161781934504493.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Even when we captured this in Singapore at 115mm while in a moving car—you can see so much detail!</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>For videos, the telephoto system also enhances videography, as the 17T Pro comes with Xiaomi’s first <strong>4K 60fps cinematic recording </strong>that gives such a natural background bokeh whenever I take videos of a moving subject, or even when I create a vlog. It’s definitely a more immersive visual experience.</p><div><br/></div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17819365242531781926680193.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><br/></div><p>It has also proven to be quite the Swiss-army knife when it comes to events, with the telephoto combined with a <strong>Stage function</strong> that shows improvement in photos and videos for complex lighting. Great for concerts, event stages, and other scenes that involve dynamic lighting.</p><div> <br/><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17819364764931781936044867.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/></div><div><strong>Leica Live Moments means never missing another shot</strong></div><p>One novel feature of the Xiaomi 17T is the Leica Live Moment, which captures the exact second you press the shutter, but also preserves the movements and expressions before and after that moment. It gives interesting context to photography, and even lets you select the scene you like best. The Leica Live Moment delivers dynamic imaging with Leica’s signature aesthetic, so you have a new tool for storytelling beyond a single frame, capturing emotion and narrative in every shot.</p><p>This also works in Portrait mode via a toggle, so you can also use it when taking portraits of a subject. You can also try saving the live moment as a video or as a GIF so you have a moving image you can post on IG or TikTok. And if you really want to take it up a notch, there’s also Live cinematography for the Xiaomi 17T Pro, with its Ultra-HD Live Moment in 4K and other zoom effects.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1781936983895Xiaomi 17T Series_T_R15.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">The Xiaomi 17T in Deep Blue and Deep Violet</span></span></span></strong></div><div><strong><br/></strong></div><div><strong>Pretty all over from design to color</strong></div><div><br/></div><p>The Xiaomi 17T Pro has a premium and modern design, available in colors Deep Blue, Deep Violet, and classic Black. It has a brushed finish that extends around the sides, coming with a square camera module on the upper left side.</p><p>During evenings, it alerts you to change the lighting mode and protect your eyes via its advanced eye-care technology of Xiaomi Vision Care. This automatically adapts to ambient light conditions, manages blue light, flicker, and motion blur for all-day comfort.</p><p>The screen itself is a joy: it has a 1.5K AMOLED display with 3500-nit peak brightness and looks good even while taking photos outdoors under direct sunlight.</p><p>I’ve watched several Chinese dramas on streaming as well (<a href="https://metro.style/search?q=pursuit%20of%20jade#gsc.tab=0&amp;gsc.q=pursuit%20of%20jade&amp;gsc.page=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Pursuit of Jade</em></strong></a><strong><em></em> </strong>and <a href="https://metro.style/search?q=ashes%20to%20crown#gsc.tab=0&amp;gsc.q=ashes%20to%20crown&amp;gsc.page=1" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"><strong><em>Ashes to Crown</em></strong></a>, ahem), as well as played a few hours of <em>Resident Evil Survival Unit</em> and <em>Subway Surfers</em>, so I found the up to 144Hz frame rate a sweet spot for a smooth and buttery immersive viewing experience.</p><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17819377188571781926680108.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">Super telephoto—First I took this photo from the dock of Discovery Samal, at 23mm focal length<br/><br/></span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17819377663561781926680086.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">And then zoomed in at 230mm while standing on the same spot. Travelers would love this feature!</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><div><strong>All-day power</strong></div><p>The Xiaomi 17T Pro has become a workhorse for work and play for me, taking me thousands of photos for photography and hours of footage on video taken across editing apps like CapCut, Filmora, or Adobe Photoshop. But what’s most impressive is that it lasts throughout the entire day of making content, with its whopping 7000mAh battery that gives an average of 1.88 days of use. And when charging is necessary, the 100W wired HyperCharge gives a very quick recharge to send me back on my way to shooting.</p><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17819376090141781926680158.jpeg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner">There&#x27;s something simply magical about the color science of Leica</span></span></span></div><div><br/></div><p>So, there you have it: Leica magic now with the range of a telephoto camera, an innovative Leica Live Moment, and a superb battery life—you can take your photography and content creation to an entirely new level.</p><div><br/></div>

<p>Experience the seamless fusion of professional-grade photography and mobile innovation with the Xiaomi 17T Pro. This review explores how the device integrates Leica optics—including an advanced telephoto system and the novel Leica Live Moment feature—into a sleek, high-performance smartphone.</p>

Experience the seamless fusion of professional-grade photography and mobile innovation with the Xiaomi 17T Pro. This review explores how the device integrates Leica optics—including an advanced telephoto system and the novel Leica Live Moment feature—into a sleek, high-performance smartphone.

Leica Magic in Your Pocket: Why the Xiaomi 17T Pro is a Travel Photographer's Dream

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Leica Magic in Your Pocket: Why the Xiaomi 17T Pro is a Travel Photographer's Dream

Geolette Marie Esguerra

Published June 19, 2026 08:00 PM PHT

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Updated June 20, 2026 02:49 PM PHT

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Xiaomi 17T Pro

Leica

Photography

Smartphone

Telephoto

Camera

Leica Live Moment

Battery

Innovation

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