I have noticed Xiaomi 17T and Vivo X200T have better battery size, chipsets, and optical zoom. While Samsung Galaxy A57 focuses on software experience. I am considering these three options, but I am confused which one is the most compelling right now.
Is Xiaomi 17 Ultra the best camera phone of 2026 so far? Are there any other options available?
I am a frequent traveller, and like to shoot locations more often. I especially like to capture mountains. As a professional photographer, I never liked using a smartphone. I only use it to capture moments for a family photo or to collect memories. With the recently launched Xiaomi 17 Ultra, I am excited to shoot with it, from action shots to portraits to nighttime cityscapes. It has a 200 MP Leica camera and mechanical zoom capabilities, enabling you to record video with autofocus.
Lately, it feels like every new phone comes with a bigger camera bump than the last one. The new Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the biggest example. At this point, some phones wobble on the table unless you use a case.
