The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is not a phone that tries to disappear in your hand or your pocket. The gigantic circular Leica camera island still dominates the rear panel, just like on the previous model, but there is a subtle shift in design language. With a flatter back panel and flat side frame, the 17 Ultra leans into a cleaner, more minimal look than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra brings serious camera hardware. It is equipped with a 50MP 1"-type Light Fusion 1050L sensor with LOFIC HDR and other improvements. The 200MP telephoto camera (1/1.4" sensor) has a variable focal length lens that goes smoothly between 75mm and 100mm. It's joined by a 50MP 115° ultra-wide on the back.
Apple is widely rumored to be introducing variable aperture on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max later this year, and Samsung is apparently paying very close attention to iPhone-related rumors. That's because the Korean company is now said to be considering re-adding the feature to its lineup as well. The Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S10 both had variable aperture main cameras, but the feature was dropped with the Galaxy S20 generation in 2020.
iPhones have been the go-to smartphone for video recording for a long time, and Apple is taking it a step further with the iPhone 17 Pro series. The new Pro models support ProRes RAW video recording capabilities, allowing filmmakers to have greater creative freedom over their recordings. You can record 4K Dolby Vision videos at up to 120 fps via the main camera and up to 60 fps on the other two sensors.
The Honor Magic8 series will be unveiled in the fourth quarter of 2025 (October-December), reveals Honor CMO Guo Rui. "The upcoming #HonorMagic8# AI-native smartphone will be the most exciting flagship of Q4," writes Guo. We've heard through the grapevine that the Magic8 phones will have a dedicated AI button. While that hasn't been officially confirmed, Honor CEO James Li revealed that MagicOS 10 will have deep AI integration and will be able to automate many tasks.
The Huawei Pura 80 Ultra features the world's first switchable dual telephoto system, integrating two zoom lenses with a single sensor, enhancing smartphone photography capabilities.
Among its most exciting upgrades is the customizable Film Simulation dial—a first for any X Series camera, allowing users to switch film emulations on the fly.
I would still argue that the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a great option to consider with this deal. I started using the phone myself in January, and the moment I picked it up, it took me back to my freshman year of high school when I received the iPhone 8 Plus Rose Gold.
