Vivo X300 Ultra has a dual 200 MP setup with ZEISS optics and a 400 mm teleconverter, while the Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a 1-inch Leica sensor with a mechanical zoom of 75-100 mm. Both phones target photographers, but the philosophy of each is completely different — Vivo focuses on raw power and zoom range, while Xiaomi emphasizes the atmosphere of photos and hardware HDR. Which one better replaces a compact camera? If you’re looking for the best photography smartphone of 2026, the choice comes down to these two models.
Vivo X300 Ultra went on European pre-sale on April 16, 2026, while the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has been available since the end of February. They are direct competitors in the ultra-premium segment, united by one ambition: to replace the compact camera. However, they differ in philosophy, optics, and price.
Specifications Vivo X300 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra
| Parameter | Vivo X300 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Premiere | April 2026 (Europe) | February 2026 (globally) |
| Screen | 6.82″ LTPO AMOLED, 2K (1440×3168), 144 Hz, ZEISS Master Color | 6.9″ OLED Xiaomi HyperRGB, 2608×1200, 120 Hz LTPO, 300 Hz touch, 12-bit |
| Peak brightness | 4500 nits (declared) | 3500 nits |
| Screen protection | Armor Glass | Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0 |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) |
| RAM | 12/16 GB LPDDR5X | 16 GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 256/512 GB/1 TB UFS 4.1 | 512 GB/1 TB UFS 4.1 |
| Main camera | 200 MP Sony LYT-901 (1/1.12″), f/1.85, OIS gimbal, ZEISS T* | 50 MP Light Fusion 1050L (1″), f/1.67, OIS, LOFIC HDR |
| Telephoto | 200 MP Samsung HP0 (1/1.4″), f/2.3, 85 mm, 3.7× periscope, ZEISS APO | 200 MP Samsung HPE (1/1.4″), f/2.39-2.96, 75-100 mm mechanical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | 50 MP Sony LYTIA 818 (1/1.28″), f/2.0, 116°, OIS | 50 MP Samsung JN5 (1/2.75″), f/2.2, 14 mm, 115° |
| Multispectral sensor | 5 MP VCS 3rd generation | none |
| Selfie | 50 MP, f/2.5, AF | 50 MP OV50M, f/2.2, AF, 21 mm, 90° |
| Video | 8K/30, 4K/120 10-bit Log, Dolby Vision, APV 422 | 8K/30, 4K/120 Log, ACES, Dolby Vision, slow-mo 1080p/1920 fps |
| Battery | 6600/7000 mAh (silicon-carbon) | 6000 mAh (global version) |
| Wired charging | 100 W | 90 W (~43 min) |
| Wireless charging | 40 W + reverse charging | 50 W |
| Reverse charging | yes (wireless) | yes (22.5 W wired) |
| Dimensions | 8.19 mm thick | 162.9 × 77.6 × 8.29 mm |
| Weight | 232-237 g (depending on color) | 218.4 g (Black/White) / 219 g (Green) |
| Water resistance | IP68/IP69 | IP68 |
| Bluetooth | 5.4 | 6.0 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 7 | Wi-Fi 7 (tri-band, Wi-Fi 6e) |
| NFC | yes | yes |
| Infrared port (IR) | yes | yes |
| USB | Type-C 3.2, DisplayPort | Type-C 3.2 Gen 2, DisplayPort |
| SIM | dual nano-SIM | nano+nano or nano+eSIM or eSIM+eSIM |
| Fingerprint reader | ultrasonic, under display | ultrasonic, under display |
| Speakers | stereo, Hi-Res | stereo, Hi-Res |
| System | Android 16, OriginOS 6 | Android 16, HyperOS 3 |
| DxOMark | not yet rated | 166 points (#6 globally) |
| Satellite connectivity | yes (1 TB version) | none |
| Colors | black, silver, green | black, white, green (Starlit Green) |
| Price from | approx. 7999 PLN for the 16 GB/1 TB variant | approx. 6499 |
The full specifications of both phones can also be compared on GSMArena. Looking for accessories for your new flagship? Check out cases and glass for Xiaomi 17 Ultra and accessories for Vivo X phones at Home Screen.
Camera Vivo X300 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra — which one takes better photos?
This is where the real fun begins — the camera of the Vivo X300 Ultra and the camera of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra approach mobile photography from completely different angles.
Camera Philosophy
Vivo X300 Ultra is a „technologist” — it focuses on raw specification power. The dual 200 MP sensor (main Sony LYT-901, f/1.85 + telephoto Samsung HP0, f/2.3) provides a huge field for framing and digital zooming. OIS stabilization at gimbal level and ZEISS T* certification on the main lens are parameters rarely seen in smartphones. Additionally, the ultra-wide lens with a large Sony LYTIA 818 sensor (1/1.28″) — significantly larger than the competition.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra is an „artist” — a 1-inch main sensor with LOFIC technology (hardware HDR without frame merging) and a mechanical optical zoom of 75-100 mm are solutions known from professional cameras. Collaboration with Leica translates into characteristic color reproduction and emulation of Leica M9 films.
Daytime photo quality
In good lighting, Vivo X300 Ultra produces more neutral, true-to-life colors. Photos from the 200 MP sensor have an enormous amount of detail — when cropped to a lower resolution, the effect is incredibly sharp.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra with a 1-inch sensor captures more light and creates a more natural background blur (bokeh). Colors in Leica Vibrant mode are warmer and more saturated, while in Leica Authentic mode — truer, with the characteristic „leica look”.
Draw. Vivo wins in detail and resolution, Xiaomi — in atmosphere and color reproduction. The choice depends on the photography style.
Night mode photos
Here, Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a clear advantage. The 1-inch sensor with LOFIC technology processes exposure information at the hardware level, resulting in more balanced night photos without the typical artifacts from merging multiple frames.
Vivo X300 Ultra performs well thanks to CIPA 7.0 stabilization, which allows for longer exposure times without blurring. In practice, both phones deliver excellent results at night, but Xiaomi retains more detail in shadows and better controls noise.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra wins — the LOFIC sensor is a real advantage in low light.
Zoom and telephoto lens
This is the key difference between the two phones.
Vivo X300 Ultra offers a 200 MP telephoto lens with a focal length of 85 mm (3.7× optical zoom). Additionally, there is an optional ZEISS 400 mm G2 Ultra teleconverter, which provides up to 17.4× optical zoom at full 200 MP resolution. This is a record among smartphones.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a 200 MP telephoto lens with mechanical optical zoom of 75-100 mm (3.2-4.3×). This is the first such solution in a smartphone — a movable optical element provides true optical zoom without quality loss across the entire focal range.
At close-ups of 3-5×, Xiaomi delivers sharper images because it uses optical zoom without digital cropping. Above 5×, Vivo takes the lead — with the teleconverter, it achieves ranges unavailable to any other smartphone.
Vivo wins in range, Xiaomi — in photo quality in the popular 3-5× range. The ZEISS teleconverter is a powerful accessory, but you buy it separately.
If you plan to record professional video on your smartphone, a tripod or gimbal for your phone. will also be useful.
Ultrawide
Both phones have 50 MP ultrawide lenses with similar fields of view (~116°), but the Vivo X300 Ultra has a huge advantage with its 1/1.28″ Sony LYTIA 818 sensor — that’s more than twice the size of the Samsung JN5 (1/2.75″) in the Xiaomi. Additionally, the ultrawide Vivo has its own OIS stabilization.
In practice, the Vivo X300 Ultra should provide significantly better ultrawide photos, especially in low light, thanks to the larger sensor and stabilization.
The Vivo X300 Ultra wins — the 1/1.28″ sensor with OIS is in a completely different league than the 1/2.75″ without stabilization.
Video
Both phones record in 8K/30 fps, 4K/120 fps Log with support for ACES and Dolby Vision — this is currently the absolute top of smartphone video. The differences lie in the details:
Vivo X300 Ultra:
– 4K/120 fps 10-bit Vivo Log on all lenses (main, tele, ultra-wide)
– Encoding APV 422 (more efficient format than H.265)
– Dolby Vision HDR, 8K/30 fps
Xiaomi 17 Ultra:
– 4K/120 fps Log with ACES support (Academy Color Encoding System)
– Super slow-motion 1080p up to 1920 fps
– Leica film modes (warm color rendition)
– ShootSteady recording up to 2.8K/60 fps (advanced stabilization)
– Dolby Vision HDR, 8K/30 fps
Both of these machines offer professional video tools — Log, ACES, and 4K/120. The key advantage of Vivo is 10-bit Log on every lens (not just the main one) and APV 422 encoding. Xiaomi, on the other hand, offers super slow-motion 1080p/1920 fps and ShootSteady stabilization — ideal for dynamic shots in motion.
Tie in video — both phones are professional filmmaking tools. Vivo has better encoding (APV 422) and Log on all lenses, Xiaomi has better slow-motion and stabilization. For stable video recording in motion, a selfie stick with tripod function will also work well.
Screen — does 2K resolution make a difference?
| Parameter | Vivo X300 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Diagonal | 6.82″ LTPO AMOLED | 6.9″ OLED Xiaomi HyperRGB |
| Resolution | 1440 × 3168 (2K) | 2608 × 1200, 12-bit |
| Refresh Rate | 144 Hz | 120 Hz LTPO |
| Peak Brightness | 4500 nits (claimed) | 3500 nits |
| Calibration | ZEISS Master Color | DCI-P3, TUV Rheinland |
| Protection | Armor Glass | Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0 |
Vivo leads in all screen parameters — 2K vs FHD+, 144 Hz vs 120 Hz, and 4500 nits peak brightness (claimed) vs 3500 nits from Xiaomi. ZEISS Master Color calibration is an additional bonus for photographers who want to evaluate photos directly on the phone’s screen.
Xiaomi counters with adaptive LTPO refresh rate, which saves battery by lowering the frequency to 1 Hz when sufficient. The Xiaomi screen offers 12-bit color depth and TÜV Rheinland certifications (Low Blue Light, Flicker Free).
Vivo wins with the screen — higher resolution, faster refresh rate, and brighter panel. Xiaomi counters with better color depth (12-bit) and eye protection certifications.
Battery and Charging — Vivo X300 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra
| Parameter | Vivo X300 Ultra | Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 6600/7000 mAh (silicon-carbon) | 6000 mAh |
| Wired charging | 100 W | 90 W (~43 min) |
| Wireless charging | 40 W + reverse charging | 50 W |
| Reverse charging | yes (wireless) | yes (10 W wireless, 22.5 W wired) |
| Battery life | 80% after 1200 cycles | no data |
The Vivo X300 Ultra has a significantly larger battery — 6600 or even 7000 mAh (depending on the variant) with a silicon-carbon cell, compared to 6000 mAh in the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Faster wired charging (100 W vs 90 W) is an additional advantage. In tests, EPREL showed that Vivo achieved about 57 hours of operation, placing it among the top smartphones. Both phones support reverse charging — you can charge headphones, a watch, or even a second phone with them.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has better wireless charging (50 W vs 40 W) and stronger wired reverse charging (22.5 W). In everyday use, both phones easily last a full day of intensive photography.
Vivo wins in battery capacity (even 1000 mAh more), Xiaomi in wireless and reverse charging.
Planning to take your flagship on a longer trip? Check out smartphone power banks and wall chargers to ensure that the battery doesn’t die at a crucial moment.
Build, weight, and water resistance
You will take both phones in your hand and feel the difference — Xiaomi is about 13-19 g lighter. With similar dimensions (~163 × 77 × 8.2-8.3 mm), every gram matters during long photography sessions.
Vivo X300 Ultra has IP68 and IP69 certifications — it can withstand immersion in water and a stream of hot water under pressure. Xiaomi 17 Ultra has an IP68 certification (immersion up to 6 m for 30 minutes). Taking photos in the rain or near water is not a problem for either of them.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra weighs 218.4 g (Black/White) or 219 g (Starlit Green). Available in three colors: black, white, and green. Both phones have an infrared emitter (IR blaster) for controlling home appliances.
Vivo X300 Ultra weighs 232-237 g (the black is lighter, the green is heavier) and has Armor Glass on the back. The construction is massive but solid — the aluminum frame and flat edges provide a secure grip. Available in black, silver, and green.
Vivo wins with IP protection (IP68+IP69 vs just IP68), but Xiaomi wins with weight — it is noticeably lighter.
Price in Poland — how much does each flagship cost?
The launch price of Xiaomi 17 Ultra was 6499 PLN for the 16/512 GB version, but it can currently be purchased from 5295 PLN. The official prices for this model in Poland have not yet been announced, but leaks suggest that Vivo X300 Ultra may cost around 7999 PLN for the 16 GB / 1 TB version.
Both phones have dedicated photography grips (Xiaomi Photography Kit, SmallRig Kit for Vivo), but you buy them separately. The ZEISS 400 mm teleconverter is a unique accessory that has no equivalent among competitors. The quality-to-price ratio favors Xiaomi — but Vivo with the pre-sale set levels the playing field.
Unique features — what distinguishes each model
Only Vivo X300 Ultra:
- ZEISS 400 mm G2 Ultra teleconverter — 17.4× optical zoom in 200 MP
- Dual sensor 200 MP (main + telephoto) with ZEISS T* optics
- 4K/120 10-bit Vivo Log on all lenses + ACES workflow
- Ultrawide with 1/1.28″ sensor (Sony LYTIA 818) with OIS
- 5 MP multispectral sensor VCS 3rd generation
- 6600/7000 mAh battery (silicon-carbon)
- ZEISS Master Color screen calibration
- BeiDou satellite connectivity (1 TB version)
- Infrared port (IR blaster)
- OIS gimbal stabilization
Only Xiaomi 17 Ultra:
- Mechanical optical zoom 75-100 mm (first in a smartphone)
- 1-inch sensor with LOFIC (hardware HDR)
- Leica film modes (Leica Authentic, Leica Vibrant, film filters)
- Super slow-motion 1080p/1920 fps
- ShootSteady stabilization up to 2.8K/60 fps
- Bluetooth 6.0 and Wi-Fi 6e (tri-band)
- Support for eSIM (nano+eSIM or eSIM+eSIM)
- DxOMark 166 points (#6 globally)
- Xiaomi HyperAI (writing AI, translating AI, searching AI)
Summary: which one to choose?
Choose Vivo X300 Ultra if:
– You record a lot of video (8K and 4K/120 Log is a huge advantage over the competition)
– You need extreme zoom (400 mm with a teleconverter)
– You want maximum photo resolution (dual 200 MP)
– You prefer neutral, true-to-life colors from ZEISS
– You care about the best display (2K, 144 Hz)
Choose Xiaomi 17 Ultra if:
– You mainly photograph outdoors (IP68, lighter)
– You value the colors and atmosphere of Leica photos
– You take a lot of night shots (LOFIC sensor)
– You care about a lower price (from ~5295 PLN)
– You want a phone available immediately
The comparison of Vivo X300 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra shows that there is no single winner — it is your winner, depending on whether you prefer the raw power of Vivo or the artistic character of Leica in Xiaomi.
Looking for a case, tempered glass, or charger for your new flagship? Check out cases and glass for Xiaomi 17 Ultra and wireless chargers at Home Screen – with free delivery from 100 PLN and a rating of 4.9/5 on Google.
FAQ — frequently asked questions
Will Vivo X300 Ultra be available in Poland?
Vivo X300 Ultra is available for pre-order in Europe since April 16, 2026, with shipping starting from April 24. It can be ordered through the official Vivo website and selected retailers.
What is the price of Xiaomi 17 Ultra in Poland?
Xiaomi 17 Ultra costs around 5295 PLN (current market price) for the 16/512 GB version up to about 6999 PLN for the 16 GB/1 TB version. The launch price was 6499 PLN. It has been available in Polish stores since March 2026.
Which phone takes better photos?
It depends on the photography style. The camera of Vivo X300 Ultra wins in zoom range, resolution, and video recording. The camera of Xiaomi 17 Ultra provides better night photos, warmer Leica colors, and better ultra-wide shots. For video — Vivo, for street and portrait photography — Xiaomi.
Is it worth waiting for the Vivo X300 Ultra, since the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is already available?
If your priority is video, extreme zoom, or dual 200 MP — yes, it’s worth the wait. If you care about immediate availability, IP68, a lighter design, and a lower price — the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a safe choice right now.
When is the Vivo X300 Ultra release?
European pre-sales start on April 16, 2026, and regular sales begin on April 24, 2026.
What is the best camera smartphone in 2026?
The Vivo X300 Ultra and Xiaomi 17 Ultra are the two main contenders for the title of best camera smartphone of 2026. Vivo leads in video and zoom, while Xiaomi excels in night photography and Leica colors. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max are strong competitors, but they do not have such advanced optical systems.
What are the reviews of the Vivo X300 Ultra and Xiaomi 17 Ultra?
The first reviews of the Vivo X300 Ultra highlight its outstanding video capabilities and record zoom range. Reviews of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra praise its night photography, Leica colors, and mechanical optical zoom.
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