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The Joys Of 3D Printing

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Al and I were talking on the podcast today about a sweet 3D printed wide-format camera build, and we got to musing on why we 3D-print.

For Al, it’s an opportunity to experiment with 3D printing itself: tweaking his machines to get the best performance out of them. Other people make small, functional objects that they need in their daily life, like bag clips or spare parts for broken appliances. Some folks go for the ornamental or the aesthetic. The kids in my son’s class all seem obsessed with sci-fi props and fidget toys. The initial RepRap ideal was to replace all commercial fabrication with machines owned by the individual, rather than by companies – it was going to be Marxist revolutionary.

But there’s another group of 3D printer enthusiasts that I think doesn’t get enough coverage, and I’m going to call them the hobbyist industrial designers. These are the people who design a custom dog-poop-bag holder that exactly fits their extra-wide dog leash, not because they couldn’t find one that fit in the pet store, but because it’s simply fun to design and fabricate things. (OK, that’s literally me.)

It’s fun to learn CAD tools, to learn about how things are designed, how they work, and how to manufacture them at least in quantity one. Dreaming, designing, fabricating, failing, and repeating until you get it right is a great joy. And then you get to use the poop-bag holder every day for a few years, until you decide to refine the design and incorporate the lessons learned on the tough streets of practical use.

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Of course none of this is exclusive to 3D printing. There were always people who designed-and-built things in the metal machine shop, or made their creations out of wood. In that sense, the 3D printer is just another tool, and the real fun isn’t in using the 3D printer, but rather in the process of bringing things out of your mind and into the world. So maybe there is nothing new here, but the latitude that 3D printing affords the hobby designer is amazing, and that makes it all the more fun, and challenging.

So do you 3D print for necessity, to stick it to the man, to pimp your printer, for the mini-figs, or simply for the joy of the process of making things? It’s all good. 3D printing is a big tent.

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Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs Galaxy S26 Ultra: Comparing the 2026 flagships

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It’s been a busy week for Androids, as Samsung and Xiaomi have both launched their respective flagship smartphones globally.

Keen to see how the Xiaomi 17 Ultra compares to the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra? You’ve come to the right place, as we’ve looked at the specs of both phones and highlighted the key differences between the two here.

Keep reading to learn more about the smartphones and whether either look set to grace our best Android phones guide.

Make sure you visit our Xiaomi 17 vs 17 Ultra guide to see what separates the Xiaomi 17 series. Or, we’ve compared the Galaxy S26 Ultra to the Honor Magic 8 Pro and the iPhone 17 Pro Max too.

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Specs comparison table

Xiaomi 17 Ultra Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra
Battery 6000mAh 5000mAh
Chipset Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy
Front Camera 50MP 12MP
Operating System HyperOS OneUI
Rear Camera 50MP + 50MP + 200MP 200MP + 50MP + 50MP + 10MP
Storage Capacity 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB,
Wired/Wireless Charging 90W/50W 60W/25W

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Price and Availability

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is currently available for pre-order, and will launch officially on March 11th. The handset has a starting RRP of £1279/$1299.99 and comes in a choice of five colours: Black, White, Cobalt, Violet and Sky Blue.

SQUIRREL_PLAYLIST_10208275

Both run on Qualcomm’s flagship processor, but Galaxy S26 Ultra has a custom version

As will likely be the case with most of the best Android phones of 2026, both the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Galaxy S26 Ultra are equipped with Qualcomm’s flagship processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. However, in true Samsung fashion, the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s version is a custom-made process specifically designed for Galaxy smartphones (aptly titled Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy).

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Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra home screenSamsung Galaxy S26 Ultra home screen
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Although we haven’t reviewed either phone yet, our experience with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 has been extremely positive. During our time with other handsets sporting the chip, we found things ran quickly and smoothly, and even intensive tasks were handled with ease. With that in mind, we can expect a similar performance from both the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Galaxy S26 Ultra. 

Either way, the Qualcomm chip is not only known for its speed and efficiency, but also for its ability to run on-device AI without a hitch. This is especially noteworthy for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is fitted with Samsung’s entire Galaxy AI toolkit including Circle to Search and Gemini access.

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Xiaomi 17 Ultra in handXiaomi 17 Ultra in hand
Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Image Credit (Xiaomi)

Galaxy S26 Ultra is thinner and slightly lighter

Although both handsets are equipped with a 6.9-inch display, their measurements differ slightly. While the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is 8.9mm thick, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is just 7.9mm – making it the thinnest Galaxy Ultra model ever. Considering the S26 Ultra still includes the S-Pen, this is a pretty impressive feat.

Galaxy S26 Ultra thicknessGalaxy S26 Ultra thickness
Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Despite the difference in thickness, the Galaxy S26 Ultra is only slightly lighter than the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. While the Galaxy S26 Ultra weighs 214g, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra weighs up to 219g (for the Starlit Green model, whereas Black and White weigh 218.4g), so the difference between the two shouldn’t be particularly noticeable. 

Galaxy S26 Ultra sports a Privacy Display

Perhaps one of the most exciting new features of the Galaxy S26 Ultra is its clever built-in Privacy Display which shields itself away from prying eyes. The Privacy Display is customisable too, which means you can choose to set it on a per-app basis or even just hide specific areas of your display instead. 

Sure, this might not be the main reason you choose the Galaxy S26 Ultra over the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, however it’s still a brilliant addition that we wish was available on more smartphones. 

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Privacy Screen on Galaxy S26 UltraPrivacy Screen on Galaxy S26 Ultra
Privacy Display on Galaxy S26 Ultra. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Xiaomi 17 Ultra supports faster wired and wireless charging

Samsung has never been famed for its mighty batteries and super speedy charging, and although the S26 Ultra sees some improvements over its predecessors, its specs don’t quite measure up to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s own. Even so, we should note that we’ve always found recent Samsung Galaxy handsets offer a comfortable all-day battery life.

Firstly, there’s a pretty large difference between battery sizes. While the Galaxy S26 Ultra has an average-sounding 5000mAh cell, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra sports a 6000mAh battery instead. In addition, the Galaxy S26 Ultra supports 60W wired and 25W wireless charging too, with the former promising 75% charge in just 30 minutes. It’s certainly an improvement over the 45W of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but it undoubtedly falls short of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s whopping 90W. 

Not only that, but the 17 Ultra also benefits from 50W wireless charging too.

Galaxy S26 Ultra has four rear lenses

It’s fair to say that both the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Xiaomi 17 Ultra have their eyes set on the best camera phone title and, although we haven’t reviewed either yet, their respective specs sound promising. 

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The Galaxy S26 Ultra sees more of a tweak rather than an overhaul from the Galaxy S25 Ultra, with the promise of brighter images captured from the 200MP main and 50MP telephoto lenses. Although we would have preferred more of an upgrade, considering the Galaxy S25 Ultra captured brilliant images in most lighting conditions, it’s somewhat understandable why Samsung kept things similar.

Otherwise, the Galaxy S26 Ultra also sports a 50MP ultrawide and another 10MP telephoto too, making for a total of four rear lenses.

Photography KitPhotography Kit
Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Photography Kit. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

In comparison, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is made up of three rear cameras that were co-engineered with Leica: a 50MP main, 50MP ultrawide and a mighty 200MP telephoto which promises to reach an optical zoom of up to 17.2x. That’s an impressive claim, and one we’re keen to put to the test. 

For especially keen photographers, you also have the option to purchase additional kits to further enhance your snaps. There’s the standard Photography Kit which weighs just 48g and features a two-stage shutter button and a video recording button for precise control, while the Photography Kit Pro boasts an integrated 2000mAh battery which doubles as a power bank and a detachable shutter button.

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Early Verdict

Both the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Galaxy S26 Ultra are undoubtedly promising flagship Android smartphones, so choosing between them might be a difficult undertaking. Sure, both offer premium features but the Galaxy S26 Ultra does benefits from the inclusion of a Privacy Display and Galaxy AI.

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That’s not to say the Xiaomi 17 Ultra doesn’t sport impressive features, as the Android boasts a mighty battery, speedy charging and Leica cameras too. 

We’ll have to review both handsets before coming to a clear verdict. Once we do, we’ll be sure to update this versus.

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Your smartphone could soon warn you about hidden dangers, crowded spaces, and unexpected hazards using bat-like radar pulses

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  • ISAC allows smartphones to detect unconnected objects without interfering with connectivity services
  • Echo-based pulses let mobile networks visualize their surroundings, like bats in the dark
  • ISAC trials successfully detected people and objects without disrupting mobile functions

Integrated Sensing and Communication, or ISAC, is a technology which converts ordinary smartphones into radar-like sensors capable of detecting unconnected objects in real time.

Vodafone and Tiami Networks are testing ISAC to explore how smartphones could warn people about nearby dangers.

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MWC 2026 Updates: News, Updates and Product Announcements

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Image of a Leica Xiaomi phone

The Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi was developed in partnership with the iconic German camera brand Leica.

Andrew Lanxon/CNET

Chinese phone-maker Xiaomi announced the Leica Leitzphone here at MWC, a Xiaomi 17 Ultra with a circular hardware dial around the back camera puck and Leica branding. That control dial, which feels like the focus ring on a manual camera lens, can be programmed to perform a number of actions when taking a photo, like changing the exposure.

Professional photographer and CNET editor Anredw Lanxon tested the Leitzphone and said, “The Xiaomi Leica Leitzphone is the best, most exciting camera phone I have ever used. And I’ve used them all, including Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro and Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra. And while they’re both great phone cameras for most people, Xiaomi and Leica’s latest collaboration has resulted in a handset that’s arguably more camera than it is phone.”

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In fact, after taking more than 2,000 photos with the phone, he gave the Leitzphone by Xiaomi a CNET Editors’ Choice award, saying, “Its images aren’t just ‘good for a phone’; they’re downright superb for any camera.”

Read Andrew’s full Leica Leitzphone by Xiaomi review here.

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Europol-led crackdown on The Com hackers leads to 30 arrests

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Arrest

A yearlong Europol-coordinated operation dubbed “Project Compass” has led to 30 arrests and 179 suspects being tied to “The Com,” an online cybercrime collective that targets children and teenagers.

In a press release issued on Thursday, Europol said that investigators identified 62 victims and directly safeguarded four of them from the group’s attacks.

Launched in January 2025 and led by Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre, the Project Compass joint action has brought together law enforcement agencies from 28 countries to combat The Com (short for Community).

Described by Europol as a decentralized nihilistic extremist network, The Com is a loose-knit network of English-speaking cybercriminals known for targeting, victimizing, and recruiting young people for extortion, violence, and the production of child sexual exploitation material (CSAM).

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The Com operates across a wide range of social media, online gaming environments, messaging apps, and music streaming platforms, and is organized into multiple subgroups, including:

  • Offline Com, which promotes property damage, harming others, and committing acts of terrorism,
  • Cyber Com, which orchestrates network intrusions and ransomware attacks,
  • (S)extortion Com, which coerces minors into sex crimes and encourages self-harm and suicide.

Another subgroup that first surfaced in 2021 and is known as “764” is especially notorious within The Com as it grooms young people into producing explicit content, which is then used for blackmail or shared among members.

Two alleged 764 leaders (21-year-old Leonidas Varagiannis and 20-year-old Prasan Nepal) were arrested in April 2025 and charged with operating an international child exploitation ring, and are now facing life in prison.

The Com has previously been linked to high-profile ransomware attacks against Marks & Spencer, Co-op, and Harrods in April 2025, as well as Las Vegas casino breaches in September 2023.

“These networks deliberately target children in the digital spaces where they feel most at ease,” said Anna Sjöberg, the head of Europol’s European Counter Terrorism Centre.

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“Project Compass allows us to intervene earlier, safeguard victims and disrupt those who exploit vulnerability for extremist purposes. No country can address this threat alone – and through this cooperation, we are closing the gaps they try to hide in.”

Malware is getting smarter. The Red Report 2026 reveals how new threats use math to detect sandboxes and hide in plain sight.

Download our analysis of 1.1 million malicious samples to uncover the top 10 techniques and see if your security stack is blinded.

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Samsung’s Affordable 27” Odyssey OLED G5 (G50SF) Gaming Monitor Bet Pays Off Handsomely

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Samsung 27" Odyssey OLED G5 (G50SF) Gaming Monitor
Samsung quietly slipped a 27-inch QD-OLED gaming monitor onto the market at a much lower price than anyone expected. The Odyssey OLED G5, that’s the G50SF model, comes in with a 2560×1440 resolution and a 180Hz refresh rate, a 0.03 millisecond response time, gray to grey, being the icing on the cake. It’s currently selling for around $350, which is significantly cheaper than the original asking price of close to $550.



QD-OLED technology combines quantum dots and organic LEDs to provide per-pixel lighting. The end product is true black. In other words, the individual pixels just turn off, resulting in a contrast ratio of millions to one. The colors also provide a lot of bang for their buck, with a wide gamut and 99 percent DCI-P3 coverage in tests, and Pantone even approves the panel for accurately reproducing more than 2100 colors and skin tones. In addition, HDR10 support is incorporated, which adds depth to highlights and shadows without relying on local dimming zones, as other display types do.


The monitor’s motion performance definitely punches above its weight, as the 180Hz limit via DisplayPort keeps frames flowing smoothly in fast-paced games, and the super-fast response time effectively eliminates ghosting when making quick turns or performing frenzied action scenes. It also receives a thumbs up from NVIDIA and AMD for G-Sync and FreeSync compatibility, which means tearing and stutter are eliminated, but if you’re confined to HDMI, it still max out at 144Hz, which is still quite decent for consoles or secondary setups.

Samsung 27" Odyssey OLED G50SF Gaming Monitor
Despite the fact that OLED screens can be prone to long-term issues, Samsung has made steps to limit those concerns. A thermal modulation system adjusts the brightness dynamically to help manage heat, and logo and taskbar detection activates to automatically dim static elements. If the monitor has been idle for ten minutes, a screen saver activates to prevent screen burn-in, which is a big deal for anyone concerned about permanent image retention. As an added benefit, the three-year guarantee specifically covers burn-in if you use it normally.

Samsung 27" Odyssey OLED G50SF Gaming Monitor
Another thing to note is that the Glare Free coating effectively reduces reflections when compared to a regular anti-glare film. This means it’s much easier to operate the monitor even if it’s illuminated from above or by a nearby window. The matte finish does a fantastic job of keeping clarity, although it sacrifices some perceived sharpness in exchange for the ability to use the monitor in brighter settings.

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Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs iPhone 17 Pro Max: iOS or Android?

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Xiaomi has just announced the global launch of its flagship Xiaomi 17 series, but how does the premium 17 Ultra compare to its iPhone competitor?

Although we haven’t specifically reviewed the iPhone 17 Pro Max, we have reviewed the similarly specced iPhone 17 Pro, so we’ll draw on our experience there where applicable. However, you can see the differences between the two in our iPhone 17 Pro vs iPhone 17 Pro Max guide. 

Otherwise, we’ve compared the specs of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max and noted their key differences here. We’d also recommend that you take a look at our Android vs iOS guide which explains the fundamentals of the two operating systems, while our best smartphone list reveals our current favourites for 2026.

Finally, if you want to compare the Xiaomi 17 series, then our Xiaomi 17 vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra has you covered.

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Specs comparison table

Xiaomi 17 Ultra iPhone 17 Pro Max
Chipset Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 A19 Pro
Front Camera 50MP 18MP
Operating System HyperOS iOS
Rear Camera 50MP+50MP+200MP 48MP Fusion trio
Screen Size 6.9-inches 6.9-inches
Storage Capacity 512GB, 1TB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Wired/Wireless Charging 90W/50W 40W/30W

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Price and Availability

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is currently Apple’s most expensive handset, with a starting price of £1199/$1199 for the 256GB model. The smartphone also comes in a choice of three colours: Silver, Deep Blue and Cosmic Orange.

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Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 vs Apple A19 Pro

One of the biggest differences between the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max is with their respective processors. While the Xiaomi 17 Ultra runs on Qualcomm’s top-end Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, which powers many of the best Android phones, the iPhone 17 Pro Max runs on Apple’s own A19 Pro chip instead. 

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We should disclaim that, although we have tried Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and A19 Pro, we haven’t yet tested the chips within the Xiaomi 17 Ultra or iPhone 17 Pro Max. Even so, we’ve seen high benchmark scores alongside seriously impressive everyday use when testing other phones running Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. With this in mind, we expect the Xiaomi 17 Ultra to offer a similar performance.

As expected from a Pro Apple chip, A19 Pro is also seriously powerful. While reviewing the iPhone 17 Pro, which uses the same chip, we found the phone stayed cool during even intensive tasks like gaming, and achieves impressively high benchmark scores too. Again, like the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, we expect the iPhone 17 Pro Max to offer a similar performance too.  

Xiaomi 17 Ultra
iPhone 17 Pro (not the Max)

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Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a 200MP telephoto lens

When it comes to photography ability, both the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max promise to excel. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is fitted with a trio of rear lenses, including a 50MP main, 50MP ultrawide and mighty 200MP telephoto. In comparison, although the iPhone 17 Pro Max is also made up of a main, ultrawide and telephoto lens, all three are 48MP Fusion instead.

This is also the case with the iPhone 17 Pro, which we hailed as being one of the best camera phones. We especially praised the 8x telephoto lens, hailing it as offering the best zoom camera ever on an iPhone. This is especially noteworthy as the Xiaomi 17 Ultra boasts a mammoth 200MP telephoto which promises up to 17.2x optical zoom. Of course, we’ll have to wait until we review the Xiaomi 17 Ultra to see how it fares.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra in handXiaomi 17 Ultra in hand
Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Image Credit (Xiaomi)

What also impressed us with the iPhone 17 Pro was the abundance of features that enhance images, such as Photographic Styles and Dual Camera mode too. 

Both have 6.9-inch displays

Not only are the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max equipped with 6.9-inch displays, but so is the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. It’s safe to say that if you prefer a larger phone, then you’re certainly not short of options. 

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Unsurprisingly, both the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max are equipped with plenty of premium screen technologies. With the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, you’ll benefit from a HyperRGB panel which Xiaomi explains “leverages independent red, green, and blue subpixels for 2K-level clarity”, an LTPO-enabled 1-120Hz refresh rate and Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0 for up to 30% more drop resistance than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.

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Xiaomi 17 Ultra screenXiaomi 17 Ultra screen
Xiaomi 17 Ultra screen. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s Super Retina XDR display also sports ProMotion technology (Apple’s term for an LTPO 1-120Hz refresh rate) and retains the Dynamic Island of its predecessors. Other than being bigger, its specs are the same as the iPhone 17 Pro, which we hailed as having one of the best screens around. 

Xiaomi 17 Ultra promises faster charging

Annoyingly, one area where Apple seems to let itself down is with charging speeds. While the Xiaomi 17 Ultra boasts 90W HyperCharge wired and 50W HyperCharge wireless support, the iPhone 17 Pro Max supports 40W wired and 30W wireless. 

Having said that, although it’s undoubtedly a shame that the iPhone series hasn’t quite matched the levels of its Android competitors, it’s still worth noting that generally battery life is solid and should comfortably see you through a full day.

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HyperOS 3 vs iOS 26

Arguably the most influential difference between the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and iPhone 17 Pro Max is with their operating systems. The iPhone 17 Pro Max runs on iOS, specifically iOS 26 which saw the introduction of Liquid Glass, and remains one of the easiest to use interfaces in a smartphone. 

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iOS 26iOS 26
Liquid Glass examples. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

In comparison, while Xiaomi’s HyperOS is an Android skin, it undoubtedly draws inspiration from iOS. With that in mind, if you want a raw Android experience then you’re better off elsewhere. 

Although HyperOS is fairly intuitive and easy to run, it doesn’t offer the polished experience that an iPhone does. The main reason for this comes from the sheer amount of bloatware, which includes a second app store, AliExpress, Mi Store and many many more. 

Xiaomi 17 UltraXiaomi 17 Ultra
Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Otherwise, Xiaomi has sprinkled a decent amount of AI features across HyperOS with the inclusion of Circle to Search, Gemini access and useful photo editing tools that work well. It’s just enough to be useful, but not so much that it should be the sole reason you opt for a Xiaomi handset.

This brings us to Apple’s own AI kit, Apple Intelligence, which is found in the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Unfortunately, Apple Intelligence still feels like something of an afterthought and although some features such as Writing Assist and Clean Up for photos are useful, we still don’t think this should be the reason you opt for an iPhone. 

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For a deeper dive into the different operating systems, do make sure you visit our Android vs iOS guide, as our Mobile Editor has explained everything you need to know about the two. 

Early Verdict

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra looks like a seriously promising Android smartphone, thanks to its mighty 200MP telephoto lens, powerful Qualcomm chip and speedy charging. With this in mind, if you’re leaning more towards an Android then the Xiaomi 17 Ultra seems like a great option.

However, the iPhone 17 Pro Max is a seriously high-specced phone. Considering we gave the iPhone 17 Pro a 4.5-star rating and a spot on our best smartphone list, the larger iPhone 17 Pro Max is a brilliant option for those in Apple’s ecosystem or anyone looking for a change.

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Xiaomi 17 Review – Trusted Reviews

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Verdict

While it may not be a game-changing update, the Xiaomi 17 does just enough to stay competitive and cement itself as one of the top compact flagships on the market. If you’re looking for a smaller flagship without the compromises, look no further.


  • Compact size

  • Super powerful

  • Solid cameras

  • Great battery life

  • Not a massive upgrade over the previous model

  • Software support terms don’t match the competition

  • No charger in the box

Key Features


  • Smaller size


    Arguably, the biggest draw of the Xiaomi 17 is its relatively compact footprint. It’s similarly sized to the iPhone 17 and Galaxy S26, which makes it perfect for smaller hands and pockets.


  • Mega powerful

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    Despite being smaller, the Xiaomi 17 is still a performance beast. With the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 at its core, it’ll handle high-end gaming and intense productivity workloads with ease.


  • Big battery and speedy charging


    Another surprising aspect, considering the size, is that the Xiaomi 17 has a huge battery inside (bigger than the 17 Ultra), and it charges at up to 100W speeds.

Introduction

The base model Xiaomi 17 aims to be a do-it-all flagship in a smaller, more pocketable form factor. It’s Xiaomi’s answer to the likes of the iPhone 17 and Galaxy S26.

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While it may look slightly different, the Xiaomi 17 has quite familiar specifications. It’s roughly the same size and shape as its predecessor, and the cameras seem to be mostly unchanged, too.

What you do get, this time around, is the latest Snapdragon chip, a brighter screen, a bigger battery, and quicker charging. Is that enough to compete with the big dogs? I’ve been using it for the past week to find out.

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Design 

  • 151.1×71.8×8.1 mm, 191g
  • Aluminium frame, glass fibre back
  • IP68 rated

As mentioned, the Xiaomi 17 has roughly the same footprint as its predecessor, which means it’s refreshingly compact. If you want a smaller handset, but you don’t want to skimp on specifications, your options are quite limited, and this phone is one of the top contenders.

Xiaomi 17 - rear of the phoneXiaomi 17 - rear of the phone
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

While the phone is smaller, it strikes a nice balance. The screen doesn’t feel too cramped, and there’s a bit of heft to it, which adds to the premium feel.

Aesthetically, there has been a pretty big change with this generation. Xiaomi has done away with the black rectangular camera island and switched to a more iPhone-like “plateau”. The notable difference here is that there’s an extra lens compared to the base-model iPhone 17.

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The rear panel has a frosted matte finish, while the camera surround and Xiaomi logo are glossy – again, just like the latest iPhones. My test sample came in a fetching green colour, which is new for the global release. It’s also available in Blue and Black.

Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

The phone has a flat front and rear with flat side rails. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, it’s basically iPhone-shaped. It’s no bad thing, I like the way iPhones look and feel, and unsurprisingly, I like this, too.

There are, however, a few differences between this and Apple’s latest. For starters, there are no additional buttons, just the usual power button and volume rocker combination. You also get a hard-shell clear case included in the box, and a factory-applied screen protector; there are no such goodies in Apple’s packages.

Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

The Xiaomi 17 is IP68-rated, which means it’s basically immune to dust ingress, and it can withstand brief dunks in fresh water. It doesn’t get the higher IP69K rating like the Ultra, but since that’s mostly to do with hot water jets, it’ll have little effect on the durability in most circumstances.

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Screen 

  • 6.3-inch 120Hz 1220×2656 OLED
  • Flat display
  • 3500 nits peak brightness

The Xiaomi 17 has a 6.3-inch flat OLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 3500 nits. It’s about 300 nits brighter than the last generation, and it also has a higher PWM dimming frequency of 2160Hz, up from 1920Hz.

Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

The extra brightness is the most impactful change. It’s not worlds apart from the previous generation, but it’s easier to see in direct sunlight, and that’s always a good thing.

The most unique thing about the display is that it’s on the smaller side. It’s much easier to reach the top of the screen if you have smaller hands, and the slim symmetrical bezels and small punch-hole camera cutout mean that it doesn’t feel cramped or undersized.

Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

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Colours appear accurate with plenty of vibrance, and the black levels are excellent, as you’ll find with most modern OLED panels. Whether you’re playing games, watching YouTube, or catching up on your favourite Netflix show, you’re in for a visual treat.

I didn’t feel the need to adjust the default colour profile, but if you want to calibrate further, Xiaomi gives you plenty of options to tweak the output.

Cameras 

  • 50MP main camera (1/1.3-inch sensor)
  • 50MP ultrawide (1/2.76-inch)
  • 50MP 2.6x telephoto (1/2.76-inch)
  • 50MP selfie camera (AF)

The Xiaomi 17 has a triple 50MP camera setup on the rear. There’s an 17mm equivalent ultrawide, a 23mm main and 60mm telephoto camera.

Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

The specs are essentially the same as last year’s array, and the shortcomings are the same, too. For me, the biggest disappointment was that the ultrawide lens is fixed focus. That’s fine for landscapes and architecture, but it means close-ups and group photos are out of the question.

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Thankfully, macro duties are taken on by the telephoto camera, which can focus as close as 10cm from the lens. I prefer to use the telephoto for macro shots anyway, so I’d chalk it up as a win overall.

The only camera to receive a proper spec bump is the selfie snapper. It’s now 50MP, up from 32MP, and it also has autofocus, whereas the previous generation was fixed-focus. It makes a big difference; the results from the selfie camera are noticeably sharper and more detailed than the previous model.

Just as I found when testing the 17 Ultra, Xiaomi’s image processing feels more refined than ever, and it’s now easily among my favourites. Colours are life-like without looking dull, and if you want to add a little more flavour to your shots, you have a wide array of stylish filters to choose from.

Of course, this camera array isn’t quite on the same level as Xiaomi’s Ultra flagship, but the shared DNA is plain to see. The main drawbacks, comparatively, are the smaller sensor sizes, which means the Xiaomi 17 doesn’t do quite as well in low light conditions, and the shorter reach of the telephoto lens.

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If you’re zooming over long distances, the base model can’t compete with its Ultra sibling. It’s not bad, but you’ll start to see a lot of image degradation once you move past 15x or so.

That being said, on the other end of the spectrum, the base model is actually much more impressive for macro photography. It may not have the same reach, but it can focus much, much closer and capture some excellent details.

While the camera system might not bring any exciting features along with it, it’s definitely amongst the best available in a compact flagship handset. I was really pleased with the results I got from it, and solid portrait mode effects and filters only add to the appeal.

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It’s no slouch in the video department, either. You can shoot in Log at 4K60 on all of the rear lenses with full Pro controls. You can even shoot at 8K, if you feel the need.

Performance 

  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
  • 12GB RAM, 512GB storage
  • Dual stereo speakers

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The Xiaomi 17 is powered by Qualcomm’s most powerful SoC to date, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The global release pairs it with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

As you might expect, it’s a super-powerful phone. Whether you’re multitasking heavily, editing videos on the go, or playing the most demanding mobile games, the Xiaomi 17 handles everything readily.

Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

Just as I found with its Ultra sibling, the Xiaomi 17 stays impressively cool under load, too. With the settings maxed out on Genshin Impact, the phone had barely begun to heat up after half an hour of play. 

That’s not to say it never heats up. It got very toasty during our new AI benchmark test, for example, but in actual use, the phone stayed cool as a cucumber.

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Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

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The speakers on this phone also impressed me. They’re not the loudest around, and rivals compete well in terms of detail, but the Xiaomi 17 has the upper hand when it comes to bass response. The phone manages to add some real thump to the lower frequencies without sounding too boomy or distorted.

Software & AI

  • HyperOS 3, based on Android 16
  • New iOS-like styling
  • Lots of AI features

The Xiaomi 17 runs HyperOS 3, Xiaomi’s custom software built on top of Android 16. If you’ve used a recent Xiaomi device, you’ll have a good idea of what to expect, but the latest version comes with some nice visual tweaks and of course, plenty of AI functionality.

Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

HyperOS 3 looks and feels more iOS-inspired than ever, but personally, I’m fine with that. It has its own version of the Dynamic Island, lock screen options with depth effects and widgets, and a very Apple-looking quick settings panel.

Possibly the best thing about HyperOS, though, is how customisable it is. You can change just the way everything looks using the various themes and settings menus, even the animations can be swapped around.

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Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

What I don’t like so much are the aggressive battery-saving measures. You’ll need to do some fiddling with background power use options for various apps to ensure that your notifications remain timely.

There are lots of AI tools for image editing, ranging from simple things like object removal to outpainting, beautification, upscaling, and more. There are also plenty of productivity tools, including the usual AI-powered transcription, translation, and writing assistance options.

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Of course, you get the standard Google goodies, too. Gemini is set as the default assistant, and you can use Circle to Search to quickly find information about anything on your screen.

Battery life 

  • 6300mAh battery
  • 100W wired charging
  • 50W wireless charging

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Bizarrely, the Xiaomi 17 base model outperforms the Ultra in the battery department. Not only does it feature a larger 6300mAh cell, compared to the Ultra’s 6000mAh, but it charges quicker, supporting up to 100W speeds, rather than 90W.

Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

With my typical use, the Xiaomi 17 got me through the day with no difficulty. Often, I would end the day with well over 40% remaining. I couldn’t quite squeeze two days from it, but if you’re more considerate with your usage, it may be within reach.

There’s no charger included in the box, just a USB cable, so you might want to budget for a speedy wall adapter to make the most of it. I was happy to see that it still charges extremely quickly with third-party PD chargers, though, so a Xiaomi-branded one might not be a necessity.

Xiaomi 17Xiaomi 17
Image Credit (Trusted Reviews)

My Ugreen Nexode 200W desktop charger was able to take the phone from fully flat to almost 65% charged in just half an hour. Not a bad showing considering the capacious 6300mAh tank.

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The phone also supports blazing-fast 50W wireless charging, but you’ll need a Xiaomi charging pad if you want to reach such speeds.

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Should you buy it?

You want a compact flagship with very few compromises

The Xiaomi 17 is a great phone in just about every area, and it manages to do so while remaining compact and pocket-friendly. If you’re in the market for a smaller flagship phone, there are few as well-rounded as this.

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You want the absolute best cameras

There’s no way around it; the smaller sensors on this device can’t match the fidelity and low-light performance of its Ultra sibling. If you want the absolute best cameras, you’ll need to settle for a larger phone.

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Final Thoughts

On one hand, the Xiaomi 17 doesn’t feel like a massive generational leap over the Xiaomi 15, and for that reason, I can’t imagine existing owners rushing to upgrade. On the other hand, it’s a great all-rounder, and if you’re looking for a flagship in a more compact chassis, few come close to this.

It has a significantly bigger battery and faster charging than either the iPhone 17 or Galaxy S26, and in my opinion, better cameras, too. Software is a matter of personal preference, but HyperOS is super customisable, so if there’s anything you’re not keen on, you can likely change it.

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What Xiaomi can’t quite match is the software support terms. So if you’re planning to hold onto your phone for a long time, that could play into your decision.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with the Xiaomi 17; it has been great for gaming, content consumption, and photography alike. It’s an easy recommendation for anyone looking for a smaller flagship phone in 2026.

How We Test

We test every mobile phone we review thoroughly. We use industry-standard tests to compare features properly and we use the phone as our main device over the review period. We’ll always tell you what we find and we never, ever, accept money to review a product.

  • Used as a main phone for over a week
  • Thorough camera testing in a variety of conditions
  • Tested and benchmarked using respected industry tests and real-world data

FAQs

Is the Xiaomi 17 waterproof?

Yes, the Xiaomi 17 is IP68 rated, which means it can withstand dunks in fresh water at up to 1.5 metre depths for up to 30 minutes.

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Does the Xiaomi 17 support eSIM?

Yes, the global release of the Xiaomi 17 has eSIM support (but the Chinese model doesn’t.)

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Test Data

  Xiaomi 17
Geekbench 6 single core 3484
Geekbench 6 multi core 10083
Geekbench 6 GPU 23297
AI performance 21142
AI efficiency 46.4
1 hour video playback (Netflix, HDR) 4 %
30 minute gaming (light) 8 %
Time from 0-100% charge 65 min
Time from 0-50% charge 23 Min
30-min recharge (no charger included) 64 %
15-min recharge (no charger included) 33 %

Full Specs

  Xiaomi 17 Review
Manufacturer Xiaomi
Screen Size 6.3 inches
Storage Capacity 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Rear Camera 50MP + 50MP + 50MP
Front Camera 50MP
Video Recording Yes
IP rating IP68
Battery 6300 mAh
Wireless charging Yes
Fast Charging Yes
Size (Dimensions) 71.8 x 8.1 x 151.1 MM
Weight 191 G
Operating System HyperOS 3 (Android 16)
Release Date 2026
First Reviewed Date 28/02/2026
Resolution 1220 x 2656
HDR Yes
Refresh Rate 120 Hz
Ports USB-C
Chipset Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
RAM 12GB, 16GB
Colours Black, Venture Green, Alpine Pink, Ice Blue, White
Stated Power 100 W

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There’s a sneaky way to watch Marshals for free

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So much for that quiet retirement. Just 14 months after selling off the entire Dutton Ranch bar the East Camp in order to spend quality time with Monica (Kelsey Asbille) and Tate (Brecken Merrill), Kayce Dutton is giving it all up home for high-stakes shootouts with gangs, cartels and race warriors.

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Kodak Snapic A1 review: a basic 35mm camera packed with retro charm

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We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.

Kodak Snapic A1: one-minute review

The Kodak Snapic A1 is a 35mm analog film camera designed and manufactured by Hong Kong-based Reto Production – the same company behind other licensed Kodak analog models like the Ektar H35N and Charmera. Priced from just $99, it’s one of the more affordable ways to dip your toes into the world of film photography, and it comes loaded with enough retro charm to justify that novelty appeal.

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Kodak Snapic A1 camera

(Image credit: Future | Sam Kieldsen)

In good outdoor light, I found that the Snapic A1 delivers characterful, grainy 35mm shots with that all-important analog look. Vignetting and some chromatic aberration are present, but these feel like features rather than flaws. Indoors, however, the flash struggles; it lacks the reach and power to properly illuminate subjects beyond a few feet, making indoor shots a more hit-or-miss experience, particularly with slower film.

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Xiaomi 17 Ultra Launched With 1-Inch LOFIC Camera and 200MP Leica Zoom

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After both vivo and OPPO played around with their Pro flagships and made people rethink what smartphone photography is, Xiaomi has basically said, “without us?” That’s because the Chinese smartphone maker launched two phones yesterday, the Xiaomi 17 and the 17 Ultra, at the Mobile World Congress happening in Barcelona. While both phones look standard on the outside, Xiaomi has done extensive rework on its cameras. The headline feature is a new LOFIC-based 1-inch sensor on the Ultra, promising next-gen HDR and video performance that could rival that of the iPhone.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra: 1-Inch LOFIC Sensor and 200MP Zoom

Closeup of the Xiaomi 17 camera modules

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is easily the headline act here. It is also the thinnest and lightest Ultra device Xiaomi has made so far, measuring 8.29mm thick and weighing just over 218g. It protected Xiaomi’s Guardian Structure, which includes Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0 with improved drop resistance, a high-strength fiberglass back, an aluminum alloy frame, and an IP68 rating.

But the real story is the camera system. The Ultra introduces Xiaomi’s first 1-inch LOFIC main camera sensor, called the Light Fusion 1050L. LOFIC technology improves full-well capacity, enabling significantly better HDR performance and dynamic range. In simple terms, it should handle tricky lighting scenes far better than previous generations.

There’s also a Leica 200MP telephoto camera with a 75–100mm mechanical optical zoom. Xiaomi claims it maintains high image quality across the zoom range and can extend to a 400mm-equivalent focal length using advanced sensor tech. That’s serious reach for a smartphone. On the video side, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra supports Dolby Vision and ACES Log recording at up to 4K 120fps on both the main and telephoto cameras, positioning it as a true hybrid tool for creators.

Xiaomi 17: Compact Flagship With Big Ambitions

A person holding the Xiaomi 17

The standard Xiaomi 17 is slimmer at 8.06mm and lighter at 191g, but still packs serious hardware. It features a 1/1.31-inch Light Fusion 950 sensor with 2.4μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel technology, delivering strong dynamic range in varied lighting conditions.

It also includes a Leica 60mm floating telephoto lens that supports portrait photography, macro at 10cm, and up to 20x AI-assisted zoom. On the front, there’s a new 50MP selfie camera with improved autofocus. Like the Ultra, it supports 4K 60fps Dolby Vision and Log recording, making it suitable for creators who prefer a more compact device.

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Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 & Big Batteries

Battery Life of the Xiaomi 17

Powering the Xiaomi 17 Series is the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform, paired with the latest Qualcomm Oryon CPU, Adreno GPU, and Hexagon NPU. Xiaomi says the chip is optimized for heavy tasks like rapid photo capture, gaming, and multitasking, and we will put these claims to the test once we get our hands on the phone.

Battery life, however, is where things get a bit confusing. Somehow, the bigger Xiaomi 17 Ultra packs a 6000mAh battery with 90W wired and 50W wireless HyperCharge, while the smaller Xiaomi 17 goes even bigger with a 6330mAh battery and supports 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.

India Launch?

India launch of the phones

At the Xiaomi 17 series watch party yesterday, the company confirmed that both phones are headed to India on March 11th. Pricing is still under wraps, but given the price increase in European markets, these phones will cost a pretty penny.

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