January 16, 2026
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Published by Aeyan Raza
December 27, 2025
The battle for smartphone camera supremacy in 2025 has officially begun. With the launch of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition on December 25, the Chinese tech giant has thrown a serious challenge to Huawei’s powerhouse, the Mate 80 Pro Max. Both phones promise professional-level photography, but they take very different approaches.
So, which one really delivers the better camera experience? Here’s a closer look.
Xiaomi has gone bold with the 17 Ultra Leica Edition, introducing a physical rotating camera ring on the back. Instead of tapping the screen, users can rotate the ring to capture photos, adjust zoom, and control focal length bringing a classic camera-like feel to smartphone photography.
Under the hood, the phone packs a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide lens, and a massive 200MP telephoto camera offering optical zoom between 75mm and 100mm. Leica’s apochromatic lens certification ensures accurate colors with minimal distortion. A 50MP front camera handles selfies.
This phone is clearly built for users who want hands-on control and a professional shooting experience.
Huawei takes a more technology-driven approach. The Mate 80 Pro Max features a five-camera setup, including advanced RYYB sensors, dual telephoto lenses, and a second-generation multispectral imaging sensor.
With up to 12.4x optical zoom and 100x digital zoom, Huawei focuses on flexibility and image intelligence. The phone excels in low light, motion capture, and cinematic video recording. Features like XMAGE color tuning allow users to adjust image styles for different moods and scenes.
If you love manual control and a DSLR-style shooting experience, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition stands out. But if you prefer cutting-edge imaging technology, powerful zoom, and intelligent processing, the Huawei Mate 80 Pro Max is hard to beat.
In the end, both phones redefine smartphone photography it all comes down to how you like to shoot.
