GoKawiilTushar Mehta / Android Authority
I have been reviewing phones for almost a decade. And countless times over this period, brands have claimed that their phones can replace actual DSLRs or mirrorless cameras. Every time I’ve heard that, I have wanted to respond with The Rock’s raised eyebrow meme.
Despite my skepticism, I cannot deny that I have encountered several great camera phones in recent years that reproduce an effect quite similar to that of an “actual” camera. Some phones, like the vivo X300 Pro, achieve that through the image’s superficial impression, while others, such as the OPPO Find X9 Pro, realize it through tactile feedback from elements like extendable lenses. My most recent interaction that evoked a similar sensation was with another camera stalwart, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, a phone that tries to recreate some of the DSLR magic with variable aperture on one of its rear cameras.
In his Xiaomi 17 Ultra review, my colleague Robert Triggs spoke at length about what makes it one of the best camera phones to date. While I largely agree with his analyses, I’m here to talk about one aspect of the phone that I find absolutely fascinating: the brew of physical sensations the phone’s camera kit offers, and why I feel other brands should consider adding at least one such phone to their portfolios.
What do you think about physical camera accessories with your Android phone? 4 votes I use it already, and like the experience 0 % I'd like to try it 50 % It's a gimmick 50 % Anything else (comment below) 0 %
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s unbeatable sensory experience
Robert Triggs / Android Authority
I wouldn’t be exaggerating if I said the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s camera kit experience delivers a dopamine hit unlike any of its rivals. The company has decked it out for a full sensory experience you would expect from an actual camera, offering a breadth of physical controls that simulate the same feel.
While a regular-seeming phone case forms the foundation, the Ultra’s detachable grip is the more vital enabler of the experience. The grip is what holds all the photography-related controls. It slides onto the case from the bottom end of the phone and docks via a USB-C connector. It even has a physical switch that fastens it to the case and keeps it from falling off.
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