Xiaomi 17 Pro Max on DxOMark: it impresses, but it’s better not to rely on video

The new flagship Xiaomi 17 Pro Max scores on DxOMark, with a result that shows both strengths and weaknesses. The device did not manage to enter the platform’s Top 10, but remains a valid alternative—provided you prefer stills to videos.

These are the camera capabilities of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: here’s what it scored on DxOMark

The heart of the experience is the main sensor Light Fusion 950 of 50 MP, which has demonstrated top-level performance in terms of exposure and color reproduction. In practical tests the camera performed well, offering accurate white balance and extremely pleasant colors in almost all lighting conditions.

One of the most impressive aspects regards noise management: the device manages to preserve sharp and natural details even in low-light situations, avoiding aggressive artificial processing. Portraits also benefit from this precision, showing faithful skin tones and a generally fast autofocus system, albeit with a slightly limited depth of field in group portraits.

Moving on to secondary optics, the periscope telephoto with 5X optical zoom is a strength for those who love capturing distant subjects, delivering solid results and above-average performance at long focal distances. However, image quality can suffer a drop in intermediate zoom ranges.

Moreover, the 50 MP ultra-wide camera, while delivering bright and detailed images, presents a more limited field of view than the wider solutions offered by direct competitors.

When it comes to videos, tests detected instability in white balance transitions and exposure when lighting conditions change rapidly. Video stabilization is another critical point, as residual camera movements were observed even during shots taken from a stationary position.

In low-light conditions, digital noise becomes more intrusive in the shadow areas, preventing the device from matching the smoothness and clarity of the videos of the best smartphones in the category.

So, in summary, Xiaomi 17 Pro Max proves itself as a phone suited for photography, but without reaching excellence—and not recommended for videos. Just look at the score gap between photos (165) and video (146), which translates into an overall score of 159. The device stands on par with Xiaomi 15 Ultra and has reached the 13th position in DxOMark’s global ranking.

For the complete DxOMark team’s assessment, you can take a look at the source article, with all the details and camera samples.