Xiaomi 17 Ultra Launched: Features 200MP Continuous Zoom and 6,800mAh Battery

Xiaomi has officially lifted the curtain on its new flagship series in China, introducing the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. However, this year the company went a step further by launching the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition, a device featuring a unique design and physical mechanical controls rarely seen on modern smartphones.

Imaging Power: 1-Inch Sensor and Continuous Zoom

The primary selling point of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is its camera system. The rear houses a Leica-branded triple camera setup:

• Main Camera: Utilizes a 50MP 1-inch Light Fusion 1050L sensor with support for LOFIC technology, ensuring superior dynamic range.
• Telephoto Camera: The system’s highlight is a 200MP Samsung HPE periscope unit (1/1.4-inch size) offering continuous optical zoom, eliminating quality loss when changing magnification levels.
• Ultrawide Camera: A 50MP sensor with autofocus.

On the front, a 50MP selfie camera is embedded within a flat 6.9-inch M10 AMOLED LTPO display. The screen offers a 120Hz refresh rate, a resolution of 2608 x 1200 pixels, and a peak brightness of 3,500 nits, all protected by Xiaomi’s Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition: Mechanical Ring and Retro Design

The special Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition shares the same internal specifications as the standard model but introduces drastic changes in design and functionality. The device features a mechanical zoom ring, allowing users to physically adjust focal length, exposure, and white balance—providing the tactile feel of a real camera.

The design draws inspiration from the legendary Leica M-series cameras, featuring a dual-tone body, a knurled frame pattern, and the iconic red Leica logo. It comes with exclusive software additions like “Leica Moment” modes (3:2 aspect ratio), a dedicated security chip, and dual-satellite communication. The retail package is extensive, including a lens cap, lanyard, magnetic case, and cleaning cloth.

Performance Without Compromise

Under the hood, both models are powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. The devices run Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3.0 out-of-the-box, packed with AI features.

Battery life is handled by a massive 6,800mAh silicon-carbon battery, supporting 90W wired and 50W wireless charging, along with 22.5W wired reverse charging.

Other notable specs include an IP69 rating (alongside IP66/IP68) for superior water and dust resistance, an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint scanner, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and an infrared sensor.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra Pricing and Availability

Sales in China begin on December 27. The standard model is available in Black, Cool Smoke Purple, Starry Green, and White, while the Leica edition comes in Black and Off-White.

Pricing for the Chinese market is as follows:

Xiaomi 17 Ultra (Standard):

• 12GB / 512GB: CNY 6,999 (~$995)
• 16GB / 512GB: CNY 7,499 (~$1,065)
• 16GB / 1TB: CNY 8,499 (~$1,210)

Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition:

• 16GB / 512GB: CNY 7,999 (~$1,140)
• 16GB / 1TB: CNY 8,999 (~$1,280)

Global pricing is expected to be higher due to taxes and import duties.