Xiaomi has launched its new flagship Xiaomi 17 Ultra in China, along with a special Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition. Both phones are built for power users and camera enthusiasts, but the Leica Edition stands out with a mechanical zoom ring and a design inspired by classic Leica M-series cameras. With a massive AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, Leica-branded cameras and a huge battery, the 17 Ultra is clearly aimed at users who want the best possible photography phone.
Design and Display
On the front, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a 6.9-inch M10 LTPO AMOLED display with a 2608 x 1200-pixel resolution and a fast 120Hz refresh rate. Peak brightness can reach up to 3,500 nits, which means the screen stays clear and readable even under strong sunlight. Support for HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10+ makes it suitable for watching high-quality videos and playing games with rich colours and deep contrast.
The panel is protected by Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0 for improved durability against scratches and drops. Colour options include Black, Cool Smoke Purple, Starry Green and White, giving buyers a mix of classic and playful shades. The Leica Edition adds a dual-tone finish, a knurled metal frame and the iconic red Leica logo on the back, reinforcing its camera-first identity. On the front there is a 50MP selfie camera and an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint scanner for fast and secure unlocking.
Performance, Software, and Connectivity
Inside, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset built on a 3 nm process, paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. This combination is more than enough for heavy multitasking, 4K video recording and demanding 3D gaming. HyperOS 3.0, based on Android 16, brings a refreshed interface and several AI-driven features aimed at improving camera processing, battery management and everyday usability.
On the connectivity side, the phone supports 2G to 5G networks, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC and even satellite communication, making it ready for a wide range of use scenarios. Hi-Res audio support, stereo speakers and a quad-mic array enhance media consumption and call quality, while the lack of a microSD card slot is balanced by generous built-in storage options.
Leica Camera System with Mechanical Zoom Ring
The main highlight of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is its Leica-branded triple rear camera system. The primary camera uses a 50MP 1-inch Light Fusion 1050L sensor with LOFIC technology, designed to improve dynamic range and low-light performance. This large sensor size allows the phone to capture more light and detail, bringing it closer to dedicated cameras in terms of image quality.
Backing up the main camera is a 200MP Samsung HPE periscope telephoto unit with a 1/1.4-inch sensor and continuous optical zoom between 75mm and 100mm. It supports multi-directional PDAF, optical image stabilisation and a mechanical zoom ring in the Leica Edition, letting users manually control focal length, exposure and white balance. A 50MP ultrawide camera with autofocus covers 14mm equivalent focal length for expansive landscape and group shots. Leica Moment modes with a 3:2 aspect ratio add classic photo looks and colour profiles for more creative shooting.
Battery, Charging, and Everyday Use
Keeping everything running is a large 6,800mAh silicon-carbon battery, giving the Xiaomi 17 Ultra enough capacity for a full day of heavy use or even longer for lighter users. The phone supports 90W wired charging, 90W PPS, PD3.0 and QC3+ standards, as well as 50W wireless charging for users who prefer a cable-free desk setup.
Reverse charging is also available, with 22.5W reverse wired and 10W reverse wireless options, making it easy to top up accessories or another smartphone in an emergency. Combined with intelligent power management in HyperOS 3.0, this battery setup should make the 17 Ultra a reliable companion for travel, content creation and long photography sessions.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Specifications, Price, and Availability
For readers who want a quick hardware summary, here is a detailed specifications table based on Xiaomi’s launch information. These specs apply to both the standard 17 Ultra and the Leica Edition, unless otherwise mentioned.
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3 nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (2×4.6 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix L + 6×3.62 GHz Oryon V3 Phoenix M) |
| GPU | Adreno 840 |
| OS | Android 16, HyperOS 3 |
| Supported Networks | 2G, 3G, 4G LTE, 5G |
| Display | 6.9 inches, 1200 x 2608 pixels, LTPO AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, 2160Hz PWM, Dolby Vision, HDR Vivid, HDR10+, 3500 nits (peak) |
| RAM | 12 GB, 16 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB, 512 GB, 1TB |
| Card Slot | no |
| Main Camera | 50 MP, f/1.7, 23mm (wide), 1.0″-type, 1.6µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS; 200 MP, f/2.4-3.0, 75-100mm (periscope telephoto), 1/1.4″, 0.56µm, multi-directional PDAF (30cm – ∞), OIS, 3.2-4.3x continuous optical zoom, zoom ring; 50 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 115˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.76″, 0.64µm, dual pixel PDAF |
| Front Camera | 50 MP, (wide), 1/2.88″, 0.61µm |
| Colors | Black, White, Starry Green, Purple |
| Fingerprint sensor | under display, Ultrasonic |
| Battery | Si/C Li-Ion 6800 mAh, 90W wired (PPS, PD3.0, QC3+), 50W wireless, 22.5W reverse wired, 10W reverse wireless |
| Price | $995 (12GB/512GB), $1,065 (16GB/512GB), $1,210 (16GB/1TB); Leica Edition: $1,140 (16GB/512GB), $1,280 (16GB/1TB) |
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra will initially be sold in China through Xiaomi’s official online store from 27 December. The base 12GB/512GB model starts at around $995, while higher storage and Leica Edition models go above the $1,000 mark. Global availability has not been detailed yet, but the feature set clearly positions the 17 Ultra as a top-tier flagship for users who prioritise photography and battery life.
