Xiaomi has officially launched the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in China, its most premium phone to compete in the high-end market by 2026 with impressive specs. The release includes a standard model and a specialized Leica Edition, both of which introduce hardware solutions that close the gap between smartphones and traditional optics.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Design and tech specs
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra moves away from the curved aesthetics of its predecessors. This time, the company is opting for a flatter 2D design. It features a big 6.9-inch M10 LTPO AMOLED display with a 2,608 x 1,200 px resolution. The panel supports a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and reaches a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. For durability, Xiaomi uses its proprietary Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0 and has secured IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings. This makes the device resistant to dust and various levels of water pressure.
The camera system is the star
The rear camera module remains the centerpiece of the device. The primary camera uses a 50MP 1-inch Light Fusion 1050L sensor. This sensor integrates LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) technology, which notably improves dynamic range to better handle high-contrast scenes.
The most notable hardware addition is the 200MP periscope telephoto lens. Utilizing a 1/1.4-inch Samsung HPE sensor, the system provides continuous optical zoom between 75mm and 100mm. This mechanical movement allows the lens to maintain native resolution without digital cropping across these focal lengths. There’s also a 50MP ultrawide lens with autofocus and a 115˚ FOV. Selfie lovers get a 50MP front-facing camera.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition with Mechanical controls
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition shares the core specifications of the standard model. However, it adds tactile hardware features inspired by the Leica M-series. It features a dual-tone design and a unique mechanical zoom ring around the camera module. This physical dial allows users to manually adjust exposure, white balance, and focal length. Additionally, this version includes exclusive Leica Moment modes with a 3:2 aspect ratio and an encryption chip for enhanced data security.
Core performance and battery
Both models run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. The SoC is assisted by up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. Despite its slim 8.29mm profile, Xiaomi managed to fit a 6,800mAh silicon-carbon battery. The device supports 90W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 22.5W reverse wired charging. Connectivity options include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and two-way satellite communication. For software, the device runs on Android 16 -powered HyperOS 3.
Pricing and variants
The series is currently available for pre-order in China, with official sales starting on December 27. Pricing depends on the storage configuration and the specific edition.
Standard Xiaomi 17 Ultra:
- 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)
There is no official word on a global launch date yet. But the series is expected to make an international appearance during the first quarter of 2026.
