Xiaomi 17 Ultra Launched: Flagship Camera Phone with Leica Partnership

Summary: Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition on December 25, 2025, featuring a groundbreaking quad-camera system with a 200MP periscope telephoto lens. Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a massive 6800mAh battery with 90W wired charging, the device showcases Xiaomi’s deepened partnership with Leica through advanced imaging technology. The Leica Edition includes a unique Master Zoom Ring around the camera module for manual zoom control. Priced from 6,999 yuan (~$960 USD), this flagship competes directly with Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and positions Xiaomi as a leader in mobile photography.

Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and a special Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition on December 25, 2025, marking its most ambitious flagship smartphone to date. The device features a revolutionary 200MP periscope telephoto camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, and represents the next evolution of Xiaomi’s strategic partnership with German optics giant Leica. With pricing starting at 6,999 yuan (approximately $960 USD), the Xiaomi 17 Ultra targets photography enthusiasts and power users seeking cutting-edge mobile imaging capabilities.

What Is Xiaomi 17 Ultra?

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the fourth and most premium model in Xiaomi’s 2025 flagship lineup, joining the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. Positioned as Xiaomi’s ultimate camera-centric smartphone, it competes directly with Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max in the ultra-premium segment. The device showcases Xiaomi’s “people, car, home” ecosystem vision through HyperOS 3 integration and emphasizes computational photography powered by AI.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra Specifications

Display & Design

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a 6.82-inch (6.9-inch diagonal) LTPO AMOLED display with 3200 x 1440 resolution and 120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Peak brightness reaches an impressive 5000 nits, ensuring excellent outdoor visibility. The display incorporates Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0 protection with a curved edge design and punch-hole front camera. Screen-to-body ratio measures 89.7% with approximately 515 PPI pixel density.

The phone supports 300Hz touch sampling rate for responsive gaming and features an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor. With IP68 water and dust resistance rated for 1.5 meters submersion up to 30 minutes, the device uses aerospace-grade materials and offers premium eco-leather color options.

Performance & Processor

At the heart of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra lies the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor built on a 3nm fabrication process. This chipset features Oryon V3 CPU cores paired with the Adreno 840 GPU, delivering exceptional performance for demanding tasks and mobile gaming. Xiaomi equips the device with 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and storage options ranging from 512GB to 1TB using UFS 4.1 technology.

The Xiaomi 3D dual-channel IceLoop cooling system incorporates a newly developed capillary structure that improves thermal conductivity by 50% compared to previous generations. This thermal management system ensures sustained performance during intensive photography sessions, gaming, and multitasking. Geekbench scores reach 2,960 for single-core performance, positioning the device among the fastest Android smartphones.

Camera System (Leica Partnership)

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s quad-camera system represents the pinnacle of mobile photography engineering through deep collaboration with Leica. The camera array includes:

• 50MP main camera with Sony LYT-900 1-inch sensor, f/1.6 aperture, and Leica Summilux optical lens with OIS
• 50MP telephoto camera with f/1.8 aperture and OIS for 3.2x optical zoom
• 200MP periscope telephoto with Samsung-made sensor, f/2.6 aperture supporting continuous optical zoom functionality
• 50MP ultra-wide camera with f/2.2 aperture and 115-degree field of view

The camera system includes laser autofocus, color spectrum sensor, TOF 3D depth sensor, and supports up to 120x digital zoom. Video capabilities extend to 8K recording at 30fps, 4K at 120fps, and slow-motion capture at 1920fps. The Master Lens System covers focal lengths from 23mm to 135mm equivalent.

Xiaomi integrates its AI Image Signal Processor (AISP) with Xiaomi ProFocus technology offering motion tracking focus, eye tracking focus, and motion capture. The system includes Leica’s signature photographic styles (Authentic Look and Vibrant Look), Leica filters, classic Leica shutter sound, and Leica watermark options. Users can capture images in DNG, HEIF, JPEG formats with RAW mode support and 16-bit UltraRAW processing.

The 32MP front-facing camera features f/2.0 aperture with autofocus and screen flash, capable of 4K video recording at 30/60fps.

Battery & Charging

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra packs a massive 6800mAh silicon-carbon battery, significantly larger than most flagship competitors. Charging options include:

• 90W wired HyperCharge (Note: Some sources indicate 100W)
• 50W wireless HyperCharge (Note: Some sources indicate 80W)
• 90W USB PD PPS support
• 10W reverse wireless charging

The silicon-carbon battery technology enables higher energy density while maintaining safety standards. Real-world battery life benefits from the efficient 3nm Snapdragon processor and LTPO display’s adaptive refresh rate capabilities.

Software & AI Features

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra ships with Android 16 running Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3 custom interface. HyperOS 3 emphasizes AI integration, cross-device connectivity, and seamless ecosystem experiences. Key software features include:

• Xiaomi HyperAI system-wide integration across text, speech, search, and image processing
• Google Gemini integration leveraging Google’s powerful AI with Xiaomi hardware
• Enhanced interconnectivity for seamless experiences across smartphones, tablets, wearables, smart home devices, and electric vehicles
• Xiaomi AISP computational photography with AI-enhanced ultra zoom beyond 20x magnification
• Two-way satellite communication support (international variant)

The software includes Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, IR blaster, and comprehensive navigation system support (GPS L1+L5, Galileo, GLONASS, Beidou, QZSS, NavIC).

Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition: What’s Different?

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition (also called Leitzphone Edition) represents a special collaboration model featuring exclusive design elements and enhanced camera controls. Xiaomi has confirmed the Leica Edition launches alongside the standard Ultra model but has revealed limited details.

According to Digital Chat Station, the Leica Edition incorporates a physical rotary dial around its camera module, allowing tactile zoom control reminiscent of professional cameras. This Master Zoom Ring provides photographers with precise manual control over zoom magnification, enhancing the shooting experience for enthusiasts accustomed to dedicated camera equipment.

The Leica Edition retail packaging showcases premium black finishing with both Xiaomi and Leica co-branding, distinguishing it from the standard Ultra model. While core specifications likely match the standard Xiaomi 17 Ultra, the Leica Edition may include exclusive design touches, additional camera enhancements, or special Leica-tuned imaging profiles.

Xiaomi-Leica Strategic Partnership Evolution

Xiaomi and Leica Camera officially announced their strategic partnership in May 2022, with their first jointly developed smartphone launching in July 2022. The partnership extends beyond simple branding to encompass deep collaboration in optical design, lens engineering, and aesthetic tuning.

Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun stated: “Xiaomi focuses on creating the ultimate user experience, and has always hoped to explore the capabilities of smartphone photography to the extreme. Xiaomi and Leica agree with each other’s pursuits and ideas”. The collaboration involves Leica’s expertise in optical engineering combined with Xiaomi’s computational photography capabilities.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra represents the most advanced expression of this partnership to date, featuring Leica Summilux lenses, co-developed imaging algorithms, and Leica’s distinctive photographic color science. This upgraded cooperation manifests in the special Leica Edition variant with its unique Master Zoom Ring interface.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra vs Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Specification	Xiaomi 17 Ultra	Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra
Display	6.82″ LTPO AMOLED, 3200×1440, 120Hz, 5000 nits peak	6.9″ LTPO AMOLED, 3120×1440, 120Hz, 2600 nits peak
Processor	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm)	Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 4
Main Camera	50MP (1-inch sensor), f/1.6, Leica	200MP, f/1.7
Telephoto	50MP + 200MP periscope	50MP + 50MP periscope
Battery	6800mAh	5500mAh
Charging	90W wired, 50W wireless	65W wired, 25W wireless
Glass	Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0	Gorilla Armor 2
Screen Curve	Yes	No
Screen-to-Body	89.7%	92.5%

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra differentiates itself through superior battery capacity (6800mAh vs 5500mAh), faster charging speeds, and the innovative 200MP periscope telephoto camera with continuous zoom. The Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra counters with a larger screen-to-body ratio and Corning’s latest Gorilla Armor 2 protection.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra Camera Performance

200MP Periscope Telephoto Explained

The Samsung-manufactured 200MP periscope telephoto sensor represents a breakthrough in mobile zoom photography. Samsung reportedly began mass-producing sensors with continuous optical zoom functionality in September 2025 for major Chinese smartphone brands. This technology enables smooth, stepless zoom transitions similar to traditional camera lenses, eliminating the jarring jumps between fixed focal lengths typical of multi-camera smartphone systems.

The 200MP resolution allows for significant digital cropping while maintaining image quality, effectively extending usable zoom range. Combined with the f/2.6 aperture and OIS, the periscope system delivers sharp images at extreme magnifications up to 120x digital zoom.

Master Zoom Ring Feature

The Master Zoom Ring on the Leica Edition provides a tactile interface for zoom control, addressing a common frustration among mobile photographers who prefer physical controls over touchscreen sliders. This rotary dial allows for:

• Precise zoom adjustment during photo and video capture
• One-handed operation keeping your eye on the viewfinder
• Professional workflow familiar to traditional camera users
• Smooth zoom transitions in video recording

Xiaomi teased this feature in promotional videos, demonstrating the ring’s integration around the circular camera module.

Real-World Photography Scenarios

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra excels in several real-world scenarios:

• Wildlife and sports photography benefit from the 200MP periscope’s extreme reach combined with ProFocus motion tracking
• Architectural photography leverages the 50MP ultra-wide lens and AI-enhanced ultra night video mode
• Portrait photography utilizes the Leica Authentic Look color science and dual photographic styles for distinctive aesthetic
• Astrophotography takes advantage of the 1-inch main sensor, f/1.6 aperture, and dedicated Supermoon mode

The Master Lens System covering 23mm to 135mm equivalent focal lengths provides versatility for most photographic situations without switching devices.

Pricing & Availability

Xiaomi 17 Ultra pricing in China ranges from 6,999 yuan (approximately $960 USD or ₹81,000 INR) to 8,499 yuan (approximately $1,170 USD or ₹98,000 INR) depending on storage configuration. The device launched in China on December 25, 2025, at 7 PM local time (4:30 PM IST).

Expected India pricing estimates place the Xiaomi 17 Ultra around ₹1,19,990 according to early listings, though official India availability has not been confirmed. International market launch with satellite communication support is anticipated but without confirmed dates.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition pricing has not been officially disclosed but is expected to command a premium over the standard Ultra model given its exclusive features and limited production.

Expected India release date: March 11, 2026 (speculative based on retailer listings).

Technical Specs Section

Xiaomi 17 Ultra Complete Specifications:

Display:

• 6.82″ LTPO AMOLED, 3200 x 1440 pixels, 120Hz adaptive refresh
• 5000 nits peak brightness, 300Hz touch sampling
• Xiaomi Shield Glass 2.0, punch-hole design
• HDR10+, Always-on Display, 20:9 aspect ratio

Performance:

• Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm), Oryon V3 cores
• Adreno 840 GPU
• 16GB LPDDR5X RAM
• 512GB/1TB UFS 4.1 storage
• Xiaomi 3D dual-channel IceLoop cooling (+50% efficiency)

Camera:

• 50MP main (LYT-900, f/1.6, OIS, Leica Summilux)
• 50MP telephoto (f/1.8, OIS, 3.2x optical)
• 200MP periscope (f/2.6, continuous zoom)
• 50MP ultra-wide (f/2.2, 115°)
• 32MP front (f/2.0, autofocus)
• 8K@30fps, 4K@120fps, 1920fps slow-motion

Battery:

• 6800mAh silicon-carbon battery
• 90W wired HyperCharge
• 50W wireless HyperCharge
• 10W reverse wireless charging

Connectivity:

• Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0
• 5G SA/NSA, dual SIM
• NFC, IR blaster, ultrasonic fingerprint
• Two-way satellite (international variant)

Software:

• Android 16 with HyperOS 3
• Google Gemini AI integration
• Xiaomi HyperAI system-wide

Build:

• IP68 water resistance (1.5m, 30 min)
• Aerospace-grade materials
• Eco-leather options available

Should You Buy Xiaomi 17 Ultra?

Who Should Buy This Phone

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra targets three primary user groups:

Mobile photography enthusiasts seeking professional-grade imaging capabilities will appreciate the Leica partnership, 200MP periscope telephoto, and comprehensive manual controls. The Master Zoom Ring on the Leica Edition specifically addresses photographers accustomed to dedicated camera equipment.

Power users and content creators benefit from the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 performance, 6800mAh battery enabling all-day shooting, and advanced video capabilities including 8K recording and 1920fps slow motion.

Tech enthusiasts invested in Xiaomi’s ecosystem will value HyperOS 3 connectivity features, Google Gemini AI integration, and early access to cutting-edge mobile technology.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

When does the Xiaomi 17 Ultra launch globally?
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra launched in China on December 25, 2025. International availability including India has not been officially confirmed, though speculation suggests March 2026.

What’s the difference between Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Leica Edition?
The Leica Edition features a unique Master Zoom Ring around the camera module for manual zoom control, premium black Leica-branded packaging, and potentially exclusive design elements. Core specifications appear identical to the standard Ultra model.

Does Xiaomi 17 Ultra support satellite communication?
Yes, the international variant is expected to support two-way satellite communication, though the China launch model specifications remain unclear.

How does the 200MP camera compare to Samsung’s?
Xiaomi’s 200MP sensor is a Samsung-manufactured periscope telephoto with continuous optical zoom functionality, while Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra uses a 200MP main sensor. The implementations serve different purposes—Xiaomi prioritizes zoom reach while Samsung emphasizes main camera resolution.

Is the 6800mAh battery safe?
Yes, Xiaomi uses silicon-carbon battery technology that enables higher energy density while maintaining safety standards. The battery supports multiple charging technologies including 90W wired and USB PD PPS.

Can I buy Xiaomi 17 Ultra in India?
Official India availability has not been confirmed as of December 29, 2025. Retailer listings suggest a potential March 2026 release with estimated pricing around ₹1,19,990.

What makes the Leica partnership different from other camera collaborations?
Xiaomi and Leica collaborate on optical design, lens engineering, and aesthetic tuning rather than simple branding. The partnership includes Leica Summilux lenses, co-developed imaging algorithms, and Leica’s distinctive color science.

Does Xiaomi 17 Ultra support eSIM?
Specifications indicate dual nano-SIM support with no mention of eSIM capability. This may vary by regional variant.