Xiaomi has officially launched the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in China, introducing its most premium smartphone aimed at the high-end market for 2026. The release includes a standard model and a specialized Leica Edition, both featuring advanced hardware that bridges the gap between smartphones and traditional optics.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Design and Tech Specs
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra departs from the curved designs of previous models, opting instead for a flatter 2D design. It boasts a large 6.9-inch M10 LTPO AMOLED display with a resolution of 2,608 x 1,200 pixels. The display supports a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate and can reach peak brightness of 3,500 nits. To enhance durability, Xiaomi employs its proprietary Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0 and has secured IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.
The Camera System is the Star
The rear camera setup is a highlight of the device, featuring a primary 50MP 1-inch Light Fusion 1050L sensor that uses LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) technology to improve dynamic range for high-contrast scenes. The standout feature is a 200MP periscope telephoto lens, utilizing a 1/1.4-inch Samsung HPE sensor to enable continuous optical zoom between 75mm and 100mm without digital cropping. Additionally, there is a 50MP ultrawide lens with autofocus and a 115˚ field of view. For selfies, a 50MP front-facing camera is provided.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition with Mechanical Controls
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition shares the core specifications of the standard model but includes tactile hardware features inspired by the Leica M-series. This version has a dual-tone design and a unique mechanical zoom ring around the camera module, allowing users to manually adjust exposure, white balance, and focal length. It also offers exclusive Leica Moment modes with a 3:2 aspect ratio and an encryption chip for enhanced data security.
Core Performance and Battery
Both models operate on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, supported by up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. Despite a slim profile of 8.29mm, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra houses a 6,800mAh silicon-carbon battery. It supports 90W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 22.5W reverse wired charging. Connectivity features include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and two-way satellite communication. The device runs on HyperOS 3 powered by Android 16.
Pricing and Variants
The series is currently available for pre-order in China, with official sales set to begin on December 27. Pricing varies based on storage configurations and editions.
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 information on a global launch date yet, but the series is expected to debut internationally in the first quarter of 2026.
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