Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has officially announced the launch of its most premium smartphone yet, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, alongside a special Leica Edition. The unveiling is scheduled for December 25 at 7 PM local time in China, marking a significant year-end release for the flagship series.
Launch Date and First Glimpse
In a recent post on Weibo, Xiaomi confirmed the simultaneous launch of both models. While the company shared an initial look at the standard Xiaomi 17 Ultra, details about the Leica Edition remain more guarded. Teasers for the Leica variant have highlighted the exclusive "Master Zoom Ring" and confirmed the presence of Leica branding. A photo of its retail box, featuring both Xiaomi and Leica logos in black, has also been revealed.
Major Camera Upgrades and Expected Specifications
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is poised to bring substantial photography enhancements. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun confirmed the device will sport a Leica 1-inch Light and Shadow Master primary camera with the new Light and Shadow Hunter 1050L image sensor. This sensor utilizes LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) technology for a superior dynamic range.
Rumors suggest a shift from a quad to a triple rear camera setup, potentially omitting the dedicated 50MP 3x telephoto lens from its predecessor. Instead, the phone may include a Leica-tuned 200MP telephoto camera with continuous optical zoom capabilities, powered by a Samsung sensor. Leaked specs point to a 50MP primary sensor, a 200MP telephoto sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide sensor, and a 50MP front camera.
The Leica Edition's Unique Feature
The special Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is confirmed to feature the innovative Master Zoom Ring. According to tipsters, this will be a physical rotary dial integrated around the circular camera module, allowing users to manually control zoom during photography and videography. This feature aims to provide a more tactile and professional shooting experience.
Performance and Global Variants
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will be powered by Qualcomm's top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and will run the latest HyperOS 3 out of the box. This operating system incorporates AI features designed to enhance the camera system's performance. Reports also indicate that Xiaomi may launch an international variant of the phone with satellite communication support.
As the fourth and most expensive model in the series launched earlier this year, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and its Leica counterpart represent the pinnacle of the company's current smartphone technology, focusing heavily on professional-grade imaging innovations.
