Xiaomi has once again raised the bar in the flagship smartphone market with the official launch of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, unveiled at its grand product launch event in Beijing. Alongside the new smartphone, Xiaomi also introduced the Xiaomi Watch 5 Series, Xiaomi Buds 6, and a range of smart home devices—strengthening its position as a complete smart ecosystem brand.
What truly stole the spotlight, however, was Xiaomi’s announcement of an upgraded Global Imaging Strategic Cooperation with Leica—a partnership that now goes far beyond traditional joint development. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the first smartphone born under the new “Strategic Co-creation Model”, redefining what mobile photography can achieve.
Xiaomi and Leica: From Collaboration to Co-Creation
Xiaomi and Leica’s partnership has evolved into a deep, end-to-end collaboration that begins at the concept stage and extends through design, optics, software, and user experience. This Strategic Co-creation Model integrates Leica’s century-old expertise in professional cameras, optical engineering, and photographic aesthetics directly into smartphone development.
The result is not just better cameras—but a reinvented mobile imaging experience that blends Leica’s heritage with Xiaomi’s cutting-edge technology.
Refined Design: Ultra-Slim, Ultra-Premium
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra introduces several design firsts for the Ultra lineup:
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First Ultra model with a flat display
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Ultra-thin bezels and a clean, linear design
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Only 8.29mm thick, making it the thinnest Xiaomi Ultra ever
Subtle refinements—such as a micro-curved aluminum alloy frame, a more balanced camera module, and smoother body curves—significantly improve ergonomics and comfort during daily use.
Available Colors
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White
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Black
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Purple
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Green
Photography enthusiasts can also opt for newly redesigned magnetic photography kits, while everyday users will appreciate the ultra-thin composite fiber case that maintains a case-less feel.
Camera Excellence: Setting New Standards in Mobile Photography
At the heart of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra lies a powerful triple-camera system, designed to cover every shooting scenario:
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14mm Ultra-Wide Lens
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23mm Leica 1-inch Ultra Dynamic Main Camera
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Leica 200MP 75–100mm Optical Zoom Telephoto Camera
This setup delivers exceptional results in landscape, portrait, street, and night photography.
Leica 1-Inch Ultra Dynamic Camera
Powered by the Light Fusion 1050L sensor with LOFIC HDR technology, this camera offers:
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6.3× greater full-well capacity than previous 1-inch sensors
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Outstanding highlight control
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Rich shadow detail, even in backlit or night scenes
Leica 200MP Telephoto with APO Certification
The telephoto camera is a major breakthrough:
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True optical zoom from 75mm to 100mm
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Full 200MP native image quality without digital cropping
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Leica APO optical lens design using custom glass materials
This design eliminates chromatic aberration and color fringing, delivering razor-sharp telephoto images. Notably, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the first Xiaomi flagship to receive Leica APO certification.
Flagship Performance in Every Detail
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is not just about photography—it’s a powerhouse in every aspect.
Performance & Cooling
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Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform
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Adreno 840 GPU with ultra-large cache
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Xiaomi 3D Dual-Channel IceLoop Cooling System
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50% improvement in thermal conductivity over the previous generation
Display Technology
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120Hz LTPO display
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Peak brightness of 3500 nits
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Xiaomi HyperRGB technology for higher efficiency
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Protected by Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0 with up to 20× drop resistance
Battery & Charging
Despite its slim design, Xiaomi packs in a massive 6800mAh Surge Battery, supporting:
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90W wired HyperCharge
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50W wireless HyperCharge
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90W universal PD PPS fast charging
Connectivity, Durability & Smart Features
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Supports 51 global 4G & 5G bands, covering roaming in 210 countries
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UWB digital car key support (compatible with Xiaomi YU7 and select XPeng models)
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Dual stereo speakers with AI noise reduction
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IP66 / IP68 / IP69 water and dust resistance for extreme conditions
Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica: A Tribute to Photography Legends
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica edition is more than a smartphone—it’s a homage to Leica’s iconic cameras.
Premium Design Inspired by Leica M Series
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Dual-tone back with textured leather and matte finish
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Knurled metal frame engraved with “LEICA CAMERA GERMANY”
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Iconic Leica red dot badge
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Exclusive Leica Camera Ring with precision ball bearings and ultra-smooth tactile control
Leica Essential Mode
This mode recreates legendary Leica image styles:
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Leica M9 style using AI-trained RAW-to-RGB models
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Leica M3 black-and-white film look, inspired by Leica MONOPAN 50
Industry-First Photo Authenticity Protection
Xiaomi introduces CAI Photo Authenticity Protection, digitally signing each photo through a secure chip—ensuring images are genuine and not AI-generated.
Pricing & Availability
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
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12GB + 512GB – RMB 6,999
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16GB + 512GB – RMB 7,499
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16GB + 1TB – RMB 8,499
Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica
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16GB + 512GB – RMB 7,999
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16GB + 1TB – RMB 8,999
Final Thoughts: A New Benchmark for Smartphone Imaging
With the launch of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, Xiaomi has not only delivered a flagship smartphone—it has set a new benchmark for mobile photography, design, and performance. The deeper Leica partnership, cutting-edge camera hardware, refined design, and flagship-level specs make it one of the most compelling smartphones of 2025.
For photography lovers, power users, and flagship seekers alike, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra represents the future of smartphone innovation.