Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Strategic Cooperation with Leica in Global Imaging
Xiaomi's new flagship phone marks a turning point in mobile photography, combining an ultra-slim design, cutting-edge optical technology, and a renewed collaboration with Leica that redefines image standards in smartphones globally.
Xiaomi officially unveiled the Xiaomi 17 Ultra at its new product launch event held yesterday in Beijing, along with other wearables such as the Xiaomi Watch 5 series and the Xiaomi Buds 6. Also presented at the event was a series of smart appliances, such as the Xiaomi Smart Home Screen 11, the Mijia Diffuse Ceiling Lamp, and the Mijia Dual Fan Pro Central Air Conditioner.
Xiaomi also announced that it will continue with the global strategic cooperation with Leica. Based on successful joint research and development, both sides are introducing a new model of strategic co-creation, with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra being the first product born from this new collaboration framework.
The "strategic co-creation model" is the result of a close collaboration at various levels, the aim of which is to break with conventional thinking and application constraints in mobile imaging through deep joint creation from the start of the product. This approach integrates Leica's centuries-old experience in professional optics, aesthetic philosophy, and interaction principles in camera manufacturing to completely reinvent the mobile image experience.
Refined Elegance in an Ultra-thin Design
Follow us on: 
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the first model in the Ultra line that features a flat screen, while maintaining the general design language of the Xiaomi 17 series. The ultra-thin bezel display, and the clean, linear shape give the device a more streamlined look. At a thickness of 8.29mm, it is the thinnest Ultra model that Xiaomi has released to date. Improvements in the design, such as the micro-curved aluminum alloy frame, the body's more pronounced curves, the reduced camera diameter, and the higher placement of the camera module, contribute to improving ergonomics and providing a more balanced feel in the hand.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is available in four colors: white, black, purple, and green. For photography enthusiasts, Xiaomi introduces two upgraded photography kits. Both feature a redesigned ergonomic design to improve handling and are now compatible with magnetic attachment. For everyday use, Xiaomi also releases an ultra-thin composite fiber case, designed to preserve the sensation of not using a case.
Setting New Standards in Mobile Optical Performance
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is equipped with a triple camera system that consists of a 14mm ultra-wide angle lens, a 1-inch, 23mm ultra dynamic Leica camera, and a Leica telephoto camera with a 200 MP optical zoom and 75-100mm, designed to cover a wide range of photographic opportunities, including landscapes, portraits, and street photography. Improvements in optical design and image processing allow for sharper and more accurate night photography, ensuring more consistent results in low-light environments.
The ultra dynamic 1-inch Leica camera is based on a Light Fusion 1050L sensor that incorporates LOFIC HDR technology, which provides a total capacity 6.3 times higher than the 1-inch sensor of the previous generation. This allows better control of highlights and shadow details in high contrast scenes, including backlit and night environments.
The 200 MP Leica telephoto lens with a 75-100 mm range utilizes three perfectly adjusted lens groups and a prism, solving the traditional limitations in image quality with medium and long focal distances. Its second and third lens groups can move independently to adjust the focal distance and focus, providing an optical zoom equivalent to a range of 75-100 mm. Throughout this range, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra maximizes its large 1/1.4" telephoto sensor and supports a native image quality of 200 MP without any digital cropping.
This telephoto lens features a Leica APO optical design, which uses 3 custom glass material lenses to reduce chromatic errors at a hardware level. This design ensures that all colors converge at the same focus point, eliminating color bands and delivering sharper, more accurate images. The lens significantly reduces purple and green fringes, even in high-contrast telephoto images. The exceptional optical quality of this lens also makes the Xiaomi 17 Ultra the first Xiaomi flagship to receive Leica APO certification.
In the entire camera system, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a Leica UltraPure optical design with G+P lens group, which significantly minimizes the linear arc ghosting effect and contributes to a more stable and consistent image quality in difficult lighting conditions.
Emblematic Experiences in All Aspects
As the flagship model of Xiaomi, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra offers premium and exceptional features from multiple perspectives. In terms of performance, the Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 mobile platform has an enhanced CPU structure and an Adreno 840 with an ultra-large graphic cache, ensuring smooth handling of complex tasks. Thanks to Xiaomi's IceLoop dual-channel 3D system and a new capillary structure, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra achieves a 50% improvement in thermal conductivity compared to the previous generation.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is equipped with a next-generation display to ensure a professional-level experience, with a refresh rate LTPO of 120Hz and a maximum brightness of 3500 nits. Xiaomi HyperRGB significantly improves the energy efficiency of the display, with a clarity similar to that of the 2K screens and a power consumption lower than that of typical 1.5K screens, balancing the screen quality and battery life. Backed by the latest Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0, the screen's drop resistance is up to 20 times higher than regular reinforced glass.
With the latest Xiaomi Surge battery, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra perfectly balances a slim body with an ultra-large battery, integrating a huge 6800 mAh battery into the thinnest Xiaomi Ultra body to date, without compromising the 90W HyperCharge wired charging, the 50W HyperCharge wireless charging, and the 90W PD PPS universal charging.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is also compatible with a total of 51 4G and 5G bands, covering roaming networks in up to 210 countries, ensuring perfect connectivity even during cross-border travel. The integration of UWB technology allows the device to function as a digital car key, as it can automatically unlock when someone approaches and lock when they move away. It is currently compatible with the Xiaomi YU7, as well as with some XPeng models, allowing more car owners to enjoy a seamless experience.
For a more solid sound performance, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra incorporates enhanced dual stereo speakers with a new AI noise reduction feature that offers excellent noise suppression and crystal-clear quality for two-way calls. Additionally, IP66, IP68, and IP69 certificates guarantee adequate resistance to water and dust, allowing worry-free use in complex environments.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes with Xiaomi HyperOS 3 pre-installed, taking ecosystem connectivity to new heights. It is compatible with the iPhone home screen and offers full compatibility with all Apple devices, providing a consistent mirroring experience. If you are a user of two Xiaomi phones, the "two in one" connectivity gives you more flexibility; it is compatible with two-way Mirror Desktop, allowing mirroring and mutual control between two devices.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica: A Homage to the Master Image Creators
As the first flagship of the enhanced strategic partnership between Xiaomi and Leica, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica transcends the concept of a simple product. It is the materialized expression of the strategic co-creation model, uniting concept, design, and technology through a deep and comprehensive collaboration.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica has been designed with the direct involvement of the original Leica team and is inspired by the classic cameras of Leica's M series. The rear panel features a two-tone design, where the textured leather complements the matte finish. The meticulously ribbed and engraved central frame, inscribed with "LEICA CAMERA GERMANY!, provides outstanding non-slip grip. For the first time, the prestigious red Leica badge adorns the body, embodying the most iconic image design and certifying its imaging capability.
The exclusive Leica Camera Ring inherits the classic operational logic of cameras and reimagines it in a new form for the smartphone, with the 20 built-in high-resistant bearings adding an extra smooth tactile feeling. All of this encourages immersive and intuitive interaction in focus, allowing capturing every extraordinary moment in a state of creative flow. An internal optical displacement sensor detects movements as small as 0.03 mm, allowing precise focus adjustment with the ring. A specific sealing design ensures that the device maintains its dust and water resistance ratings of IP66 / IP68 / IP69.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica features the exclusive Leica Essential mode, which utilizes innovative technical approaches to recreate the legendary image qualities of two iconic Leica cameras in a phone. For the Leica M9 style, Xiaomi trained a "RAW to RGB" style transfer model based on hundreds of thousands of photos captured by real Leica M9 cameras. The Leica M3 style digitally models the color response, tonality, and grain of the Leica MONOPAN 50 film, producing authentic black and white images similar to those of a film, beyond what normal filters can achieve.
Moreover, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica introduces the industry's first CAI authenticity protection technology for photography, achieved through a digital signature on each photo via a specific security chip, ensuring its real origin rather than one generated by AI. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica is also exclusively equipped with a dual satellite system, compatible with Tiantong and Beidou networks. When the mobile signal is weak or even in remote and wild areas, the system automatically displays a pop-up to the user, allowing them to access the satellite interface with a single tap to easily send messages and make calls.