The Xiaomi 17 Ultra arrives with a focus on high-end camera capabilities, a massive battery, and selective global availability. Partnering with Leica, Xiaomi has equipped this phone with a 1-inch 50-megapixel main sensor and a telephoto lens reaching 4.3x optical zoom. While available in Europe, its U.S. release remains unconfirmed, continuing a trend of limiting access to Xiaomi's top-tier devices. The phone's impressive specs are tempered by its uncertain availability.
Xiaomi's latest flagship doubles down on photography, continuing its collaboration with Leica [2]. The 17 Ultra features a 1-inch 50-megapixel main camera sensor with an f/1.67 lens. The telephoto setup uses a 200MP 1/1.4-inch sensor capable of up to 4.3x optical zoom. Xiaomi claims up to 17x "optical-level zoom," but this may not match the quality of competitors with dedicated telescopic lenses. A 50MP ultrawide camera rounds out the setup.
The main camera excels in detail and low-light performance, enhanced by a new Light Fusion 1050L sensor with LOFIC HDR (high dynamic range) technology [2]. This sensor provides better highlight control and detail in darker areas. The telephoto camera also offers continual optical zoom across the 75-100mm range without in-sensor cropping [2]. This is achieved via physically moving lenses, delivering lossless zoom across distances, mainly covering the 3-4x optical zoom range.
An APO (apochromatic) lens design reduces chromatic aberration by focusing red, green, and blue wavelengths onto the same focal plane [2]. This corrects color fringing and enhances image sharpness, especially at higher zoom levels. However, the telephoto camera's macro photography is limited by a minimum focal distance of 30cm (11.8 inches) [2].
Beyond the cameras, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra packs flagship-level specifications. The device sports a 6.9-inch OLED display with variable refresh rates (1-120Hz) and a peak brightness of 3,500 nits [2]. Despite its size, with dimensions comparable to the iPhone 17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra, the 17 Ultra is Xiaomi's thinnest Ultra phone to date, measuring 8.29mm thick [2].
Powering the device is a substantial 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery [2]. It supports 90W HyperCharge (wired) and 50W wireless HyperCharge, provided you use Xiaomi's chargers and dock. The phone also features IP68 protection against dust and water [2].
Leica's involvement extends beyond branding. The Leica Leitzphone variant includes a manual zoom ring around the camera unit [2]. While this feels like a gimmick to some, it caters to photography enthusiasts who prefer tactile controls. The Leica Leitzphone, essentially a Xiaomi 17 Ultra with Leica branding, even uses Leica's red dot logo, marking a deeper collaboration [1].
Software enhancements include dedicated Leica widgets like photo galleries and a golden-hour timer [1]. Custom monochrome app icons are also included for popular apps, though their visual impact diminishes as more apps are installed [1]. The Leica Leitzphone, while offering similar hardware to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, comes at a premium price of £1,700 in the UK [1].
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra supports up to 8K video recording at 30 fps [2]. It also supports 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps and 4K 120 fps Log video. However, the phone struggles with stabilization at times, and its low-light video performance lags behind competitors like Apple, Google, and Samsung [2].
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra boasts a high-end camera system developed in partnership with Leica, featuring a 1-inch 50-megapixel main sensor and a telephoto lens with up to 4.3x optical zoom. Its main camera excels in detail and low-light performance, thanks to the Light Fusion 1050L sensor with LOFIC HDR technology. An APO lens design also reduces chromatic aberration for enhanced image sharpness.
Beyond its impressive camera, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a 6.9-inch OLED display with a variable refresh rate of 1-120Hz and a peak brightness of 3,500 nits. It's powered by a substantial 6,000mAh battery supporting 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. The phone also has IP68 protection against dust and water.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has a limited global availability, primarily launching in Europe, with the UK price starting at £1,299 (approximately $1,750). As of now, a U.S. release remains unconfirmed, continuing a trend of limiting access to Xiaomi's top-tier devices in the United States.
Leica's involvement with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra extends beyond branding, with a dedicated Leica Leitzphone variant that includes a manual zoom ring around the camera unit. Software enhancements include dedicated Leica widgets like photo galleries and a golden-hour timer. The Leica Leitzphone, while offering similar hardware, comes at a premium price.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra supports up to 8K video recording at 30 fps, as well as 4K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps and 4K 120 fps Log video. However, the phone's stabilization may not be optimal in all video recording scenarios.
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