Xiaomi has finally launched the much-anticipated 17 Ultra over in China. Alongside the regular model, Xiaomi also released a special Leica edition. This one gets a rather nifty trick up its sleeve: a physical mechanical ring built right into the camera island, which should make for a more tactile photography experience.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra
Under the bonnet, the 17 Ultra is running on the latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, and you can spec it with a hefty 16GB of RAM and a full terabyte of storage, all running on HyperOS 3.0 from the get-go. The camera system is a Leica-branded triple array headed up by a 50MP, 1-inch type main sensor, joined by a 200MP periscope telephoto that does continuous optical zoom and a 50MP ultrawide.
Up front, you’ve got a flat 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED display that’s plenty bright and smooth, topped with some tough glass. Keeping the lights on is a massive 6,800mAh battery, with 90W wired and 50W wireless charging to top it up quickly. The spec sheet rounds out with all the modern essentials: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, satellite comms, and IP66/IP68/IP69 ratings.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica
Now, about that Leica edition. It shares the same specs as the standard 17 Ultra, but it has a mechanical ring that lets you adjust focal length and exposure directly. The design takes clear inspiration from Leica’s own M-series cameras, with a two-tone finish, a knurled frame, and that signature red dot.
It also packs exclusive photography modes, a special security chip, and even comes in a fancy box with a lens cap, a lanyard, and a magnetic case. It’ll be available in Black and Off-White.
Pricing for the standard model kicks off at CNY6,999 (~RM4,016), while the Leica edition starts at CNY7,999 (~RM4,590). They’re both set to go on sale in China from the 27 December. The standard Ultra will make its way to global markets soon, but the Leica edition might just stay exclusive to China for now.