Xiaomi 17 Ultra launched in China with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, 200MP camera and a new Leica Edition
Xiaomi has launched the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in China as the fourth model in their flagship lineup this year. The phone succeeds the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and joins the 17 series which already comprises the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. This Ultra model continues Xiaomi’s emphasis on camera technology and advanced features, but takes a more measured approach in terms of design compared to the rest of the siblings.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes in four colour options, namely Black, White, Starry Green, and Cool Smoke Purple. The Starry Green comes with a mineral grain texture. Alongside the standard model, Xiaomi has also launched a Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition for the first time.
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The Xiaomi 17 Ultra packs Qualcomm’s 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, which powers most Android flagships this year. It is paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5x Ultra RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. The phone runs Android 16-based HyperOS 3 out of the box, with Xiaomi continuing to integrate AI features at the system level.
In terms of design, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the first Ultra-branded Xiaomi phone to feature a completely flat 2D display combined with a flat vertical frame. The phone measures 162.9mm in height and 77.6mm in width, with a thickness of 8.29mm, making it the slimmest Ultra phone Xiaomi has produced so far.
Compared to the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, where a secondary rear display has been added for notifications, widgets, and camera previews, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra lacks a rear screen. Instead, Xiaomi has focussed on a more conventional design for its top-end flagship and refrained from experimentation here.
Camera hardware is an integral part of the Ultra line, and Xiaomi has altered its strategy this year. The last gen model featured a quad rear camera setup with separate telephoto units. However, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes along with a triple rear camera arrangement, using higher resolution sensors and omitting an additional camera. The setup includes a 50MP Light Fusion 1050L primary camera with a 1-inch sensor, LOFIC technology, and optical image stabilisation. There’s also a 50MP ultra-wide camera with autofocus, and a 200MP Samsung HPE periscope telephoto sensor. The periscope camera supports continuous optical zoom from 3.2x to 4.3x, effectively covering the range previously handled by multiple zoom lenses. The phone supports up to 8K video recording and features a 50MP OV50M front camera for selfies and video calls.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes with a 6.9-inch flat LTPO AMOLED display with a resolution of 1.5K, a 120Hz refresh rate, and a peak brightness of up to 3,500 nits. The display has Dragon Crystal Glass 3 protection and an in-display fingerprint reader. Other audio and hardware specifications include stereo speakers, a quad-mic setup, Hi-Res audio, and an IR sensor.
The battery capacity has now been increased to 6,800mAh from 5,410mAh on the 15 Ultra, but is still behind the 7,000mAh mark that was the standard for flagships this season from OPPO, OnePlus, Realme and iQOO. The battery supports 90W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and 22.5W wired reverse charging, which is more or less standard.
Connectivity options include 5G, 4G LTE, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 and Bluetooth 6.0 (variant-dependent), NFC, USB Type-C, dual SIM support, satellite communication, and IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is virtually identical to its Ultra counterpart in terms of hardware but focusses more on cameras, as the name suggests. The biggest change is the introduction of a mechanical zoom ring to tweak focal length, exposure and white balance.
The design is more like a traditional camera too. There’s a dual-toned finish, just like Leica’s old M-series of rangefinders, knurled edges for improved grip, and the signature red Leica logo on the rear. Leica Moment modes have also been included with a 3:2 aspect ratio, which should be more intuitive for users accustomed to a dedicated camera.
In addition to photography, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition brings a security and encryption chip, dual-satellite communication, and a custom box which includes additional goodies such as a lens cap, a lanyard, a magnetic case, and a cleaning cloth, making it a mini photography kit.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is priced as follows: CNY 6,999 (around Rs 89,000) for 12GB + 512GB storage, CNY 7,499 (around Rs 96,000) for 16GB + 512GB storage, and CNY 8,499 (around Rs 1.09 lakh) for 16GB + 1TB storage. The price of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is CNY 7,999 (around Rs 1.02 lakh) for 16GB + 512GB storage and CNY 8,999 (around Rs 1.15 lakh) for 16GB + 1TB storage. The phone will be available for purchase in China from December 27th. Global launch details haven’t been announced yet.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is ideal for buyers who give more importance to camera hardware, battery life, and high-performance processing than to design-related aspects such as secondary displays. For those already possessing a Xiaomi 15 Ultra, there is a more advanced chipset, a bigger battery, and an improved camera setup, should they wish to upgrade. Buyers looking for something different and innovative, the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max could be more appealing.
