On Christmas Day in China, Xiaomi unveiled its latest top-tier smartphone, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, marking a significant push in the competitive flagship market. The launch event highlighted not just iterative improvements but substantial upgrades across the board, from a new partnership-enhanced camera system to a groundbreaking battery capacity. Alongside the standard model, a special Leica Edition was introduced, catering specifically to photography purists with unique hardware and software features. This article delves into the specifications, performance claims, and pricing of Xiaomi's new contender for the ultimate smartphone crown.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Key Specifications
| Category | Specification |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.9" M10 OLED LTPO Flat, 2608x1200, 1-120Hz Adaptive, 3500 nits peak, Ceramic Glass |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm) |
| RAM/Storage | Up to 16GB LPDDR5X / Up to 1TB UFS 4.0 |
| Rear Camera | Main: 50MP, 1" Leica Light Fusion 1050L, LOFIC Telephoto: 200MP Periscope, 75-100mm continuous optical zoom Ultra-wide: 50MP, 115° FOV |
| Front Camera | 50MP |
| Battery | 6800mAh |
| Charging | 90W Wired, 50W Wireless, 22.5W Reverse Wired, 20W Reverse Wireless |
| OS | Xiaomi HyperOS 3.0 |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, Satellite Communication, USB-C 3.2 |
| Durability | IP66/IP68/IP69, Ceramic Glass |
| Dimensions | 8.29mm thick, 223.4g |
Unveiling and Core Philosophy
Xiaomi chose December 25th for the official unveiling of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in China. The timing coincided with the Christmas holiday in China, a period often used for major product announcements to capture consumer attention. The event positioned the 17 Ultra not merely as a phone but as a comprehensive imaging and performance powerhouse. A key theme was the deepened collaboration with Leica, moving beyond software tuning to include exclusive hardware design and control elements in the special Leica Edition. This dual-release strategy aims to cover both the mainstream premium user and the niche enthusiast market simultaneously.
Display and Design: Pushing Brightness and Durability
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a large 6.9-inch flat OLED display built on an M10 LTPO substrate. With a resolution of 2608 x 1200 pixels (approximately 420 PPI), Xiaomi claims it delivers clarity nearing 2K while maintaining power efficiency better than typical 1.5K screens. The panel's standout spec is a blistering peak brightness of 3,500 nits, designed for supreme outdoor visibility. It supports adaptive refresh rates from 1Hz to 120Hz and includes high-frequency 1920Hz PWM dimming for reduced eye strain. For protection, it uses an improved Xiaomi Ceramic Glass (version 2.0 in one source, 3.0 in another, likely referring to the same next-generation material), touted to be significantly more drop-resistant than standard glass. Despite its large battery, Xiaomi has managed to slim the profile down to 8.29mm, making it the thinnest "Ultra" model yet, with a weight of 223.4 grams.
Performance and Cooling: The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Arrives
At the heart of the 17 Ultra is Qualcomm's latest flagship platform, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Manufactured on a 3nm process, it features a CPU configuration with two high-performance Oryon cores clocked at 4.6GHz and six efficiency cores at 3.62GHz, paired with an Adreno 840 GPU. To manage the thermals of this powerful chipset, especially during sustained tasks like photography and gaming, Xiaomi implemented a dual ring-shaped liquid cooling pump system. The company claims this new cooling solution improves thermal conductivity by 50% compared to the previous generation. In a direct comparison cited during the launch, the 17 Ultra was said to complete a 150-shot burst in portrait mode 29 seconds faster than a competing flagship while running 2.2°C cooler on average.
The Imaging System: A Leica-Centric Revolution
The camera system is the centerpiece of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra's marketing. The main camera uses a 1-inch-type "Light Fusion 1050L" sensor, co-developed with Leica, offering 50MP resolution and a native 14EV dynamic range. It incorporates LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) technology to further enhance dynamic range, promising exceptional performance in high-contrast and low-light scenes. The telephoto camera is a 200MP periscope lens that offers continuous optical zoom between 75mm and 100mm focal lengths, with digital extension up to 400mm. It carries Leica's APO (apochromatic) certification to reduce chromatic aberration and supports macro photography as close as 30cm. A 50MP ultra-wide camera with a 115-degree field of view and a 50MP front-facing camera round out the imaging hardware.
Battery, Charging, and Connectivity
One of the most headline-grabbing specs is the inclusion of a 6,800mAh "Jinshajiang" (Yangtze River) battery, which Xiaomi claims is the largest ever in an Ultra model. This massive cell is paired with 90W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging. It also supports reverse charging, both wired (22.5W) and wireless (20W). For connectivity, the phone is equipped with the latest standards, including Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and NFC. Notably, it supports satellite communication, with the Leica Edition featuring dual-satellite support using China's BeiDou and TianTong systems. The device carries high ingress protection ratings of IP66, IP68, and IP69 for dust and water resistance.
The Exclusive Leica Edition
Beyond the standard model, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is designed as a homage to classic cameras. It features a distinctive two-tone finish inspired by Leica M-series cameras, a knurled metal frame that mimics a lens focus ring, and the iconic Leica red dot. Its most unique hardware feature is a physical "Master Zoom Ring" built into the frame, allowing tactile control over zoom, white balance, and exposure. Software enhancements include exclusive "Leica Moment" color profiles, film simulation modes, and a dedicated 3:2 full-frame photo aspect ratio. It also includes a dedicated security chip for enhanced data privacy.
Leica Edition Exclusive Features
- Design: Two-tone color scheme (Black/Off-white), Leica red dot, knurled metal mid-frame.
- Hardware: Physical "Master Zoom Ring" for tactile control of zoom, WB, exposure.
- Software: "Leica Moment" mode, M9 & M3 film simulations, 3:2 full-frame aspect ratio.
- Security: Dedicated encryption chip.
- Connectivity: Dual-satellite (BeiDou + TianTong) support.
- In-box: Magnetic case, Leica-style lens cap, lanyard, cleaning cloth.
Pricing, Availability, and Conclusion
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is positioned in the premium segment. The standard model starts at CNY 6,999 (approx. USD 980) for the 12GB+512GB variant, with the 16GB+1TB model priced at CNY 8,499 (approx. USD 1,190). The Leica Edition commands a premium, starting at CNY 7,999 (approx. USD 1,120) for 16GB+512GB and going up to CNY 8,999 (approx. USD 1,260) for the 16GB+1TB configuration. Pre-orders began immediately after the announcement on December 25th, with open sales in China scheduled to start on December 27, 2025. With its combination of a top-tier processor, a revolutionary large-format camera sensor, an exceptionally large battery, and a distinctive Leica variant, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra presents a formidable and feature-rich package aimed squarely at the pinnacle of the smartphone market.