Xiaomi has officially launched the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in China—ending weeks of consistent teasing that had fans and tech watchers checking for updates daily. The flagship went on sale right away on December 26, and if you’re in China, you can grab one exclusively through mi.mi.com. It’s been a long time coming, and the launch finally puts to rest all the rumors that have been floating around about the phone’s specs and release timeline.
Alongside the regular model, the brand is also rolling out a Special Edition by Leica that’s already turning heads. It sports a sharp dual-tone finish that stands out from the standard colorways, plus packaging that feels genuinely premium—like something you’d want to keep even after unboxing. For anyone who’s a fan of both Xiaomi’s tech and Leica’s camera legacy, this variant is easily one of the biggest draws from the launch.
Launched with Powerful SOC and Leica Camera
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is powered by the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip with Adreno 840 GPU. It is also paired with Surge P3, Surge G2, Xiaomi T1, T1+, and T1S chips. For the OS, it runs on HyperOS 3 based on Android 16 with Hyper AI. The storage options include 12GB/16GB RAM and 512GB to 1TB storage.
One of the main highlights of the phone is its impressive camera features in collaboration with Leica. The main camera sports a 50MP Light Hunter 1050L (1-inch) LOFIC (23mm) f/1.67 (OV50X50) lens. The 200MP HPE features a (1/1.4″) (3.2x-4.3x) Periscope Telephoto (3x-4.3x / 75mm-100mm Continuous Optical Zoom) f/2.39-f/2.96 lens with a 30cm Minimum Focus Distance. The ultrawide lens is a 50MP JN5 with (14mm) f/2.2, and the front selfie camera is a punch-hole 50MP OV50M.
The screen sports a 6.9″ 2608×1200 TCL M10 120Hz LTPO Real RGB OLED Flat Display with 3500 nits Peak Brightness, protected by Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0. The phone’s dimensions measure 162.9mm x 77.6mm x 8.29mm, weighing about 229g, and it comes in Black, White, Smoked Purple, and Starry Green colorways.
Powering the device is a massive 6800mAh silicone-anode battery with 90W wired fast charging, 50W wireless charging, and support for 22.5W reverse wired charging. Other features include IP69/68/66 rating, IR Blaster, 3D Ultrasonic Fingerprint sensor, USB 3.2 Gen2, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, NFC, and Dual-Path Self-Driven Ring Cold Pump cooling system.
Special Edition by Leica
The Special Edition “Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica” comes in Black and White color options with a dual-tone finish and similar specs as the regular Xiaomi 17 Ultra. It features a unique mechanical rotating ring that lets you zoom in and out precisely. Instead of the Xiaomi “Ultra” logo, it features the iconic Leica Red Dot logo on the top left side of the rear.
There are several exclusive features that you can only find in this version of the 17 Ultra, including the Leica M9 and M3 Monopan 50 B&W filters that have been trained using their AI model, based on the real camera.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica also comes with exclusive gorgeous packaging, and the box content includes:
- Leica-branded magnetic case
- Leica lens cover for the camera housing
- Wiping cloth
- Lanyard
Price and Availability
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is currently available in China and is expected to launch globally in the 1st quarter of 2026. Below are the prices of each storage variant, including the Special Edition by Leica:
- ¥6999 ~ 12+512GB
- ¥7499 ~ 16+512GB
- ¥8499 ~ 16GB+1TB
- ¥7999 ~ 16+512GB (Leica Edition)
- ¥8999 ~ 16GB+1TB (Leica Edition)
From its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip to the Leica-tuned camera system and that nifty mechanical ring on the special edition, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra checks every box for premium smartphone shoppers. Right now, it’s only live in China—but with chatter already picking up online, tech fans worldwide will be waiting patiently for its early 2026 global launch. For Xiaomi, it’s a clear sign that the brand can hold its own against the biggest players in the high-end market.
Discover more from wazzuptechph
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
