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| Chinese Xiaomi fans can already reserve the Xiaomi 17 Ultra |
October 16, 2024 — In a move that’s set tech forums ablaze, Xiaomi has seemingly opened the gates for early adopters to reserve one of 2025’s most anticipated smartphones. The official Xiaomi Store on Weibo is now accepting a 100 yuan (approximately $14) deposit for what it teasingly calls the "Xiaomi 17U" in a now-viral post, despite the device not yet being officially announced. This "blind booking" allows Chinese fans to secure a place in line for the flagship, signaling Xiaomi's confidence in the upcoming release.
The promotion, which explicitly asks "Xiaomi 17U is coming?!!", has fueled intense speculation about an imminent launch. According to reliable tipster Smart Pikachu on Weibo, official pre-orders are projected to begin between December 15 and December 25, potentially as early as next week. This aggressive timeline suggests Xiaomi is aiming to get a head start in the next-generation flagship race.
CEO Confirms Game-Changing "Lofic" Camera Sensor
Beyond the booking frenzy, a major technical detail has gained official weight. Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing recently commented on a Weibo post about camera sensor technology, strongly hinting at what’s to come. He emphasized that Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor (LOFIC) technology is "set to become a trend" for smartphone cameras.
For the uninitiated, LOFIC is a breakthrough designed to capture extremely high dynamic range (HDR) in a single exposure. This means it can retain detail in both bright highlights and dark shadows simultaneously, while also combating noise and eliminating problematic LED flicker in videos. Lu Weibing’s endorsement is widely seen as a direct confirmation that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will feature a new 1-inch Omnivision OV50X sensor utilizing LOFIC technology.
You can view President Lu Weibing's statement on the significance of LOFIC technology here: https://weibo.com/1892653244/QhWTvF0yH
Leica-Tuned 35mm Portrait Mastery and Pro-Video Prowess
Meanwhile, detailed leaks from prominent Chinese tipsters are painting a picture of a photography powerhouse. One focus is Xiaomi’s continued collaboration with Leica. Sources indicate that the new 1-inch main camera has been specially optimized for the classic 35mm portrait focal length.
Unlike the dedicated optical 35mm lens on a competitor like the Vivo X200 Ultra, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is expected to achieve this through a high-quality crop from its larger sensor. Insiders suggest that the combination of the sensor size and sophisticated algorithms will result in 35mm shots that are "comparatively good," with exceptional rendering.
Further discussion on the 35mm optimizations and filter enhancements can be found in this leak: https://weibo.com/5888095979/QieKQqhwl
The improvements don’t stop at stills. Leakers are boasting of significantly enhanced performance in challenging backlit scenarios, a direct benefit of the LOFIC sensor's wide dynamic range. Furthermore, zoom video recording is described as "extremely smooth," and stabilization paired with focus tracking is claimed to have reached "camera-level performance."
Claims about improved backlight handling and zoom video smoothness are elaborated in this post: https://weibo.com/5888095979/Qi3YKsmcf
What to Expect Next
With deposits already being collected and a flurry of credible leaks from both unofficial and semi-official sources, the launch of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra appears to be on a fast track. The combination of cutting-edge LOFIC sensor technology, deep Leica co-engineering for portrait photography, and pro-grade video features positions it as a formidable contender.
For more continuous updates, follow the tipster profile actively covering these developments: https://m.weibo.cn/profile/6510003091
While Xiaomi has yet to announce a formal launch event, the puzzle pieces are rapidly falling into place. For photography enthusiasts and early adopters, the 100-yuan deposit might just be the cheapest investment for a front-row seat to what could be a smartphone camera revolution.
This article is based on promotions from official Xiaomi channels and reports from established industry leakers. Specifications and timelines remain unconfirmed by Xiaomi until an official announcement.