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| A leak claims the Xiaomi 17 Ultra might hit the Chinese market with a 6,800mAh battery and four color options |
The first images from Xiaomi's new flagship camera system appear so realistic they could be mistaken for professional DSLR photography—a sign that smartphone imaging may have crossed a critical threshold.
Just days before its official unveiling, details about the Xiaomi 17 Ultra have emerged, painting a picture of what could be Xiaomi's most ambitious smartphone yet. According to multiple leaks and official confirmations, this device will introduce groundbreaking camera technology, a massive battery upgrade, and a new level of collaboration with Leica, marking a strategic shift in how Xiaomi approaches flagship photography.
Xiaomi has officially confirmed that the 17 Ultra will launch next week in China, likely following the company's usual Thursday launch pattern.
The Imaging Revolution: A Camera That Thinks Like a Professional
At the heart of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is what appears to be the most sophisticated camera system ever integrated into a smartphone, the result of a new "strategic co-creation model" between Xiaomi and Leica.
The partnership has evolved from simple collaboration to what can be described as a unified design philosophy where both companies work together from the earliest stages of product development. This deeper integration is expected to produce hardware that embodies Leica's optical excellence from the ground up, rather than merely featuring its branding.
The Game-Changing Continuous Optical Zoom
The most significant camera revelation comes from leaked screenshots of the device's camera app, which show something previously rare in smartphones: a true continuous optical zoom system.
Unlike traditional smartphone telephoto cameras that offer fixed focal lengths (like 3x or 5x), the Xiaomi 17 Ultra's system reportedly allows smooth optical zooming between 3x and 4.3x, covering focal lengths from 70mm to 100mm.
The interface specifically references a "Leica 200MP continuous optical zoom" and "high-fidelity optical quality," indicating genuine optical adjustments rather than digital cropping between two fixed lenses. This technology represents a significant advantage over the approach used in the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which relied on digital zoom between its two separate telephoto cameras.
The following details have emerged about this innovative zoom system:
APO Certification and Sensor Upgrades
The telephoto lens carries Leica APO (Apochromatic) certification, a significant development in mobile photography. APO lenses are designed to eliminate chromatic aberration—the color fringing often visible around high-contrast edges—resulting in images with better color accuracy and clarity, especially at long focal lengths.
The main camera is expected to feature a new 1-inch OmniVision OV50X sensor with enhanced dynamic range thanks to LOFIC technology. This sensor, combined with what Xiaomi calls a "new optical system for smartphones," is claimed to significantly improve performance in challenging conditions like night photography and high-contrast scenes.
Power That Lasts: Battery and Charging Specifications
While the camera system steals much of the spotlight, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra reportedly includes substantial upgrades to its power system. According to multiple leaks from tipsters, the device will pack a substantial 6,800mAh battery, a notable increase from the 6,000mAh cell in its predecessor.
This capacity, while large, is still smaller than the 7,500mAh battery rumored for the Xiaomi 17 Pro.
Charging capabilities are equally impressive, with the device expected to support 100W wired charging and high-speed wireless charging. These figures represent an upgrade from the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's 90W wired and 80W wireless charging support.
Design and Physical Specifications
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is expected to maintain a premium yet manageable form factor. Leaked dimensions suggest the device will measure approximately 77.6mm in width and 8mm in thickness, with a weight of around 227 grams.
These dimensions indicate the phone will be slightly wider but significantly thinner than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which measured 75.3mm wide and 9.4mm thick.
Design-wise, the leaks point to a return to a flat display after previous curved panel designs, featuring what's described as a 6.8-inch 2K LTPO display with high efficiency that consumes less power while delivering clarity exceeding traditional 2K screens.
The latest details about these specifications and color options were recently shared by a leaker on the Chinese social platform Weibo.
Market Strategy and Availability
Xiaomi's approach with the 17 Ultra represents a shift in their flagship release strategy. According to Xiaomi President Lu Weibing, the company is now releasing all its flagship models within the same calendar year, meaning the "Ultra" variant will no longer arrive significantly later than the base models.
The phone is expected to debut in China next week, with rumors pointing specifically to December 25 or 26. An international launch is anticipated to follow, likely at MWC 2026 in early March. This timeline is supported by the fact that the device has already received FCC certification for global markets.
During a recent Q&A session, Lu Weibing hinted that a "significant price increase" might be inevitable for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in China, citing rising memory costs and the substantially more expensive camera components.
Color Options and Special Editions
For those interested in aesthetics as much as performance, leaks suggest the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will launch in four distinctive colorways:
The green and purple options are expected to replace the pine and cypress green and silver variants offered with the previous model. Additionally, a special edition with exclusive Leica branding is rumored to be in the works.
The Broader Implications
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra represents more than just another smartphone release—it signals a maturation in the partnership between mobile manufacturers and traditional camera companies. The move from joint development to "strategic co-creation" suggests that companies like Leica are now fundamentally shaping mobile hardware design rather than merely lending their name to software tuning.
With its continuous optical zoom, APO-certified optics, and 1-inch main sensor, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra appears poised to challenge not just other smartphones but potentially even entry-level professional cameras for certain applications. As one industry observer noted, this level of integration between mobile technology and professional optics might just mark "the end of the professional camera" for all but the most specialized applications.
As we await the official unveiling next week, one thing is clear: the boundary between smartphone photography and professional imaging continues to blur, and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra seems determined to erase it entirely.
