The global smartphone market now has a new heavyweight player. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra has been finally launched by Xiaomi on 25th December 2025. This launch marks a major milestone in the development of smartphones. The latest model does not continue to improve upon existing models but breaks all boundaries of what a smartphone should be. It integrates advanced technologies in a more entrenched collaboration between Leica to blur boundaries between a phone and a professional camera.
A Revolutionary Camera System Co-Engineered w/ Leica
The key reason for which most fans of this series are now exploring the Ultra series is the camera setup itself. In this case, Xiaomi does not fail to impress with its offering. This year, the company tried to impress its fans with its innovative camera setup. The setup includes triple cameras. The key feature of this setup is its focus on qualitative offerings rather than quantitative supremacy. The key camera of this setup is its 50MP camera that uses a one-inch Light Fusion 1050L sensor. The hardware uses LOFIC technology to offer natural dynamic range capability to its sensor. This was unachievable for any smartphone camera.
Along with the primary sensor, a revolutionary periscope telephoto lens with 200 megapixels has been introduced. This is the first lens to be certified with Leica APO, which is generally used in professional models only. It provides optical zoom abilities with a range of 75-100 mm, which provides crystal-clear images while taking portraits or objects at a distance. Regardless of the 3.2 to 4.3 magnification lens used, images will be crystal clear with zero cropping.
The Thinnest Ultra Design With Refined Ergonomics
Although sporting incredible camera hardware, Xiaomi has somehow managed to produce its thinnest flagship ever in 17 Ultra. At a mere 8.29mm, this phone is rather well-balanced in the hand. The handset sports an aluminum alloy body and a flat design, ditching its curved body of previous models for a modern touch to enhance functionality.
For the truly devoted who prefer a more hands-on experience, the Chinese company is also offering the Leica Edition. This model comes with a mechanical zoom ring that is part of the camera system and lets the photographer set the focal length, exposure level, and even the white balance with the simple flip of a switch. It also carries the legendary red dot and dual tone design reminiscent of the old Leica series.
Peak Performance Powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Internally, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a brute. It has been fueled with the most superior Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, made with processing expertise of 3nm. The processor has been embedded with two supreme Oryon cores working at the rate of 4.6GHz. You can assess its processing capabilities in terms of processing 8K video content and playing high-ended games on it. Nothing is impossible in its abilities.
In order to cool the device during intense activities, Xiaomi introduced a dual ring cooling liquid pump. The device is equipped with a cooling system that is capable of cooling the CPU and camera sensors together. The purpose of this cooling system is to ensure that it never throttles during a photo or gaming shoot.
Battery Life and HyperOS 3
Xiaomi 17 Ultra does away with battery anxiety altogether. This smartphone comes pre-equipped with an enormous 6,800mAh battery – and this is the largest battery ever fitted to an Ultra series phone. This high-capacity battery includes support for 90W fast charging and 50W wireless charging so you can charge your phone in mere minutes.
Software Experience:
The software experience on the smartphone performs equally well. Operating on the HyperOS 3 operating system, which runs on Android 16, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra provides complete interoperability with other smart devices. One of the best features of the new operating system is its ability to mirror, operate, and connect with other operating systems, such as its seamless integration with Apple devices. One can easily mirror the mobile screen on a Mac computer or use the smartphone as a digital key for smart vehicles.
Availability & Global Pricing
Currently, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is available in the Chinese market, and the price for the device has been set at 6,999 yuan for the basic variant. Although the international launch of the device has not been fully revealed, expectations are that the smartphone will hit the markets of Europe and India by March 2026. Considering the 200 megapixel telephoto lens, one-inch main sensor, and the capabilities of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is undoubtedly the device to beat this year.
