Xiaomi's 17 Ultra Pushes Smartphone Camera Boundaries with Leica Partnership

Xiaomi has officially unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, along with a special Leica Edition, signaling a significant push in mobile photography and performance. This launch highlights the growing trend of smartphone manufacturers partnering with established camera brands to enhance image quality and user experience.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra boasts a 6.9-inch M10 OLED LTPO display, which uses a special backplane technology for improved performance, with a resolution approaching 2K clarity (2608 × 1200 pixels). The display's peak brightness of 3,500 nits is exceptionally high, ensuring visibility even in bright sunlight. The adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz) balances smooth scrolling with power efficiency. The display also incorporates DC dimming and 1920Hz PWM dimming to reduce eye strain, especially in low-light conditions.

Under the hood, the device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Qualcomm's latest high-end mobile processor. This chip features a new CPU architecture and a powerful Adreno 840 GPU, promising significant performance gains in both processing and graphics-intensive tasks. Xiaomi has implemented a dual ring-shaped liquid cooling system to manage the heat generated by the processor and camera components, crucial for maintaining sustained performance during demanding tasks like gaming and video recording.

Software-wise, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra runs Xiaomi HyperOS 3.0, the company's custom Android skin. A notable feature is the ability to mirror and control Apple devices (iPhones, iPads, and Macs) from the Xiaomi phone and vice versa, expanding cross-platform compatibility.

The camera system is a major highlight, featuring a 1-inch Light Fusion 1050L sensor co-developed with Leica. This large sensor size allows for better light gathering, resulting in improved image quality, especially in low-light conditions. The 50MP resolution and 14EV native dynamic range contribute to detailed and vibrant photos. The telephoto lens is a 200MP Leica continuous optical zoom lens, offering lossless optical zoom between 75mm and 100mm, and extending digitally to 400mm. This provides users with a versatile zoom range for various shooting scenarios. A 50MP ultra-wide lens and a 50MP front-facing camera round out the impressive camera setup.

Powering all this is a massive 6,800mAh battery, the largest in any Xiaomi Ultra device to date. This should provide ample battery life for even the most demanding users. The phone supports 90W wired and 50W wireless charging, as well as reverse charging capabilities, allowing it to charge other devices wirelessly.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition caters to photography enthusiasts with a design inspired by Leica's M-series cameras. It features physical controls, such as a Master Zoom Ring, for adjusting key photography parameters. Software enhancements include Leica-specific color profiles and film simulations.

With a starting price of around $980, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra positions itself as a premium flagship device. Its focus on camera technology, high-end performance, and long battery life makes it a strong contender in the competitive smartphone market. The inclusion of the Leica Edition further solidifies Xiaomi's commitment to providing a top-tier photography experience.

Editor’s note: This article was independently written by the Scoopliner Editorial Team using publicly available information.