The mobile imaging landscape has just shifted. On December 24, 2025, Xiaomi officially pulled back the curtain on its most ambitious flagship to date: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition. Scheduled for a grand debut on December 25, this device isn’t just a smartphone; it represents a “strategic cooperation upgrade” between Xiaomi and the legendary optics house, Leica Camera AG.
With Xiaomi founder Lei Jun set to lead the launch, the 17 Ultra is poised to redefine what professional-grade photography looks like in a pocket-sized form factor.
Table of Contents
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The Xiaomi x Leica Strategic Upgrade
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Optical Breakthrough: World’s First Leica APO Certification
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Hardware Mastery: Sensors and Telephoto Capabilities
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Design and Aesthetics: The Thinnest Ultra Ever
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Under the Hood: Performance and Specs Overview
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Summary of Key Specifications
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Final Verdict: Why It Matters
1. The Xiaomi x Leica Strategic Upgrade
The partnership between Xiaomi and Leica has matured into a deep technological integration. Unlike previous years where Leica primarily provided color tuning, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition features co-creation from the product’s source. This means Leica’s professional optics expertise is baked into the hardware architecture itself, aiming to reshape the “Leica Look” for the next generation of mobile users.
2. Optical Breakthrough: World’s First Leica APO Certification
In a move that has stunned industry analysts, Lei Jun confirmed that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will be the industry’s first Leica Apochromatic (APO) optical certified mobile device.
In professional photography, APO lenses are prized for their ability to suppress chromatic aberration (color fringing). By bringing this certification to a smartphone, Xiaomi ensures that images remain sharp, colors stay true to life, and clarity is maintained even in high-contrast or challenging lighting conditions.
3. Hardware Mastery: Sensors and Telephoto Capabilities
Xiaomi is pushing the limits of physics with its new camera array:
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The Main Sensor: A massive 1-inch sensor redesigned for next-gen low-light photography.
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The Telephoto Powerhouse: A staggering 200MP telephoto camera that allows for extreme detail even at high zoom levels.
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Optical Zoom: The device features continuous optical zoom across a 75mm to 100mm focal length range, ensuring no loss in quality when zooming in on distant subjects.
4. Design and Aesthetics: The Thinnest Ultra Ever
Despite the heavy-duty camera hardware, Xiaomi has achieved a design milestone. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra sports a frame that is only 8.29mm thin, making it the sleekest “Ultra” device the company has ever released.
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The Screen: A 2D flat screen with rounded corners provides a modern, ergonomic feel.
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New Colors: Teasers have confirmed a breathtaking new Starry Green colorway that complements the premium black retail box.
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Security: An ultrasonic fingerprint sensor is embedded under the display for lightning-fast biometric access.
5. Under the Hood: Performance and Specs Overview
Performance matches the photography prowess. The device is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Qualcomm’s latest flagship silicon. This chip not only handles heavy 8K video processing but also optimizes AI-driven image enhancements in real-time. Additionally, the phone is built to survive the elements with an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.
6. Summary of Key Specifications
| Feature | Details |
| Launch Date | December 25, 2025 |
| Processor | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| Main Camera | 1-inch sensor with Leica Optics |
| Telephoto | 200MP (75mm – 100mm Continuous Zoom) |
| Certification | Leica Apochromatic (APO) Optical Certified |
| Thickness | 8.29mm (Thinnest Ultra to date) |
| Display | 2D Flat Screen with Round Corners |
| Biometrics | Ultrasonic Fingerprint Sensor |
| Durability | IP68 Water & Dust Resistance |
| Key Color | Starry Green |
7. Final Verdict: Why It Matters
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition marks the moment where “smartphone photography” stops trying to imitate DSLRs and begins to rival them on a technical level. With the inclusion of APO optics and a 200MP telephoto lens, Xiaomi is targeting professional photographers and tech enthusiasts who refuse to compromise on image quality.
By integrating Leica’s century-long expertise into a thin, high-performance chassis, Lei Jun and his team are opening a new chapter in mobile imaging that focuses on optical purity rather than just software tricks.
