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Xiaomi has lifted the curtain on the 17 Ultra’s look and shared its first camera sample ahead of this week’s launch. The reveal comes via Xiaomi Group VP and CMO Xu Fei, who posted a short video showing the phone’s understated styling and large, Leica-branded camera island.
Understated white finish hides a bold camera setup
The model shown in Xu Fei’s Toutiao clip wears a simple white finish that reads deliberately restrained. At the rear a large circular camera module sits dead center, with the Leica badge positioned in the middle of the ring. Two flash units are arranged symmetrically at the top of the module, giving the device a clean, balanced appearance.
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At first glance the 17 Ultra’s silhouette will look familiar to anyone who’s followed flagship camera phones from China: Xiaomi 15 Ultra and other “Ultra” devices have used similar central circular islands. That design trend largely stems from the practical need to house complex camera assemblies in a premium chassis—yet Xiaomi’s execution here leans more minimalist than flashy.
Big sensor, bigger telephoto — what’s inside the camera bump
Xiaomi says the 17 Ultra uses a triple rear camera array led by a new main sensor: the OmniVision OV50X. This is a flagship-class 1-inch sensor built in China and equipped with third-generation LOFIC technology, which is intended to boost dynamic range and low-light performance.
Alongside that main sensor is an all-new Leica-branded 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens. Xiaomi claims this telephoto module is around 35% larger than the one in the Xiaomi 15 Ultra—a hint the company focused on improving zoom quality and light capture. The lens also earned Leica APO optical certification, which targets reduced color fringing and sharper long-range images.
What the Leica tie-up really means
Officially, Xiaomi describes the 17 Ultra as the first phone under a new “strategic co-creation model” with Leica. That’s more than branding: the two companies say they’re working more deeply together to enhance night photography and telephoto performance. In practice, expect software and optical tuning from Leica alongside larger, better-calibrated hardware from Xiaomi.
First camera sample and what to expect next
Along with the design reveal, Xiaomi released the first camera sample from the 17 Ultra. While a single image can’t fully showcase a camera system, the sample is meant to tease the phone’s low-light and detail-handling chops ahead of launch. More official teasers and technical breakdowns should appear in the coming days as Xiaomi ramps up promotion.
Imagine a flagship that blends a quietly elegant aesthetic with a camera focus that prioritizes long-range clarity and night shots—Xiaomi is clearly angling for that spot with the 17 Ultra.
- Design: centered circular camera island, white understated finish
- Main sensor: OmniVision OV50X 1-inch with 3rd-gen LOFIC
- Telephoto: Leica-branded 200MP periscope, ~35% larger than 15 Ultra
- Collaboration: new Xiaomi–Leica “strategic co-creation model”
- Launch: expected this week with more teasers to follow
Source: gizmochina
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