Xiaomi has officially unveiled the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition, a flagship smartphone that clearly leans into tactile photography rather than relying solely on touch-based digital controls. The device launched in China on December 25, 2025, and it takes a noticeably different approach from most modern smartphones by focusing on physical interaction, especially for camera use.
At the center of this experience is a mechanical zoom ring built directly into the camera module. Instead of pinching and swiping on a screen, users can rotate this ring to adjust zoom or focus manually. It feels more like handling a professional camera lens than using a typical smartphone, which is probably the point. Under the hood, the phone runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor and is built for extreme conditions, carrying an IP69 durability rating alongside other certifications.
Key Takeaways
- Physical Camera Ring: A knurled, ball-bearing-supported ring surrounds the camera module, enabling manual control over zoom, focus, and even exposure settings.
- Leica Optics: The camera setup includes a 1-inch main sensor and a 200MP periscope telephoto lens with Leica APO certification.
- Robust Battery: A large 6,800mAh silicon-carbon battery supports 90W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.
- Top-Tier Performance: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset with storage options reaching up to 1TB using UFS 4.1.
- Advanced Durability: Triple water and dust resistance certifications include IP66, IP68, and IP69.
A Tactile Shift in Mobile Photography
The most distinctive feature of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is what Xiaomi calls the Master Zoom Ring. Unlike conventional smartphones that depend entirely on touch gestures, this physical ring is engineered with 20 high-strength ball bearings. The result is a smooth rotation with noticeable damping, giving it a controlled and deliberate feel.
An internal optical sensor tracks movements as small as 0.03mm, which allows for very fine adjustments. By default, the ring controls the optical zoom range between 75mm and 100mm. That said, Xiaomi allows users to reprogram it to manage other parameters such as white balance or manual focus. It is not something everyone will use daily, perhaps, but for photography enthusiasts, it could feel surprisingly intuitive.
The camera hardware itself is equally serious. The primary 50MP camera uses a 1-inch Light Fusion 1050L sensor with LOFIC technology. This setup helps handle high-contrast scenes more gracefully by reducing highlight clipping. The 200MP periscope telephoto lens is the first in Xiaomi’s lineup to earn Leica APO certification, a standard borrowed from high-end optics that ensures light wavelengths converge correctly, minimizing color fringing and improving overall clarity.
Design and Performance Specifications
Despite its ambitious hardware, Xiaomi has kept the phone relatively slim at 8.29mm. It features a large 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED display capable of reaching up to 3,500 nits of peak brightness. This makes outdoor visibility less of a concern, even under direct sunlight.
The rear design leans heavily into the Leica partnership. A dual-tone leather finish covers the back, complemented by the Leica red dot and an engraved frame that reads “LEICA CAMERA GERMANY.” It feels intentionally bold, maybe even a bit nostalgic, which seems aligned with the physical camera controls.
Performance is handled by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, which is expected to manage heavy workloads without issue. To keep everything running, Xiaomi included a 6,800mAh battery. This is paired with fast charging support, 90W via cable and 50W wirelessly, which should help offset the large display and camera demands.
Another interesting addition is CAI Photo Authenticity Protection. Using a dedicated security chip, the phone embeds a digital signature into every photo at the moment of capture. This signature verifies that the image was taken by the device’s camera and not generated or altered by AI tools. For professionals, this could become more relevant over time, even if it feels niche right now.
Availability and Pricing
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is currently available in China. A global rollout is expected later in 2026, with India likely seeing the device around March 2026, based on early reports.
Pricing details are as follows:
- 16GB + 512GB Model: Approximately ₹1.02 lakh (CNY 7,999)
- 16GB + 1TB Model: Approximately ₹1.15 lakh (CNY 8,999)
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1: What does the physical ring on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra do?
A1: The ring functions as a mechanical camera controller. It allows manual zooming between the 3.2x and 4.3x optical range and can also be configured to adjust focus or exposure, offering tactile feedback during use.
Q2: Is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition waterproof?
A2: Yes, it carries IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings. This means it can withstand high-pressure water jets, full immersion, and even high-temperature steam.
Q3: What is the benefit of the 200MP telephoto lens?
A3: The high resolution enables what Xiaomi describes as lossless optical zoom between 75mm and 100mm. It uses moving lens groups rather than digital cropping, which helps maintain image sharpness.
Q4: How does the CAI Photo Authenticity feature work?
A4: The system embeds a cryptographic signature into the image metadata at the moment the photo is taken. This helps verify that the image is genuine and not AI-generated or manipulated.
Q5: When will the Xiaomi 17 Ultra launch in India?
A5: Current reports suggest a launch window around March 2026, following the initial global release expected in early 2026.
