Emir BardakçıThe company has now officially confirmed that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is to be launched next week, thereby adding another milestone in its flagship series of smartphones. The official information regarding its launch was shared by no less a person than Lei Jun, who is the Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Xiaomi Corporation, thereby emphasizing its importance to this brand. Since it is to replace the Xiaomi 15 Ultra series, this new device will belong to the highest end of Xiaomi’s offerings in its high-end series of smartphones. Some of its previous models include the Xiaomi 15 Ultra series, the Xiaomi Ultra series, and Xiaomi HyperOS.
Launch Confirmation and Platform Details
Lei Jiun has just confirmed that Xiaomi 17 Ultra is set to arrive next week, as it is now not if, but when, as their product release timelines have just been set. The new smartphone is codenamed “Nezha.” As far as design is concerned, it follows the Ultra series that came before it, featuring their signature circular camera design that truly makes it one of a kind. In fact, it is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 5) chipset.
The gadget also comes along with Xiaomi HyperOS 3 as its operating system, which will offer better system optimization, interconnectivity between gadgets through Xiaomi HyperConnect, and enhanced power management. To complete all these, Xiaomi has also confirmed that the international version will come along with support for satellite communications. This is a feature that seeks to ensure uninterrupted communication, especially when in distant areas.
Xiaomi and Leica Strengthen International Partnership in Imaging
Xiaomi has also announced an upgradations in global imaging strategic partnership with Leica, entering a phase the company calls a “strategic co-creation model.” In this strategic venture, Xiaomi is going beyond tweaking and branding to collaborate on designing the optical system together. Xiaomi has revealed that this strategic tie will present a fresh and novel optical solution that will make a maiden appearance in the Xiaomi 17 Ultra model.
One of the most tangible consequences of this collaboration is the addition of the world’s first Leica APO telephoto lens in mobile technology. This new feature will enhance long-range image sharpness, colors, as well as night telephoto shots. According to Xiaomi, this new upgrade will also provide better performance in low-light photography, thus proving the Ultra series to be a camera-focused flagship.
Camera System and Hardware Enhancements
Early intel suggests Xiaomi has diversified the initial vision on the imaging capabilities on the 17 Ultra. They originally planned on using the four cameras on the rear. However, the Chinese brand has chosen the triple-camera setup, which includes 50MP + 50MP + 200MP telephoto cameras.
The main camera is expected to introduce a novel OmniVision OVX10500U sensor, said to be around 50 MP and come with a 1-inch sensor size, a record-breaking spec that Xiaomi has been employing selectively since the arrival of the Xiaomi 12S Ultra series phones. Meanwhile, the front camera has been improved to 50 MP and boasts a higher spec compared to the predecessor’s 32 MP sensor.
Differing from the Xiaomi 17 Pro, the Ultra variant will not come equipped with the rear secondary display.
Global Variant and Imaging Accessories
Additional certification records also show that a new Xiaomi accessory with the product number 25125PS17S has received China’s 3C certification. This accessory is expected to be a Professional Photography Handle, specifically created for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra electronics product, a power bank and professional image capture accessory.
In addition to this, watermark information excavated by XiaomiTime reveals that Xiaomi has planned to adopt a new type of worldwide branding. This device will be launched overseas “Leitz Phone powered by Xiaomi,” and it will be named “Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica” in the Chinese marketplace.
