Emir BardakçıXiaomi has formally addressed these early concerns associated with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra price in a recent live streaming session conducted by Lu Weibing, Partner, and President of Xiaomi Group. Speaking in a very clear and transparent manner, Lu has described why and how their new generation of Ultra series products would be priced higher, as affected by increasing component costs, specifically memories, and how this would impact their next flagship device offerings from Xiaomi. These statements are in line with their early announcements that took place at the time of the release of their earlier models of Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
Why a Higher Price for Xiaomi 17 Ultra
Lu Weibing said that the AI boom which occurred from the end of 2022 to today has increased the requirements for advanced memory technology. As assessed by Xiaomi, the years of 2025, 2026, and 2027 are very important, during which the prices of memories will keep rising. Therefore, this will have a direct effect on the flagship models of the smartphones.
During the Xiaomi 15 Ultra launching event, Xiaomi announced that it will be the last Ultra smartphone to be offered with a price of 6,499 CNY (900 USD), and the reason is based on the estimation of processor and camera component costs. Lu admitted that, at one point, the increasing costs of memory were under-estimated. However, with Xiaomi 17 Ultra, the rising memory costs significantly outweigh those of the chipsets and cameras, and consequently, a price hike has become imminent, albeit Xiaomi believes it will still be competitively priced considering the hardware specifications contained in the phone.
Camera System Sees Major Investment
Prior to delving into the specifications of the cameras, it is important to note the significance of Xiaomi’s concentration on the mobile photography segment. The Ultra line has always been the tech flagship for Xiaomi, particularly regarding photography.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica APO lens explained: Real differences vs old telephoto
Xiaomi 17 Ultra will have a one-inch primary sensor and a 200MP telephoto lens. The primary sensor boasts third-generation LOFIC technology, offering more than ten times improved dynamic range against the second generation. This telephoto sensor is 35% larger than the earlier model Xiaomi 15 Ultra and is labeled as the most complex optical design employed in smartphones.
It’s pertinent to note that the telephoto lens boasts Leica APO certification. It is a badge of honor for superior optical quality. Apo lenses correct chromatic aberration by aligning multiple wavelengths of light on a single focal plane. According to Lu Weibing, the price of this telephoto module is twice as expensive as the one on the previously released Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
Hardware & Software and Accessories
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra, also code-named “Nezha,” carries on the traditional round camera housing design of its predecessors. It will be fueled by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (5th generation) and come with Xiaomi HyperOS 3.0 operating system out of the box. Additionally, Xiaomi has already confirmed that satellite communication support will be included on the international variant.
Launched alongside the smartphone is another new product from Xiaomi, which is an image-taking accessory. Its number is 25125PS17S, and it has been approved by 3C in China. Additionally, this professional photo-taking grip can serve as a power bank, and it is exclusively designed for use with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
For reference, a standard Leica SUMMICRON-M 35mm f/2 lens will set you back $3,750, while an APO one costs $9,700; this clearly explains why an APO rating can contribute so much to the cost of components.
