Emir BardakçıEmployees at Xiaomi Home stores have started informing customers about a new ¥100 ≈ $14 USD, fully refundable blind pre-order campaign for what they term the company’s “annual flagship imaging phone.” Although no model name has been officially confirmed, the timing, recent certifications, and earlier leaks strongly indicate that this device is indeed the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
What We Currently Know About the Xiaomi 17 Ultra
One of the most advanced photography-focused flagships to date, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, is taking shape. If earlier reports by XiaomiTime in November are anything to go by, then this device, codenamed “Nezha”, will carry the circular camera module design that made its debut on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. It will do this to retain a better visual identity while making necessary changes internally.
Major attractions include the introduction of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite (5th-gen), a next-generation flagship chipset from Qualcomm. The model will equally run on HyperOS 3 to guarantee an optimized experience with respect to imaging, power efficiency, and AI-driven scenarios. International versions are sure to support satellite communication as well, which steps up the outreach toward emergency-grade connectivity for users in remote environments.
Confirmation Whispers from Bloggers and Certification Listings
Industry blogger @SmartPikachu suggested that an “annual imaging flagship” will launch between December 15 and December 25, bolstering rumors the 17 Ultra will launch before year’s end. Just days earlier, a new Xiaomi device with model number 25125PS17S cleared China’s MIIT 3C certification on November 19. Tipster @DigitalChatStation, known for his leaks, explained this is a professional photography grip accessory compatible with the 17 Ultra that doubles as a power bank. He added this is the first accessory to be officially tied to the Snapdragon 8 Elite platform under all three major certifications.
Variants to Expect: Standard and Leica Special Edition
This generation introduces an expanded lineup. Beyond the standard Xiaomi 17 Ultra (model P1), Xiaomi is working on a special collaboration premium model, called the “Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi”, model P1S. This edition will more fully integrate imaging with Leica’s optical and colour science know-how, offering class-leading photographic capabilities in the process.
Early Pre-Order Strategy and Consumer Expectations
This is a reason for Xiaomi’s confidence in the market appeal of the 17 Ultra, as it has decided to start blind pre-orders with a symbolic ¥100 refundable deposit. Such campaigns usually allow retail locations to measure early demand while giving customers priority access once the device is officially unveiled. With Xiaomi’s reputation for delivering advanced imaging technology, especially in Ultra-series flagships, the response from consumers is expected to be strong.
| Feature | Expected Details |
|---|---|
| Chipset | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 |
| OS | HyperOS 3 Android 16 |
| Camera Housing | Circular module (similar to 15 Ultra) |
| Special Features | Satellite connectivity (Global) |
| Accessory | Professional photography grip with built-in power bank |
| Variants | P1 (Standard), P1S (Leica Edition) |
| Pre-Order | ¥100 ≈ $14 USD (refundable), offline only |
In other words, the fact that the early blind pre-order campaign has begun is a pretty good indicator that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is almost ready, and will go on to become Xiaomi’s most powerful imaging flagship of 2025. With satellite communication, a strong Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, HyperOS 3, and a new Leica edition, this model certainly has a lot expected of it.
