Xiaomi 17 Ultra with 'monster camera' debuts

[Barcelona (Spain) = Reporter Jang Min-kwon] On February 28 (local time), just ahead of the opening of Mobile World Congress 2026 (MWC 2026), Xiaomi Corporation held a product launch event in Barcelona, Spain, and unveiled its next-generation flagship smartphone lineup, the Xiaomi 17 Series, for the first time.
According to industry sources on the 1st, the Xiaomi 17 stands out for its enhanced camera performance, achieved by strengthening its partnership with Leica. Xiaomi Corporation has evolved the collaboration beyond joint research and development to a "strategic co-development model" that spans from product development to the overall user experience.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the thinnest and lightest Xiaomi smartphone ever. It measures 8.29mm thick and weighs from 218.4g. The Xiaomi Guardian Structure, combined with Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0, delivers a 30% improvement in drop resistance compared with the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
The Xiaomi 17 is 8.06mm thick and weighs 191g. A 1.18mm ultra-slim bezel has been applied to increase immersion in the display.
The Xiaomi 17 Series is built on Leica Ultra Pure optical design and lens configuration. This allows the phones to preserve detail in both bright scenes and low-light environments. Multi-layer coated lenses reduce reflections and optical interference so that cleaner light reaches the sensor. Across the series, Xiaomi HyperConnect features such as an AI Creative Assistant, file sharing, and multi-cam setup support more flexible shooting and editing workflows.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is Xiaomi Corporation's first device to feature a 1-inch lateral overflow integration capacitor (LOFIC) main camera sensor. The Light Fusion 1050L image sensor uses advanced capacitor technology to increase full-well capacity and deliver next-generation high dynamic range (HDR) performance.
It is equipped with a Leica 200MP 75–100mm telephoto camera that supports 75–100mm mechanical optical zoom. The telephoto camera minimizes ghosting and chromatic aberration across the entire zoom range, maintaining high image quality. Leveraging advanced sensor technology, the effective focal length extends to the equivalent of 400mm (17.2x), significantly boosting long-distance shooting capabilities. The system also offers cinema-grade recording, color reproduction, and stabilization for video.
The Xiaomi 17 adds a Leica 60mm floating telephoto lens, enabling 60mm portrait shots, 5x optical-level zoom, close-up shooting from as near as 10cm, and up to 20x AI Ultra Zoom. A newly introduced 50-megapixel front camera for selfies delivers improved autofocus performance at both close and long distances.
The camera system on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is complemented by two upgraded photography accessories. The new Xiaomi 17 Ultra Photography Kit includes a wrist strap, a customizable two-stage shutter button, and a dedicated video button.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Photography Kit Pro adds a premium anti-slip PU leather grip reminiscent of a Leica camera body and integrates a 2,000mAh battery. A detachable, ergonomically designed shutter button and a dedicated Fastshot mode User Interface (UI) provide fine-grained control for professional-style shooting.
All models in the Xiaomi 17 Series are powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Mobile Platform. This System on a Chip (SoC) delivers cutting-edge features and strong performance. The platform combines a custom third-generation Qualcomm Oryon CPU, next-generation Qualcomm Adreno GPU, and advanced Qualcomm Hexagon NPU. Expanded RAM and storage configurations enable stable handling of burst shooting, high-definition video calls, multitasking, and graphics-intensive gaming. The phones support up to 100W Xiaomi HyperCharge.
The Xiaomi 17 Series uses next-generation Xiaomi Surge Battery technology with 16% silicon content to improve energy density and lifespan. The devices are equipped with a 6,000mAh high-capacity battery that supports 90W wired and 50W wireless Xiaomi HyperCharge. The Xiaomi 17 specifically comes with a 6,330mAh battery and supports 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.
The Xiaomi 17 is available with 256GB or 512GB of storage, with European pricing starting at 999 euros (about 1.7 million won). The Xiaomi 17 Ultra comes in 512GB and 1TB variants, starting at 1,499 euros (about 2.55 million won).
Pre-orders for the Xiaomi 17 Series in Korea begin on March 3, with deliveries starting in stages from the 6th.

mkchang@fnnews.com Jang Min-kwon Reporter