Xiaomi 17T Launches in Korea with Leica Lens, Priced in the 700,000 Won Range

\r\n
[Financial News] Xiaomi will launch the entry-level model of its flagship Xiaomi 17 series, the Xiaomi 17T, in the Korean market. Despite its price in the 700,000 won range, the phone significantly upgrades camera performance with a Leica lens. The move appears aimed at expanding Xiaomi's presence in South Korea, where Samsung Electronics and Apple hold strong influence, as the two companies continue rolling out new mobile products.
According to industry sources on the 29th, Xiaomi Technology Korea LLC will begin preorders for the Xiaomi 17T in the domestic market from today through June 4.
The Xiaomi 17T stands out for its strong camera performance at a price in the 700,000 won range.
It comes with a Leica Summilux optical lens and a triple-camera system, including a 50-megapixel main camera. Based on optical image stabilization (OIS), it supports up to 10x optical-grade zoom and up to 120x AI Ultra Zoom. It also supports telephoto macro shooting from as close as 30 cm.
A large aperture and a 1G+6P hybrid lens structure enable sharp images. It supports a wide range of focal lengths from 23 mm to 115 mm.
The device also includes Leica Live Moment. It captures not only the instant the shutter is pressed, but also movement and emotion before and after the shot, producing more vivid results. The feature is available across all rear camera focal lengths.
Leica Live Portrait, applied for the first time in the Xiaomi T series, can deliver both natural background blur and motion expression in portrait shots.
The Xiaomi 17T will be offered in two configurations: 12GB of RAM with 256GB of storage, and 12GB with 512GB. It will come in three colors: violet, blue and black. The launch prices are 799,800 won for the 12GB+256GB model and 879,800 won for the 12GB+512GB model.
Amid rising memory chip prices and growing cost pressure, the company kept margins to a minimum to expand its influence in the Korean market.
Summer Fung, president of Xiaomi Technology Korea LLC, said, "Xiaomi has continued efforts to lower costs based on its premium strategy." He added, "Features such as the Leica 5x telephoto camera, up to 120x AI zoom and Leica Live Moment were previously available only in the Ultra series." Fung emphasized, "Given Xiaomi's low market share in Korea, we set a very considerate price point."
The Xiaomi 17T features a 167.5 mm (6.59-inch) 1.5K AMOLED display. It supports a refresh rate of up to 120 hertz, delivering smooth scrolling and natural screen transitions. With peak brightness of up to 3,500 nits and 100% DCI-P3 color coverage, it can produce clear and accurate colors even outdoors.
\r\n\r\n
With Xiaomi Vision Care technology, the screen automatically adjusts to ambient brightness, while blue light, screen flicker and motion blur can be managed with ease.
The Xiaomi 17T has received the world's first TÜV Rheinland Eye Comfort Certification and TÜV Rheinland Intelligent Eye Care Certification.
The battery is a 6,500 mAh silicon-carbon unit, offering up to about 17.2 hours of use. It also supports 67W ultra-fast charging and 22.5W wired reverse charging.
The mobile application processor is the MediaTek Dimensity 8500 Ultra, built on a 4-nanometer process.
With the Xiaomi 3D IceLoop cooling system, the phone can effectively control heat generated during long periods of use. It also supports NFC-based Tmoney Mobile.
Fung said, "As more consumers record and share moments on their smartphones in settings such as performances, sports and travel, the Xiaomi 17T will offer a new option for Korean users who value both content consumption and photography experiences."
\r\n\r\n
Xiaomi Technology Korea LLC also introduced the Redmi Headphones Neo, the Xiaomi Smart Camera C201 and the Xiaomi Rainbow Battery AA·AAA (10-pack).
The Redmi Headphones Neo are wireless headphones that support up to 42 dB adaptive active noise cancellation (ANC) and up to 72 hours of battery life. They use 40 mm titanium-coated dynamic drivers to improve sound quality. They also support Hi-Res Audio certification based on USB Audio. In addition, they feature AI noise reduction with three microphones and wind noise reduction. Adaptive ANC automatically adjusts the noise-cancellation level according to the surrounding environment. The headphones come in Obsidian Black and Sand Gray, with a launch price of 72,800 won.
The Xiaomi Smart Camera C201 is an entry-level smart home camera with 1080p Full HD and a 2-megapixel sensor.
The Xiaomi Rainbow Battery AA·AAA (10-pack) features a rainbow-colored design and a transparent case. These alkaline batteries do not contain mercury or cadmium and meet KC Safety Confirmation standards, while offering a shelf life of up to five years. The Xiaomi Rainbow Battery AA (10-pack) costs 5,000 won, and the Xiaomi Rainbow Battery AAA (10-pack) costs 4,500 won.
mkchang@fnnews.com Jang Min-kwon Reporter