Tech fanboys have one giant thing to get excited about this holiday season. Xiaomi has also confirmed that it will release its greatest flagship: Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Leica’s VP of marketing, Mai-Lan Tomsen Bukovec (we are pretty sure that Mashable is mistaken—it has previously misidentified camera equipment in press shots and articles), said the following about the “Christmas surprise.”
The company has shown off a gorgeous new look for these, with the most attention-grabbing being this ‘Star Sky’ Green colourway.
A Fresh New Look: Going Green With ‘Starry’ Aesthetic
Xiaomi is not hesitant to make a radical change of the formerly “pure (utilitarian)” design to embrace an artistic “Starry” motive. The new finish isn’t a regular paint job either and is reports claim that it gets more particles woven into the rear glass, which will reflect changing lighting conditions and produce a twinkling effect that resembles the night sky.
Design Highlights:
Sleek Camera Island: The hallmark round camera module is still here, but has been reduced in size. It’s placed in the centre of the back, between a pair of twin flashes arranged symmetrically.
Slim And Trim: Even with all that gigantic underpinning, this device is as slim as a supermodel (8.0mm) and weighs featherlite on your hands, approx 227 gms!
Flat Display EraIn a big departure from the quad-curved screens of yore, the 17 Ultra should include a flat 2K LTPO AMOLED display, for an overall cleaner, more contemporary look that appeals to those who prioritize grip and minimizing accidental touches.
The Leica Strategic Co-Creation – more than just tuning
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a landmark for the brand. A big difference from the previous models with the Leica tuning existing merely in software — here, both teamed up at hardware design time.
At the heart of this collaboration is the Leica APO-certified periscope telephoto lens. This 200MP beast is around 35% bigger than the module on last year’s Xiaomi 15 Ultra. APO (Apochromatic) Certification is a big deal for optics, it means you get no chromatic aberration (color fringing), so images are sharp as a tack when you zoom in.
Performance: The Powerhouse Within
The cameras are the headliners, but the internals are no slouches either. Xiaomi hasn’t pulled any punches in trying to live up to the “Ultra” part of the 17 Ultra’s name.
Processor: Powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, on an advanced 3nm process overcrowded package.
Endurance and Rapid Recovery
To support its high-res screen and sensor battery consumption, the 17 Ultra is said to pack a large 6,800mAh-7,000mAh cell. And feeding this beast is no problem at all, thanks to a capable charging system:
- 100W Wird Charging: Ultra-fast charging.
- 80W WIRELESS CHARGE: Industry leading wireless speeds at the touch of a button.
Durability: The phone should be both IP68 and IP69 rated, meaning it will survive full submersion in water and high pressure jets of water.
Why the Early Launch?
Xiaomi’s “Ultra” models have traditionally dropped in the first quarter of the year (often around February). But Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing later clarified that they pushed the launch to December 25th due to “fan demand for it”. Users were in search of the best camera they can hold before Chinese New Year and holiday vacations, so they can capture those family memories with a professional-quality.
Global Availability and Pricing
The China release is planned for Christmas but international followers might have to wait a little longer. The 17 Ultra has already been spotted on overseas certification databases (FCC), suggesting that the handset will enjoy a worldwide release, probably around March next year for the Mobile World Congress (MWC).
When it comes to pricing, you can count on a small increase. With the higher price of memory and the fancy Leica APO optics pushed in, it is expected to have a starting price of around 6,599 Yuan (about $910 / ₹76,000) which means this will be quite an investment for photography purists.
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