Chinese smartphone makers have been taking mobile photography seriously for years, but Xiaomi just dropped something that might make you do a double-take. The 17 Ultra Leica Edition doesn’t just slap a Red Dot logo on the back and call it a day. This thing’s got an actual mechanical zoom ring built into the camera island that you twist like a proper lens.
The Ring Leader
As you may have guessed, that rotating ring around the cameras isn’t just for show. Twist it and the camera app automatically fires up, letting you continuously zoom from 3.2x to 4.3x optical on the 200-megapixel periscope telephoto. Xiaomi claims it can detect displacements as small as 0.03mm, which is the kind of precision you’d expect from, well, an actual camera – especially one with a Leica logo stamped on it. Don’t want to use it for zoom? Reprogram it for manual focus, exposure compensation, or white balance instead.
Leica’s Stamp of Approval
This is the first Xiaomi flagship to earn Leica’s APO certification for the telephoto lens, meaning chromatic aberrations are supposed to be minimal. The main 50-megapixel camera uses a proper 1-inch sensor with an f/1.67 aperture – that’s Type 1 Light Fusion 1050L tech with LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) for what Xiaomi says is 6.3 times the full well capacity of the previous 15 Ultra. Translation: better dynamic range, especially when pixels are getting hammered with light.
The telephoto covers 75-100mm equivalent with continuous optical zoom, a trick Sony first pulled off with the Xperia 1 IV. There’s also a 50-megapixel ultrawide with Leica UltraPure optics rounding things out.
Wetzlar Touches
Beyond the ring, the Leica Edition gets all the heritage flex: that famous red dot logo, two-tone finish, knurled frame edges, and Leica’s name engraved on the side. Inside the camera app, you’ll find film simulations like Monopan 50 black and white, plus a special “Leica Moments” 3:2 aspect ratio mode. And because this is a special edition, it ships with a lens cap, lanyard, magnetic case, and branded cleaning cloth.
The Rest of the Specs
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 powers the whole operation, paired with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. The 6.9-inch AMOLED display hits 3,500 nits peak brightness at 120Hz, and the massive 6,800mAh silicon-carbon battery supports 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. There’s also a 50-megapixel selfie camera up front, though let’s be honest, that’s not why you’re buying this phone.
Spec Sheet
Main Camera: 50MP, f/1.67, 1-inch sensor (Type 1 Light Fusion 1050L w/ LOFIC)
Telephoto: 200MP periscope, 75-100mm equivalent (3.2x-4.3x continuous optical zoom), Leica APO certification
Ultrawide: 50MP, 14mm equivalent, 115° FOV
Selfie: 50MP
Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
RAM/Storage: Up to 16GB / 1TB (UFS 4.1)
Display: 6.9″ 120Hz AMOLED LTPO, 3,500 nit peak brightness
Battery: 6,800mAh silicon-carbon, 90W wired / 50W wireless charging
Special Features: Mechanical zoom ring, dual-satellite connectivity, Leica film simulations
Limited Edition: No
Colors: 2 (black, white)
Pricing & Availability
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition (16GB/512GB) starts at around $1,138 USD in China, with the maxed-out 16GB/1TB variant hitting approximately $1,285. The regular (non-Leica) 17 Ultra starts at $999. A global launch is confirmed for 2026, though exact timing and whether the Leica Edition will be included internationally remains TBD.
Recap
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition
Xiaomi built a mechanical zoom ring directly into the camera bump of its new flagship, offering continuous optical zoom control and Leica’s first APO-certified telephoto lens on a Xiaomi phone, backed by a 1-inch main sensor and full luxury treatment.
