December 25, 2025 — Xiaomi is officially unveiling its most powerful flagship of the year, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, right on Christmas Day. The launch event kicks off at 7:00 PM Beijing time (19:00 CST) and will also introduce the Xiaomi Watch 5 smartwatch and new Xiaomi Buds 6 earbuds.
Positioned as the ultimate “imaging flagship” in the Xiaomi 17 series, the 17 Ultra arrives earlier than its predecessor (Xiaomi 15 Ultra launched in February 2025), giving users a chance to capture stunning holiday photos with upgraded Leica-tuned cameras. The device marks the first major product from Xiaomi’s deepened strategic co-creation partnership with Leica, focusing heavily on next-generation night photography and advanced zoom capabilities.
Key Specifications (Based on Leaks & Official Teasers)
Performance
- Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm process, third-gen Oryon architecture)
- CPU: 2× 4.6GHz super-large cores + 6× 3.62GHz performance cores, 24MB cache
- GPU: Adreno 840 (1.2GHz, 18MB dedicated memory)
- Benchmark: AnTuTu scores expected to exceed 4 million points
- Storage: Starts at 16GB LPDDR5X RAM + 512GB UFS 4.0; top config up to 16GB + 1TB
Camera System (Codename: “Night God”)
Xiaomi is positioning the 17 Ultra as a revolutionary low-light and telephoto champion.
- Main Camera: 50MP 1-inch sensor (OmniVision OV50X / Light Hunter 1050L) with LOFIC ultra-high dynamic range technology, f/1.67 aperture
- Ultra-wide: 50MP (Samsung JN5 sensor)
- Periscope Telephoto: 200MP (Samsung S5KHPE) with Leica APO certification, f/2.9 minimum aperture
- Supports continuous 70–100mm optical zoom (equivalent ~4.3× variable focal length)
- New “variable telephoto” system; lens volume increased by 35% compared to previous gen
- Advanced Leica optical coating for superior clarity and color
- Front Camera: Expected 50MP (OV50M or similar)
Display
- Size: ~6.85-inch LTPO OLED straight screen (flat design with large R-corners)
- Resolution: 2K (high pixel density)
- Refresh Rate: 1–120Hz adaptive
- Design: Ultra-narrow bezels, extremely high screen-to-body ratio
Battery & Charging
- Capacity: 6800mAh silicon-carbon anode battery (one of the largest in flagships)
- Charging: 100W wired + high-power wireless charging
- Chip: Xiaomi’s self-developed Surge charging chip with multi-level smart regulation
Design & Build
- Thickness: 8.29mm (claimed as Xiaomi’s thinnest Ultra ever — 11.3% thinner than predecessor)
- Weight: ~227g
- Materials: Corning Gorilla Glass, forged stainless steel mid-frame
- Buttons: Segmented independent circular volume keys; high-end variant includes physical shutter button
- Protection: IP68 dust & water resistance
- Colors: Black, White, Starry Green (with metallic mineral particle finish), and possibly more
- Special Edition: Leica Edition features classic red “Leica dot” branding and a rotatable zoom ring around the camera module
Other Features
- Unlocking: Ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor
- Connectivity: UWB ultra-wideband support; high-end version includes Tiantong satellite calling + Beidou satellite messaging
- Software: Xiaomi HyperOS 3 (based on Android 16)
Pricing & Availability
Due to sharp increases in memory prices (driven by AI demand since late 2022) and other component costs, Xiaomi has confirmed a price increase compared to the Xiaomi 15 Ultra (starting at 6,499 CNY).
- Expected starting price: ~6,599–6,999 CNY (~$920–$975 USD), with higher configurations potentially exceeding 8,000 CNY.
- Exact pricing will be revealed during today’s live event.
- China launch today (December 25, 2025); global availability likely in Q1 2026 (possibly February/March).
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra looks set to challenge top camera phones like the upcoming Vivo X300 Ultra, OPPO Find X9 Ultra, Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, and iPhone 17 Pro Max — especially in low-light performance, zoom flexibility, and battery life.
We’ll have full hands-on coverage, real-world camera samples, and pricing details once the device goes official later today. Stay tuned!
What are you most excited about — the 200MP periscope zoom, the huge battery, or the thinner design? Drop your thoughts in the comments below! 📱✨
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