Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition Aims to be a Smartphone That Handles Like a Camera

Xiaomi has once again collaborated with Leica to develop a very special edition of its top-of-the-line flagship phone, the 17 Ultra Leica Edition. This device features some very unique design choices and controls that are clearly inspired by old cameras. When you pick it up, the experience changes from what you would generally expect from a smartphone camera.

A ring surrounds the camera module on the back, and turning it activates the camera app. Keep rotating, and the zoom adjusts smoothly on the telephoto lens – and this is no ordinary zoom; you can detect movements as little as 0.03mm. You can even use the ring to regulate focus or exposure rather than zoom. For genuine, physical feedback replaces awkwardly tapping on the screen, giving you a whole lot more precision while taking a picture.

Design-wise, the 17 Ultra Leica Edition draws heavily on Leica’s long tradition. The body has a two-tone finish that adds to its aesthetics, as well as textured portions for improved grip. There’s also a red dot on the front that serves as Leica’s signature. This edition is only available in two colors (black and off-white), yet it seems like a high-end product. It also includes a magnetic case, lens cap, a lovely leather lanyard, and a cleaning cloth.

Inside, it has the same powerful processor as the standard 17 Ultra, which is Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, combined with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. The 6.9-inch AMOLED display is stunning, refreshes at 120Hz and reaching 3,500 nits brightness. You’ll get a 6,800mAh battery that supports 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. All that, plus the frame is only 8.29mm thick and is dust and water resistant (IP68, and even IP69).

The cameras, of course, are the true stars of the show. They have a massive primary sensor that is one inch across, giving them a 50 megapixel resolution and a wide f/1.7 aperture. Furthermore, all of the latest technology that increases dynamic range is game-changing for photographers. A 50-megapixel ultrawide lens with a 115-degree field of view is also included, as is a 200-megapixel telephoto zoom with optical zoom from 75mm to 100mm equivalent. Leica certifies these optics as apochromatic, which means no annoying color fringes.

On the software side, you get Leica Moment options for recreating the styles of earlier cameras, such as the M9’s color look or the monochrome film textures. To keep things interesting, photographs are now recorded in a 3:2 aspect ratio, similar to a full-frame sensor. Oh, and don’t forget about added features like dual-satellite connectivity for when you’re stuck in a distant location, as well as a dedicated chip for data encryption.

The starting pricing for the 16GB/512GB version is at 7,999 Chinese yuan (approximately $1,140), with the 1TB device costing slightly more. Sales begin immediately in China, with global availability expected shortly thereafter.
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