Xiaomi 17 Ultra Launch Set for Next Week: Expected Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, Big Battery, and New Leica Optics

Xiaomi has officially confirmed that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will be unveiled next week in China. The confirmation comes directly from company founder and CEO Lei Jun, putting an end to weeks of speculation around the launch timeline.

If Xiaomi follows its usual pattern, the event should take place later in the week.

Xiaomi and Leica Rethink How Phone Cameras Are Built

Alongside the launch announcement, Xiaomi also revealed an expanded global partnership with Leica. This time, it’s not just about tuning cameras or co-branding lenses. Xiaomi says both teams are now involved from the earliest stages of product design, working together on how mobile cameras are developed.

The first outcome of this approach is a new optical system for smartphones. Xiaomi has confirmed that the 17 Ultra will debut the world’s first Leica APO-certified telephoto lens on a phone. The goal here is cleaner colors, less chromatic aberration, and better consistency when shooting at longer focal lengths.

Xiaomi is also hinting at improvements in night photography and high-contrast scenes, areas where even high-end phones can still struggle.

Display, Performance, and Battery Expectations

Leaks suggest the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is moving back to a flat display design. The panel is said to offer clarity beyond conventional 2K screens while drawing less power, which could help balance performance and battery life.

Under the hood, the phone is expected to run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Battery capacity is tipped to be close to 7,000mAh. Fast charging is expected to remain a focus, with reports pointing to 100W wired and 80W wireless charging support.

Other expected features include an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and IP68-rated dust and water resistance.

A Streamlined Camera Setup

Camera hardware remains the core talking point. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is tipped to feature a triple rear camera system rather than a more crowded layout.

The main camera is expected to use OmniVision’s new 50-megapixel OV50X 1-inch sensor, focusing on better light capture and HDR performance. This is likely to be paired with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera that also handles macro shots, and a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera offering up to 5x optical zoom.

What Else Could Launch Alongside the Phone

The event may not be limited to smartphones. Xiaomi is also expected to introduce a new NAS product, pointing toward a wider ecosystem push beyond phones and wearables.

Blind pre-orders for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra have already gone live in China. A global launch is expected in March, likely alongside the standard Xiaomi 17.

Via