Xiaomi officially released its new annual flagship mobile phone: Xiaomi 17 Series at MWC 2026, and simultaneously expanded its AIoT product line and launched Xiaomi Scooter 6 Series and Xiaomi Watch 5 to further strengthen its smart interconnection ecosystem layout. The most eye-catching focus of this conference is the comprehensive upgrade of the partnership between Xiaomi and German imaging brand Leica. The two parties announced that the existing joint R&D structure will be further upgraded to a “Strategic Co-creation Model”, symbolizing the level of cooperation moving from technology integration to end-to-end product co-creation, in an attempt to establish a clearer technical distinction in the high-end mobile imaging market.
Upgrading of cooperation model: from joint research and development to strategic co-creation
According to the release, the cooperation between Xiaomi and Leica is no longer limited to lens adjustment or photosensitive technology integration, but covers more comprehensive aspects such as product definition, image style shaping and hardware structure design. This move shows that Xiaomi is trying to embed Leica’s more than a century of professional imaging experience into the core of its products, rather than staying at the brand co-branding level. Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi, which were born under this architecture, form the main focus of this release. Officials emphasized that these three products combine flagship imaging performance, simple design vocabulary and durability-enhanced structural technology, and are positioned in the high-end mobile photography market.
Design vocabulary and structural upgrade: Dragon Armor forms the core foundation
Xiaomi 17 Series adopts a minimalist design vocabulary, emphasizing the balance of clean lines and rounded corners. Officials pointed out that the “golden arc” design has been adjusted many times to optimize the proportions of the body and improve grip stability. Paired with LIPO process technology and ultra-narrow bezel design, it strikes a balance between visual immersion and one-handed control.
Among them, Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the thinnest and lightest Ultra model ever, with a body thickness of 8.29mm and a weight of 218.4g. The camera module has been relocated and reduced in size to reduce visual clutter. Colors available: white, black and starry green. In terms of durability, the phone is equipped with Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0. Officials say its drop resistance is 30% higher than that of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. It combines a high-strength fiberglass backplane with an aluminum alloy frame, and has an IP68 dustproof and waterproof rating.
In contrast, Xiaomi 17 has a body thickness of 8.06mm and a weight of 191g, focusing on lightweight flagship positioning. It is equipped with 6M42 aluminum alloy frame and dragon crystal glass, and also has IP68 certification. The extremely narrow 1.18mm bezel and redesigned camera module make the overall look more modern and neat.
Imaging system breakthrough: 1-inch LOFIC sensor and 200 million telephoto
Imaging technology is the core of this upgrade. The main lens of Xiaomi 17 Ultra uses Xiaomi’s first 1-inch LOFIC sensor for the first time: Light Hunter 1050L. The official description points out that it uses charge storage technology to significantly increase the upper limit of pixel charge capacity, enhancing HDR performance and the dynamic range of high-contrast scenes.
Another key highlight is the Leica 200-megapixel 75–100mm telephoto lens, which supports 75–100mm continuous optical zoom. Built in compliance with Leica APO optical standards, it emphasizes the suppression of ghosting and dispersion. Through the extension of photosensitive element technology, the equivalent focal length can reach 400mm (17.2x). In terms of video recording, the main lens and telephoto lens support up to 4K 120fps Dolby Vision® or ACES Log format recording, meeting the needs of professional creators.
Xiaomi 17 uses the Light Hunter 950 sensor, which has a 1/1.31-inch photosensitive size and 2.4μm 4-in-1 Super Pixel technology, with an official label of up to 13.5EV dynamic range. Paired with the Leica 60mm floating telephoto lens, it supports 60mm portrait, 5x optical-grade zoom, 10cm macro and 20x AI Ultra Zoom. The front lens has been upgraded to 50 million pixels to enhance autofocus capabilities. Video recording supports 4K 60fps Dolby Vision® and Log formats.
Expansion of professional accessories: from lightweight to advanced control
To continue the legacy of Leica photography, Xiaomi 17 Ultra provides two photography accessories. The thin and light imaging package comes with a wrist strap, a two-stage shutter button and a dedicated video recording button, and has an IP54 protection rating. The Professional Imaging Kit features a non-slip PU leather grip design, a built-in 2000mAh battery, a detachable shutter button and a dedicated street photography mode interface to enhance control feel and battery life.
Performance and battery: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and high-silicon battery
In terms of performance, the entire series is equipped with Snapdragon® 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, integrating the 3rd generation Qualcomm Oryon™ CPU, Adreno™ GPU and Hexagon™ NPU, emphasizing high performance and AI computing integration capabilities.
The battery technology has also been upgraded to the new generation Xiaomi Pengpai battery, which is designed with 16% high silicon content. Xiaomi 17 Ultra is equipped with a 6000mAh (typ) battery and supports 90W wired and 50W wireless fast charging; Xiaomi 17 is equipped with a 6330mAh (typ) battery, supports 100W wired and 50W wireless fast charging, and supports 100W PD-PPS protocol.
Display technology: 3,500 nits with HyperRGB
In terms of display, the entire series uses customized OLED panels with a peak brightness of up to 3,500 nits and supports 1–120Hz LTPO update rate and DC dimming. For the first time, the Ultra model is equipped with Xiaomi HyperRGB display technology, which improves clarity and reduces energy consumption through a redesigned OLED sub-pixel arrangement.
An extension of the century-old Leica spirit: Leica Leitzphone
Coinciding with Leica’s centenary milestone, the two parties launched Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi. The machine uses an aluminum alloy body with nickel anodization, and introduces a dedicated Leica adjustment interface. It is equipped with the Leica Master Zoom Ring, the knurled design simulates the traditional camera operating feel, and supports Leica Instant Mode, recreating the classic imaging style of the Leica M9 and Leica M3 (with MONOPAN 50 film).
Conclusion: Repositioning of the high-end imaging market
Based on the contents of this announcement, it can be seen that Xiaomi is trying to establish differentiated advantages through structural design, image sensor innovation, professional video format and in-depth brand co-creation. Upgrading from cooperation mode to hardware and software integration, Xiaomi 17 Series is clearly targeting high-end creators and professional imaging users. According to official information, this upgrade focuses on imaging capabilities, durable structure, and high-efficiency platform integration. Information such as pricing and launch schedule has not been announced. As far as the information we have received, Xiaomi 17 Series will also hold a launch event in Taiwan in the near future, and we will continue to report it for you.
Source: KOCPC Chinese