Xiaomi 17 Ultra Unveiled: First Hands-On Video Appears Online
The smartphone photography wars have heated up just ahead of the new year, and the first hands-on video of the highly anticipated Xiaomi 17 Ultra (Leica Edition) has already appeared online. Fresh off its release in China, this exclusive early look suggests the device is poised to be a dominant force in the 2026 flagship market.
Unboxed and tested in Hong Kong by tech reviewer Ben from Ben’s Gadget Reviews, the video provides the world with its first detailed glimpse of the new device, showcasing a refined aesthetic and significant hardware leaps, particularly in its camera system.
A Design That Stands Out
Moving away from the generic glass slabs that have dominated the market, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a distinctive two-tone design. The back is finished in black vegan leather, complemented by an aluminium top section and textured ridges along the sides for better grip. Notably, Xiaomi has abandoned its signature “quad-curved” display in favour of a completely flat 6.9-inch LTPO OLED panel, a shift likely driven by consumer demand for flat screens.
Despite packing better components, the device is surprisingly slim at just 8.3mm. It houses a massive 6,800 mAh battery capable of 100W fast charging, ensuring the device can keep up with power-hungry users.
The Camera: Leica’s Optical Marvel
The centrepiece of the 17 Ultra is its massive circular camera module, which now features a tactile ring that can be twisted, though it serves an aesthetic rather than functional purpose. The system includes:
- Main: 50MP 1-inch sensor (f/1.7 aperture)
- Ultrawide: 50MP sensor
- Telephoto: A groundbreaking 200MP periscope camera with a shifting lens.
This new telephoto system offers a variable optical focal length between 75mm and 100mm (approximately 3.2x to 4.3x). This allows for lossless optical zooming within that range, a feature that sets it apart from competitors that rely on digital cropping between fixed lenses. The lenses are also officially Leica APO certified, designed to minimise ghosting and chromatic aberration.
Early tests show impressive results. “I really like the colours and the exposure,” Ben noted during a low-light test in a dark alley. “The shadows are kept intact… it gives digital photos a little bit more of an organic vibe.”
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the phone is powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the flagship chipset for 2026. While the unit tested runs the Chinese version of Xiaomi’s HyperOS (featuring Chinese AI), the reviewer confirmed that Google Play Services can be easily installed via Xiaomi’s own app store.
One missed opportunity noted in the review was the lack of a dedicated physical shutter button, a feature now common on rival flagships from vivo, OPPO, and Honor. However, the package does include a generous array of accessories often missing from modern boxes, including a 100W charger, a vegan leather case, a lens cap, and a cleaning kit.
Early Verdict
While a full comparison against the vivo X300 Pro and the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra is still pending, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra makes a strong first impression. With its “Leica Camera Germany” branding and sophisticated optics, it aims to be more than just a phone; it wants to be a serious camera in your pocket.
The device is currently available in China, with a global release expected in the coming months.
