Xiaomi Reportedly Renaming Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition for Global Markets
TL;DR: The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is reportedly heading to global markets with a new name. While the hardware is expected to remain the same, branding adjustments could signal a different positioning outside China.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition may not keep its name when it launches outside China, according to a new report. Certification in Thailand by NBTC has confirmed that the device is indeed headed to global markets, but under a completely different name: Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi. While the device is expected to reach global markets, it could arrive under a different branding strategy.
NBTC Certification Confirms Global Launch
The device recently appeared in Thailand’s NBTC certification database, confirming its international rollout. The listing reveals the new name in full: Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi.
While the name is undeniably long, it reflects Leica’s branding history. There have previously been three Leitz Phone models, all exclusive to Japan. Instead of continuing that Japan-only lineup, Leica now appears to be repositioning the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition globally under its own Leitzphone branding.
For context, Ernst Leitz was the founder of Leica, and the brand name itself is derived from his surname combined with the word “camera.”
The global variant carries the model number 25128PNA1G, as shown in the NBTC listing. A prototype with the same model number has also surfaced in the Geekbench AI database.
Benchmark results confirm that the device is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, the same SoC used in the Chinese version. The listing also shows 16GB of RAM and confirms that the phone will launch with Android 16 out of the box, likely running Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3 on top.
In China, the Leica Edition Xiaomi 17 Ultra is priced higher than the standard Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and a similar pricing strategy is expected globally. The international launch is rumoured to take place on 28 February.
Xiaomi has previously adjusted device names between its domestic and global releases, so this move would not be entirely surprising.
At this stage, Xiaomi has not made an official announcement regarding the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition’s global name. More details are expected closer to the international launch window.
