The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition, envisioned as a flagship in the year 2026, represents a shift where the smartphone becomes secondary to the camera experience. Designed to look and feel like a dedicated Leica camera, the device emphasizes photography through both its physical hardware and its extensive accessories.

Design and Build

The phone features a distinct two-tone design with a textured finish on the bottom two-thirds and a smooth top third, complemented by circular volume buttons reminiscent of the iPhone 4. Branding is heavily skewed toward Leica, with the logo appearing on the back, the camera plateau, and the side, which reads "Leica Camera Germany". To enhance the "camera feel," Xiaomi includes a premium accessory kit consisting of a custom MagSafe case, an aluminum lens cap, a high-quality microfiber cleaning cloth, and a wrist strap.

The Camera System

The rear setup consists of three powerful sensors:

• Main Camera: A massive 1-inch, 50-megapixel sensor at f/1.67.

• Ultra-wide: A 50-megapixel sensor with a 14mm equivalent lens at f/2.2.

• Telephoto: A 200-megapixel sensor featuring a real variable focal length zoom, allowing for smooth transitions between 75mm and 100mm (3.2x to 4.3x magnification).

Physical Controls: The Camera Ring

One of the most innovative features is the rotating metal ring surrounding the camera plateau. This ring uses haptics to simulate a physical notched feel and can be customized to perform various tasks:

• Acting as a quick-launch shortcut for the camera.

• Adjusting zoom or exposure values in video mode.

• Functioning as a manual focus ring, shutter speed dial, or white balance control in Pro mode.

Software and Leica Integration

The partnership with Leica goes beyond branding, integrating directly into the image processing pipeline. Users can choose between "Vibrant" and "Authentic" profiles or use "Leica Essential" modes that emulate classic cameras. For example, the M9 mode locks the white balance for a contrasty, organic look, while the M3 mode emulates monochrome film with realistic grain and dynamic range. For video, the phone supports 8K recording and an impressive 1,920 fps slow-motion at 1080p.

Flagship Performance

Despite its focus on photography, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra remains a high-end smartphone powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. It features a 6.9-inch flat 120Hz display reaching 3,500 nits of brightness. Power is supplied by a 6,800 mAh silicon-carbon battery supporting 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. Remarkably, it maintains an IP69 dust and water resistance rating despite the moving camera ring.

Limitations

While the device offers a fun and thoughtful execution, it has some drawbacks:

• Ergonomics: It is easy to accidentally block the lens with your fingers when using the camera ring.

• Zoom Range: The continuous variable zoom is limited to a small range (75mm to 100mm), which some might find unnecessary compared to simply moving closer to the subject.

• Software Quirk: The camera app resets to 12-megapixel binned mode every time it is closed, requiring users to manually re-select the 50-megapixel setting.

• Audio: The internal microphones are noted as being less impressive than the video quality, though this can be bypassed with external equipment.

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