Xiaomi just launched its Leica flagship phone 17 Ultra, which may leave you unhappy with the camera of your current device. Naturally, it’s a spec monster, with a 1-inch sensor 50MP f/1.67 main camera and a 1/1.4-inch 200MP periscope telephoto camera. But it also offers an interesting new mechanical feature: a manual zoom ring that also automatically activates the camera when you rotate it.
Both the regular Xiaomi Mi 17 Ultra and the Leica version are equipped with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, equipped with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB UFS 4.1 storage, and a 6.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with a peak brightness of up to 3,500 nits. In addition to the impressive main and telephoto lenses, they also offer a 50MP ultra-wide angle and a 50MP selfie camera. Battery life isn’t an issue either, as the 6,800mAh silicon carbon battery supports 90W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.
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The Leica 17 Ultra adds some really, really nice Leica touches. These include a two-tone finish, a front-facing red dot identity symbol, textured edges and film simulations such as Leica Monopan 50 Black and White. As for the zoom ring, Xiaomi says “it rotates [eliminates] No need for tedious screen clicks…and can detect displacements as small as 0.03 mm. “It can also be reprogrammed for functions such as exposure compensation and manual focus.
Other unique features of this model include a “Leica Moments” 3:2 aspect ratio, a special encryption chip and dual satellite connectivity. As part of the special edition, it comes in a custom box with lens cap, lanyard, magnetic case and branded cleaning cloth.
The only thing to note is the price. Phones in the Chinese market are generally cheaper than North American models, with Xiaomi’s Leica 17 Ultra starting at 7,999 yuan ($1,140) and the regular 17 Ultra at 6,999 yuan ($995) with 512GB of storage and 16GB of RAM, which is comparable to the latest high-end Pixel 10 and Galaxy 25 models.