[MWC26]Xiaomi Unveils 'Monster Camera Phone'?Leica Collaboration Brings '17 Ultra' and 'Leitz Phone'

Joint Development with Leica... Strengthening the Partnership Between the Two Companies

200-Megapixel Camera and Next-Generation Image Sensor

Top-Tier Model "Leica Leitz Phone" Also Unveiled

Moving Beyond Cost-Effectiveness to a High-Performance, Premium Image... Approaching KRW 3.4 Million

Xiaomi Pad 8 Series Also Unveiled

Two days before the opening of Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026, the world's largest mobile exhibition, Xiaomi unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the "Xiaomi 17" series. A key highlight is the enhanced camera performance achieved through collaboration with Germany's Leica from the earliest design stages, and Xiaomi also revealed a top-tier model commemorating Leica's 100th anniversary.

Xiaomi had already launched this product first in its home market of China in December of the previous year. With MWC as the occasion, the company is now introducing the device to the global market. This move appears to be a direct response to Samsung Electronics' announcement of the Galaxy S26 series in San Francisco, USA, on the 25th. Xiaomi is steadily shifting away from its previous image as a provider of affordable, cost-effective models by releasing a series of ultra-premium products.

Xiaomi held a global new product launch event on the afternoon of the 28th (local time) at the Catalonia Congress Center in Barcelona, Spain, unveiling the Xiaomi 17 series and the Leica Leitz Phone. The Xiaomi 17 series is being introduced at the new product launch event. Photo by Myunghwan Lee

On the afternoon of the 28th (local time), Xiaomi held a global new product launch event at the Catalonia Congress Center in Barcelona, Spain, unveiling the Xiaomi 17 series, the Leica Leitz Phone, and other new products such as tablet PCs.

Leica Collaboration Enhances Camera Performance... Next-Generation Image Sensor Adopted

Xiaomi 17 Series. Provided by Xiaomi

The Xiaomi 17 series consists of a standard model and an Ultra model, both equipped with cameras developed in collaboration with Leica. Notably, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the first Xiaomi device to feature a 1-inch-class LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) main camera sensor. LOFIC is a next-generation image sensor incorporating high dynamic range (HDR) technology, which prevents light bleed in bright conditions and preserves detail in dark areas.

Additionally, the device features a 200-megapixel telephoto lens and 50-megapixel main and ultra-wide cameras. Xiaomi’s artificial intelligence (AI)-powered shooting and editing features are also supported. All three cameras on the Xiaomi 17-the main, telephoto, and ultra-wide-are 50 megapixels each.

Xiaomi also introduced the "Xiaomi 17 Ultra Photography Kit," an accessory kit for photography. This kit includes a wrist strap, a two-stage shutter button, and a dedicated video button.

Camera sensor equipped in Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Photo by Xiaomi

All models in the Xiaomi 17 series are equipped with Qualcomm's latest application processor (AP), the Snapdragon 8 Elite 5th Generation. The Xiaomi 17 comes with 12GB of RAM, while the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is equipped with 16GB. Storage options include 256GB and 512GB for the Xiaomi 17, and 512GB and 1TB for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. During the event, Xiaomi also emphasized battery capacity by showing a comparison video with Apple's iPhone 17 Pro.

For the display, an OLED panel supporting a peak brightness of up to 3,500 nits has been applied. The LTPO display supports a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz, enabling smooth screen transitions.

The Xiaomi 17 series features a silicon-carbon battery, providing greater capacity compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is equipped with a 6,000mAh battery and supports up to 90W wired charging. The Xiaomi 17 has a 6,330mAh battery and supports charging speeds of up to 100W.

On the 28th (local time), the Xiaomi 17 Ultra was exhibited at Xiaomi's global new product launch event held at the Catalonia Congress Center in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Myunghwan Lee

The flagship 17 Ultra is the lightest and thinnest among the Xiaomi Ultra line. This device is 8.29mm thick and weighs 218.4g. The display measures 175.26mm (6.9 inches). It comes in three colors: white, black, and starlight green. Other features include a fiberglass back, an aluminum alloy frame, and IP68-rated water and dust resistance.

The Xiaomi 17 is 8.06mm thick, weighs 191g, and has a display size of 160.02mm (6.3 inches). It is available in four colors: venture green, alpine pink, ice blue, and black. The device features an ultra-slim 1.18mm bezel, an aluminum frame, Xiaomi Shield Glass, and also supports IP68-rated water and dust resistance.

The Xiaomi 17 series runs on Xiaomi HyperOS 3, based on Google Android. Since it is an Android-based OS, users can utilize Google AI services such as Gemini and Gemini Live. The device also supports connectivity with Apple products, allowing users to connect AirPods to a Xiaomi phone. If using an iPhone alongside a Xiaomi phone, users can reply to messages received on the Xiaomi phone directly from the iPhone.

Top-Tier Model "Leica Leitz Phone" Unveiled... Physical Dial Button on Camera Ring

On the 28th (local time), the Leica Leitz Phone was exhibited at Xiaomi's global new product launch event held at the Catalonia Congress Center in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Myunghwan Lee

Xiaomi also unveiled the Leica Leitz Phone, the top model in the 17 Ultra series, at the event. Developed jointly by the two companies to mark Leica's 100th anniversary, this device uses an aluminum alloy for its body and features a Leica-tuned user interface through software collaboration. These enhancements provide more professional camera settings and shooting options. Other specifications are similar to those of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.

The Leica Leitz Phone’s rear camera is surrounded by a ring-shaped physical dial, reminiscent of the zoom adjustment dials found on actual Leica cameras. The new Leica Essential Mode has also been introduced, allowing users to customize image quality and photo style. The Leica Leitz Phone is available only in black and with a single storage option of 1TB.

However, the high price point compared to competing products may pose a barrier. The Xiaomi 17 series is priced from a minimum of 999 euros to a maximum of 1,999 euros. Specifically, the Xiaomi 17 is priced at 999 euros (approximately KRW 1.7 million), the Xiaomi 17 Ultra at 1,499 euros (about KRW 2.55 million), and the top-tier Leica Leitz Phone at 1,999 euros (around KRW 3.4 million). Nevertheless, Xiaomi has kept the global release prices unchanged compared to the previous Xiaomi 15 series.

The Xiaomi 17 series and Xiaomi Pad 8 series will be released in the global market starting today. In Korea, pre-orders will begin on March 3, with sequential deliveries starting from March 6.

On the afternoon of the 28th (local time), Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi, is presenting at the global new product launch event held at the Catalonia Congress Center in Barcelona, Spain. Photo by Xiaomi

Additionally, Xiaomi unveiled its new tablet, the Xiaomi Pad 8 series. Both the base and Pro models of the Pad 8 series feature an 11.2-inch 3.2K display with up to 800 nits of brightness, ensuring clear visibility outdoors. The devices are 5.75mm thick and weigh 485g, making them highly portable. The Pro model is powered by Qualcomm's latest processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

At the event, Xiaomi emphasized that its partnership with Leica will expand beyond joint research and development (R&D) into all aspects of product development and user experience. Lu Weibing, President of Xiaomi’s smartphone division, stated at the event, "Xiaomi has established a full-loop smart manufacturing ecosystem integrating smartphones, EVs, home appliances, and smart factories." He added, "We plan to double our investment to more than 24 billion euros (about KRW 4.088 trillion) over the next five years, further advancing the 'Human, Car, Home' ecosystem."

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 attendees had gathered at the venue an hour before the event began, demonstrating keen interest in Xiaomi's products.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.