Xiaomi’s founder and chief executive Lei Jun has described the newly launched Xiaomi 17 Ultra as a “new benchmark for the industry,” highlighting major advances in smartphone camera technology and design.
In a post shared on China’s social media platform Weibo, Lei Jun said the Xiaomi 17 Ultra represents a breakthrough not only for Xiaomi’s Ultra lineup but also for the wider smartphone market. His comments followed the release of a promotional video for the device.
A key focus of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is its camera system, developed in close partnership with German optics company Leica. The phone features a Leica-optimised 200-megapixel optical telephoto camera, making it the first smartphone to receive Leica’s APO optical certification.
According to Xiaomi, the telephoto system uses a 3G+5P dual floating lens group design. This allows the camera to deliver full 200MP optical output across focal lengths ranging from 75mm to 100mm, without relying on digital cropping. Lei Jun said the technology is comparable to professional camera zoom lenses.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra also includes a 1-inch main camera sensor, which is designed to improve light capture and image quality. Another new feature is a physical zoom ring built into the phone’s unibody design, aiming to replicate the feel of a traditional camera lens.
In addition to camera upgrades, the device features an all-sided, equal-bezel display, which Xiaomi says enhances the overall viewing experience.
Xiaomi has not positioned the 17 Ultra as just an incremental update. Instead, Lei Jun’s remarks suggest the company sees the device as a major step forward in smartphone hardware, especially in mobile photography.
