In a world where smartphones have become boring slabs of glass, distinguishable only by how prominently their cameras protrude, Xiaomi has just thrown a hand grenade into a room full of engineers. The new Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is more than just a phone. It's proof that someone in Beijing is actually listening to our nagging and is daring to make something that's both completely insane and absolutely brilliant.
Let's be honest. For the past few years, we've been smartphones we only watched the game in numbers. More megapixels, brighter screens and processors that are faster than my laptop. And the feel? That real, tactile feel? That disappeared the moment we lost physical keyboards. Until now. Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition is going back to the basics of photography.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition has something on the back that should have been there for years: a real mechanical zoom ring. Not that digital slider on the screen that you struggle with while your sweaty fingers slide across the glass. We're talking about a physical ring around the camera module that you rotate. And when you do, magic happens. The camera app launches automatically, and you seamlessly control the optical zoom from 3.2x to 4.3x magnification.
It feels like you're holding a real Leica, not a pizza-ordering device. Xiaomi claims the ring can detect movements as small as 0.03mm. That's precision that borders on obsession, and that's exactly the kind of engineering madness I love. If you're not a fan of zoom, you can program the ring to do manual focus or exposure compensation. This is an adult toy that actually works.
The optics your camera should have
Sure, the ring is the star of the evening, but what's behind it? Xiaomi didn't skimp. The main camera uses a massive 1-inch sensor with an f/1.67 aperture. For those of you who don't speak photography lingo: that means this thing gobbles up light like a black hole. The Light Fusion 1050L technology and intricately named capacitors provide a dynamic range that will keep your sunset photos from looking like a nuclear explosion.
But the real beast is the telephoto camera. It's a 200-megapixel periscope that covers a focal length of 75mm to 100mm. This is what we call "continuous optical zoom". No more digital cropping and AI guesswork in between. This is real optics. And because it has the Leica stamp on it, it's the first Xiaomi to be Leica APO certified, which means you won't see those annoying purple edges around tree branches when you take photos against the sun.
“This isn’t just a camera phone. It’s a camera that accidentally had the ability to make calls built into it.”
In addition, there is also 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 50-megapixel selfie camera, although let's be honest - if you're buying this phone for selfies, you're missing the point.
Power beyond needs
It's buzzing under the hood. Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. This is a processor that can probably calculate the route to Mars while you browse TikTok. It's backed by up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB (UFS 4.1) of storage space. Why so much? Because photos with 200 million pixels are not small.
The display is a 6.9-inch (17.5 cm) AMOLED LTPO that refreshes at 120 Hz and reaches an absurd 3,500 nits of brightness. This means you can read your email even if you're standing on the surface of the Sun.
But what really excites me is the battery. They built in 6,800 mAh silicon-carbon battery. Remember when we used to charge our phones twice a day? With this phone, you'll probably forget where you left your charger. And when you find it, the thing will charge at lightning speed with 90W wired charging or 50W wireless.
Luxury you feel
Because it's a special edition Leica, you get the whole “makeup” package: a textured two-tone finish, ribbed frame edges (for better grip and appearance), and the Leica logo engraved on the side. In the box – yes, there are still accessory boxes in 2026 – you get lens cap, strap and magnetic case. Xiaomi knows it sells emotions, not just electronics.
Conclusion: Is it worth the sin?
Let's face the truth. Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition It's not cheap. The price is around $1,138 (about €1,080) for the base model in China, which means it'll probably cost as much as a decent used car in Europe. We're expecting a price of around €2,000.
But is it worth the money? If you only see your phone as a messaging device, then absolutely not. But if you're someone who loves mechanics, who appreciates the sound of the shutter and the feel of the lens ring turning, then this is the only phone on the market that counts.
In the world sterile, perfect and boring technology is Xiaomi made something wonderfully analog. It's big, it's expensive, and it's probably overkill. But that's exactly why I love it. Finally, a phone with a soul. And a zoom ring you won't be able to stop turning.
