[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-

Xiaomi unveiled its latest flagship smartphone, the 'Xiaomi 17' series, just two days before the opening of the world's largest mobile exhibition, Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026. The key feature of the new lineup is its enhanced camera performance, achieved through collaboration with Germany's Leica from the design stage. A top-tier model commemorating Leica's 100th anniversary was also introduced.

Xiaomi first launched this product in its home market of China in December 2025. Now, the company is introducing it to the global market in conjunction with MWC. This move is seen as a direct response to Samsung Electronics’ unveiling of the Galaxy S26 series in San Francisco, USA, on February 25. Xiaomi has been moving away from its traditional lineup of affordable, high-value models and is now continuously releasing 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 and the Leica Leitz Phone, as well as new products such as tablet PCs.

Camera Performance Enhanced through Leica Collaboration...Equipped with Next-Generation Image Sensor

Xiaomi 17 Series. Provided by Xiaomi

The Xiaomi 17 series comes in standard and Ultra models, both equipped with cameras developed in collaboration with Leica. Notably, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the first Xiaomi smartphone to feature a 1-inch-class LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) main camera sensor. LOFIC is a next-generation image sensor that applies high dynamic range (HDR) technology, which prevents light bleeding in bright environments while preserving details in dark areas.

Additionally, the Ultra model is equipped with a 200-megapixel telephoto lens, a 50-megapixel main camera, and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide camera. It also supports Xiaomi’s artificial intelligence (AI)-based photography and editing features. In the case of the Xiaomi 17, all three cameras—the main, telephoto, and ultra-wide—feature 50-megapixel sensors.

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 powered by 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 has 16GB. Storage options for the Xiaomi 17 are 256GB and 512GB, and for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, 512GB and 1TB. At the event, Xiaomi highlighted battery capacity by showing a video comparing it to Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro.

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

The Xiaomi 17 series utilizes a silicon-carbon battery, offering higher 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 with charging capability 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 boasts the lightest weight and thinnest profile among Xiaomi’s Ultra lineup. The device measures 8.29mm in thickness and weighs 218.4g. The display size is 175.26mm (6.9 inches). It is available in three colors: white, black, and starlight green. Other features include a fiberglass rear, an aluminum alloy frame, and IP68-rated water and dust resistance.

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

The Xiaomi 17 series runs on Xiaomi Hyper OS 3, based on Google Android. As the operating system is Android-based, users can access Google’s AI services such as Gemini and Gemini Live. The phones also support integration with Apple devices, allowing users to connect AirPods to Xiaomi phones. If both an iPhone and a Xiaomi phone are used together, SMS messages received on the Xiaomi phone can be replied to from the iPhone.

Top-Tier Model 'Leica Leitz Phone' Unveiled...Physical Dial Button on Camera Rim

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

On the same day, Xiaomi also introduced the Leica Leitz Phone, the highest-end model in the 17 Ultra series. This product was jointly developed to commemorate Leica's 100th anniversary. It uses aluminum alloy for the body and features a Leica-tuned UI developed through software collaboration with Leica, allowing for more professional camera settings and shooting experiences. Other specifications are similar to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.

The rear camera of the Leica Leitz Phone features a ring-shaped physical dial on the rim, reminiscent of the zoom control dial on real Leica cameras. The newly introduced Leica Essential Mode enables users to customize image quality and photo style. The Leica Leitz Phone is only available in black and comes with 1TB of storage.

However, its higher price compared to competing products may present a barrier. The Xiaomi 17 series is priced from 999 euros up to 1,999 euros. Specifically, the Xiaomi 17 is 999 euros (about KRW 1.7 million), the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is 1,499 euros (about KRW 2.55 million), and the top-tier Leica Leitz Phone is 1,999 euros (about KRW 3.4 million). However, Xiaomi has kept the global retail price unchanged compared to the previous Xiaomi 15 series.

The Xiaomi 17 series and the Xiaomi Pad 8 series will be available in global markets starting from March 1, 2026. In South Korea, pre-orders will begin on March 3, with deliveries starting sequentially 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 standard and Pro models of the Xiaomi Pad 8 series are equipped with an 11.2-inch 3.2K display with up to 800 nits brightness, ensuring clarity even outdoors. The tablets are 5.75mm thick and weigh 485g, enhancing portability. The Pro model is powered by Qualcomm’s latest processor, the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

During the event, Xiaomi emphasized that its partnership with Leica will expand beyond joint research and development (R&D) to encompass all aspects from product development to the overall user experience. Lu Weibing, President of Xiaomi's Smartphone Division, stated at the event, "Xiaomi has built a 'full loop' for smart manufacturing to complete its ecosystem, from smartphones to EVs, home appliances, and smart factories. Over the next five years, we plan to double our investment to more than 24 billion euros (about KRW 40.88 trillion) and further advance the 'human, vehicle, and home' ecosystem."

Meanwhile, more than 1,000 spectators gathered at the venue an hour before the event started, demonstrating high interest in Xiaomi’s products.

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