Xiaomi 17 Ultra: 200 MP camera with continuous 75–100 mm optical zoom and a 1-inch main sensor

Xiaomi has officially confirmed that the new Xiaomi 17 Ultra will arrive with an advanced camera built around a 200 MP system and continuous optical zoom. The lens smoothly shifts its focal length from 75 mm to 100 mm (roughly 3.1–4.1x), keeping image quality consistent as you change magnification.

Unlike standard smartphone telephoto setups with fixed steps, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra uses a movable lens within the camera module to achieve true optical zoom, cutting down on loss of detail. Beyond 100 mm, zooming will rely on software processing; even so, the sheer resolution of the 200 MP sensor should preserve impressive detail. It comes across as a pragmatic balance: optical where it matters, software when you push further.

According to Xiaomi, the camera employs a large 1/1.4-inch sensor, akin to the periscope unit in the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. That size offers better light-gathering and overall image quality compared with smaller sensors used by some rivals.

The phone also features a 1-inch Light Hunter 1050L main sensor with LOFIC technology, designed to widen dynamic range and improve results in demanding lighting. Paired with the versatile optical zoom, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s camera should give shooters plenty of room for portraits, reframing, and producing polished content—an approach that signals a clear focus on imaging flexibility, not just headline zoom numbers.