Xiaomi 17 Ultra leak: specs, camera upgrades, launch timing

Xiaomi is gearing up to launch a new flagship, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, which could set a new benchmark for mobile photography. Insider reports point to a China debut by the end of the year. The phone is expected to inherit key traits from the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max while adding exclusive upgrades, with the camera system clearly taking center stage.

The 17 Ultra is said to feature a 6.9-inch 2K OLED display with a 120 Hz refresh rate, an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, and a 5th‑generation Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. A premium look with a large circular camera module is also expected, underscoring where the design emphasis lies.

The headline change is a new camera sensor that, according to sources, will be the largest in the industry. The phone is also set to gain an upgraded periscope telephoto lens developed by Xiaomi’s engineers and in-sensor zoom that aims to avoid quality loss. The bet on imaging is hard to miss.

According to the leak, the camera array will include a 50 MP main sensor with in-sensor zoom; a 50 MP ultra-wide Samsung JN; a 50 MP Samsung JN5 telephoto; and a 200 MP periscope telephoto Samsung HPE with 4×4 RMSC technology for shooting across different focal lengths and a telephoto macro mode. For selfies, the device is said to carry a 50 MP OmniVision OV50M front camera.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is expected to arrive in two versions, both with UWB. The more advanced option will add Tiantong satellite connectivity and Beidou short-message support. If these details hold, the 17 Ultra could rank among the most technically ambitious camera phones of 2025.