Highlights
- The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is confirmed to feature a Leica 200MP optical zoom camera, delivering true lossless zoom via real lens movement rather than digital cropping.
- The flagship supports a 75–100 mm Leica APO telephoto zoom lens, improved night portrait photography, and a dual floating lens system for cleaner, sharper images.
- A new Red Carpet Camera Mode enables smooth 4K video recording with cinematic zoom and slow-motion effects for creators.
- With satellite communication support and camera-first upgrades, the phone is shaping up to be a premium, photography-focused flagship ahead of its official launch.
Xiaomi recently shared information about its latest flagship phone, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. In fact, news comes from posts by Xiaomi’s senior executives on Weibo discussing the device’s camera system.
To sum up, Xiaomi is placing a lot of emphasis on the device’s camera. This will position the phone as a serious contender in the premium camera phone segment for 2026. They recently confirmed a Leica 200MP Optical Zoom Camera, providing greater portrait photo quality, enhanced nighttime photography, and a new Video Recording Mode.
This comes after Xiaomi previously discussed satellite communication support on the same device.
Leica 200 MP Optical Zoom Camera Confirmed
Xiaomi founder and CEO Lei Jun confirmed that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will come with a 200MP Leica optical zoom lens. Xiaomi is clearly saying that this zoom is optical, not digital.
Most phones today zoom by cutting the image and fixing it with software. Xiaomi says the 17 Ultra does not work like that. The phone maintains full 200MP image quality even when zoomed, which is uncommon in smartphones.
Lei Jun also mentioned that the camera offers four primary portrait zoom levels. These zoom levels are achieved through real lens movement, not software tricks. Xiaomi believes this will help users take cleaner portrait photos without losing detail.
This puts the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in direct competition with other top-tier camera-focused flagship smartphones.
Optical Zoom Range From 75mm to 100mm (No Digital Cropping)
Another Weibo post shared more technical details. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra supports
- 75-100 mm of optical zoom
- The phone maintains full 200 MP quality across this range
- The telephoto lens is Leica APO-certified
- dual-floating lens system for precise optical adjustments
This means that parts of the lens move inside the camera module to adjust the zoom properly. It works similarly to how Zoom works on traditional cameras, just scaled down for a phone.
Xiaomi officials clearly said this is not digital cropping. The goal is to provide more precise zoom shots, especially for portraits and distant, digital subjects.
New Red Carpet Camera Mode for Video
Xiaomi also talked about a new feature called Red Carpet Camera mode. This update came from Lu Weibing, president of Xiaomi’s smartphone division.
This mode focuses more on video recording. It supports 4K video and blends Zoom with slow-motion effects into a single smooth shot. Xiaomi says the feature is meant to capture essential moments in a more dramatic, cleaner way.
The company did not explain all the technical details; the feature is designed to deliver dramatic, professional-looking videos with cleaner zoom control. The idea is simple: smoother camera movement, better zoom control, and more stable video.
Night Portrait Photos Get an Upgrade
Night photography is another area Xiaomi is pushing with the 17 Ultra. Lu Weibing shared sample photos showing better night portrait results.
According to Xiaomi, faces look clearer, skin tones appear more natural, and background blur works better in low light. The company says both hardware and camera tuning play a role here.
Some users liked the samples, while others said real-life use will matter more than demo images. Still, Xiaomi seems confident about its night camera improvements.
Mixed Reactions Online
As expected, the new updates created a lot of discussion on Weibo. Many users praised Xiaomi for focusing on real optical zoom instead of software-based solutions.
Simultaneously with these comments, several raised questions about Xiaomi’s stock price and issues with older devices. While this sentiment does not explicitly relate to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, it shows how closely people are following Xiaomi’s significant releases.
Even though the tone of many comments about the Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera system upgrade information was mixed, people still primarily discussed the camera upgrade itself as their main reason for posting about their interest in the product.
What Xiaomi 17 Ultra Is Shaping Up To Be
Having previously confirmed satellite communications capabilities, a 200MP Leica optical zoom camera, enhanced night portraits, and advanced video features, we’ve now confirmed all the major hardware updates to the camera systems in the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, which appears to be designed for photography-minded individuals who want more advanced photo/video capabilities and want to put themselves in the premium device category.
Xiaomi entered the market for photography and video products by launching its latest offerings to position itself as an industry leader. By erasing the boundaries of optical zoom lenses, providing better photography supplies, improving portrait night photography capabilities, and enhancing video shooting, they have become a market leader.
There isn’t a price, release date, or details available as of this writing, but we anticipate more information about the Xiaomi 17 Ultra as we get closer to the launch date.
Final Thoughts
Currently, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is generating significant interest in the community as one of the most camera-focused flagships of recent years. Still, it is garnering less excitement than anticipated due to Xiaomi’s slow release of information about the device, rather than providing it all at once.
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