Xiaomi announced the previously reported 17 Ultra Leica Edition smartphone with a manual zoom ring, 200MP high-end camera setup, CAI Photo Authenticity Protection technology, and more:
Main Technical Specifications and Features of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition:
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition features CAI Photo Authenticity Protection technology: this is the mobile industry’s first implementation of Content Authenticity Initiative (CAI) standards for photos. It uses a dedicated security chip to add a cryptographic digital signature to every captured image, embedding verifiable metadata about its origin, capture details, and edits (if any). This helps prove the photo was taken by the phone’s camera and distinguishes it from AI-generated or heavily manipulated content. The feature is exclusive (or primarily highlighted) on the Leica Edition, aligning with its photography-focused enhancements like the Master Zoom Ring and Leica-inspired modes. The standard Xiaomi 17 Ultra shares most hardware but lacks some Leica-specific exclusives, including this authenticity protection.
Other Features: IP66/IP68/IP69 dust and water resistance, ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, HyperOS 3 based on Android (with AI features), dimensions approx. 162.9 x 77.6 x 8.29mm, weight ~223g.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica: A Tribute to Masterful Image Creators
As the inaugural flagship of Xiaomi and Leica’s upgraded strategic partnership, Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica transcends a single product. It stands as the realized expression of the Strategic Co-creation Model, uniting concept, design, and technology through deep, end-to-end collaboration.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica was designed with direct involvement from the original Leica team, and inspired by the classic Leica M-series cameras. The back panel features a dual-tone design, where the textured leather complements a matte finish. The meticulously knurled middle frame, engraved with “LEICA CAMERA GERMANY” provides an exceptional anti-slip grip. For the first time, the prestigious Leica red dot badge graces the body, embodying the most iconic imaging design as well as certifying its imaging prowess.
The exclusive Leica Camera Ring inherits the classic operational logic of cameras and reimagines in a new form for the smartphone, with the embedded 20 high-strength ball bearings adding an extra smooth tactile feel. It all fosters an immersive, intuitive interaction on focus, allowing the capture of every extraordinary moment in a state of creative flow. An internal optical displacement sensor detects movement as minute as 0.03mm, enabling precise focus adjustment with the ring. A dedicated sealing design ensures the device maintains its IP66 / IP68 / IP69 dust and water resistance ratings.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica features the exclusive Leica Essential mode, which uses innovative technical approaches to recreate the legendary image qualities of two iconic Leica cameras within a phone. For the Leica M9 style, Xiaomi trained a “RAW-to-RGB” Style Transfer model based on hundreds of thousands of photos captured by actual Leica M9 cameras. The Leica M3 style digitally models the color response, tonality, and grain of Leica MONOPAN 50 film, producing authentic black-and-white film-like images beyond what ordinary filters can achieve.
Furthermore, Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica introduces the mobile industry’s first CAI Photo Authenticity Protection technology, which is realized by a digital signature to every photo through a dedicated security chip, ensuring its real origin instead of an AI-generated one. Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica is also exclusively equipped with a dual-satellite system, supporting both Tiantong and Beidou networks. When under weak cellular signals or even in remote wilderness, the system automatically prompts users with a pop-up, allowing one-tap access to the satellite interface for easy messaging and calling.
