Xiaomi unveils the new Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra at MWC, with a strong focus on photography.
The Chinese technology company Xiaomi presented its latest flagship smartphones at the Mobile World Congress 2026 in Barcelona. The Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra are the thinnest and lightest models to date. The collaboration with camera manufacturer Leica is once again being eagerly promoted by the manufacturer.
Thin, thinner, thinnest
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the thinnest and lightest Ultra model to date. With a thickness of 8.29 mm and a weight of 218.4 grams, the device offers a completely flat body with ultra-thin bezels. It is available in white, black, and green. The ‘Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0’ offers up to thirty percent more drop resistance than the previous generation.
The base model has been put on an even stricter diet. The Xiaomi 17 has a thickness of 8.06 mm and a weight of 191 grams, with screen bezels of barely 1.18 mm. The available color options are green, pink, blue, and black for those who prefer a more classic color.
Both devices feature an OLED panel with a maximum brightness of up to 3,500 nits and a refresh rate that can scale from 1 to 120 Hz. The screen should also be more energy-efficient.
Focus on photography
Photography is a major selling point for Xiaomi’s top models. Xiaomi has been collaborating with the German camera manufacturer Leica for many years, and that partnership is now being extensively highlighted on the Xiaomi 17. The main camera of the base model features a Light Fusion 950 image sensor (f/1.31). The telephoto lens offers fivefold optical zoom and macro photography. The front camera has been upgraded to 50 MP and improves autofocus.
For the Ultra model, the telephoto lens receives a significant upgrade. The 200 MP telephoto lens is equipped with mechanical-optical zoom that reaches a focal length of up to 400 mm. Video recording is possible at 4K 120fps.
Both models are powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. The Xiaomi 17 is launched with 256 or 512 GB of storage, while the Ultra can contain up to 1 TB of storage. The battery capacity is 6,000 mAh for the Ultra model and a substantial 6,330 mAh for the regular Xiaomi 17, with charging capacity up to 100 W via cable and 50 W wireless.
Leica smartphone
The manufacturer is bringing an extra surprise to MWC. In honor of the 100th anniversary of loyal partner Leica, a new device was developed with both brands’ names on it. The device is debuting at the trade fair in Barcelona. It is no surprise that photography is central here as well: the camera ring has a physical dial with a ribbed surface that feels like a zoom camera.
The Xiaomi 17 is available for a suggested retail price of 999 euros, while the Ultra model will cost at least 1,499 euros. The Leica anniversary gift costs no less than 1,999 euros. Prices include VAT.