Xiaomi has officially launched the 17 Ultra Leica Edition, a flagship smartphone designed to blur the line between mobile photography and traditional camera hardware. The new model stands out with a physical manual zoom ring built directly into the camera module, a rare feature in the smartphone space.
The manual zoom ring allows users to adjust focal length by rotating the ring around the camera housing, offering tactile control similar to a dedicated camera lens. Xiaomi developed the feature in partnership with Leica, continuing the companies’ collaboration focused on professional-grade mobile imaging. The ring works alongside on-screen controls, giving photographers the option to frame shots physically rather than relying solely on touch gestures.
The phone features a high-resolution display with a fast refresh rate, paired with flagship-level processing hardware designed to handle photography, video recording, gaming, and everyday use. The rear camera system includes multiple lenses calibrated for color accuracy, dynamic range, and low-light performance, with Leica’s imaging profiles available for different shooting styles.
Beyond hardware, the 17 Ultra Leica Edition relies heavily on computational photography to complement the physical controls. Xiaomi says the combination of optical engineering and software tuning is meant to appeal to users who treat their phone as a primary camera.
The device has launched in China with a starting price of 7,499 yuan, which converts to roughly $1,050 USD, depending on configuration. Higher storage variants are priced above that base model. Xiaomi has not yet confirmed international availability, though previous Ultra models have eventually rolled out to select global markets.
The 17 Ultra Leica Edition reflects Xiaomi’s push to differentiate its premium devices in an increasingly competitive flagship market. By introducing a physical zoom mechanism, the company is betting that photography enthusiasts are looking for more hands-on control in their smartphones, even at a premium price.
