Xiaomi in China is gradually ramping up the media buzz around one of next year’s most anticipated smartphones. Xiaomi 17 Ultra hasn’t been officially introduced yet, but fans can already place a deposit and secure a place among the first owners.
Follow the latest updates on Xiaomi 17 Ultra in the group
At the same time, new details are emerging about the Leica camera that’s set to push mobile photography forward yet again. This time, a lot is being said about the 35 mm focal length, an advanced Lofic sensor, and significantly improved performance in challenging lighting.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra is already open for reservation in China
Chinese customers can already pay a symbolic deposit of 100 yuan, creating a so-called “blind booking” reservation. What’s interesting is that the Xiaomi Store itself on Weibo is already openly hinting at the arrival of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra model, even though the official unveiling is still to come.
According to the well-known insider Smart Pikachu, full-fledged pre-orders should go live between December 15 and December 25, with the most likely start being within the next few days. That suggests the actual unveiling is literally right around the corner.
One of the most important updates is the use of a new generation of the 1-inch sensor Omnivision OV50X with Lofic technology, meaning Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor. Even though Lu Weibing, president of Xiaomi, didn’t mention the 17 Ultra model specifically, his public comments clearly show the direction Xiaomi is taking with its flagship devices.
The Lofic technology makes it possible to capture a high dynamic range in a single shot, limits noise, and addresses issues with flickering LED lights. In practice, that means better photos in backlight, cleaner shadows, and more consistent colors without the need for aggressive HDR.
Xiaomi is changing its photography philosophy thanks to 35 mm Leica optics
Interesting information also came from another Chinese leaker, who says that Xiaomi optimized the main camera specifically for the 35 mm focal length. Among photographers, this is considered an ideal compromise between portraits and everyday photography.
Unlike the Vivo X200 Ultra, which comes with a native 35 mm lens, Xiaomi achieves this effect by cropping from a large 1-inch sensor. However, its size should help ensure that the resulting quality remains very high, with no noticeable loss of detail.
Besides the focal length itself, there are also reports of improved Leica filters, new bokeh algorithms, and revamped Live Photos. Xiaomi is expected to focus heavily on a more natural portrait blur effect and better performance when shooting in motion.
The Lofic sensor will help with video too
Xiaomi 17 Ultra won’t just score with photos, but also with video. Leaks suggest that zoom videos will be exceptionally smooth, and stabilization should be on par with standalone cameras. Object tracking and automatic focusing are also expected to improve, which will be especially appreciated by those who love filming kids, pets, or dynamic city scenes. The noticeable improvement in backlight quality is again attributed to the Lofic sensor.
If all this information is confirmed, Xiaomi 17 Ultra won’t be just another “paper-strong” camera phone. It looks more like a device aimed at people who want to get as close as possible to a real camera experience from their phone—without compromising in demanding lighting conditions. The coming days will be extremely important, and we’ll be watching closely for when Xiaomi finally reveals more details. But one thing is already clear—Xiaomi 17 Ultra is aiming very high.
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