Xiaomi’s latest flagship smartphone, teh Xiaomi 17 Ultra leica Edition, has arrived, instantly sparking interest among mobile photography enthusiasts adn tech reviewers. The device, which debuted in China this week, represents the latest collaboration between Xiaomi and the renowned German camera maker Leica, and features a newly visible Leica red dot logo [[2]]. Early hands-on reviews are already assessing whether the phone-despite lacking a dedicated shutter button-can compete with other top-tier camera phones currently on the market, like the Vivo X300 Pro [[1]].
Xiaomi’s latest flagship, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition, has officially launched in China and is already generating buzz with the first global hands-on reviews.
Just hours after its Chinese market debut, the device received an early assessment from YouTube channel Ben’s Gadget Reviews, offering a first look at its design, camera capabilities, and potential for international availability.
According to Gizmochina, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica notably omits a physical shutter button on the device’s body. This design choice is particularly striking given the phone’s strong emphasis on photography.
Despite the absence of the dedicated shutter button, the phone is being praised for its premium build quality. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition features a textured frame designed for a secure and comfortable grip, and incorporates an integrated haptic zoom ring directly on the camera module.
This premium handset also marks the first Xiaomi phone to prominently display Leica’s iconic red dot logo on its exterior. The inclusion isn’t merely aesthetic; it signifies the close collaborative relationship between Xiaomi and the renowned camera manufacturer.
Ben’s Gadget Review’s hands-on video included a camera comparison between the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition and the Vivo X300 Pro, focusing on telephoto and zoom performance.
Overall, the two cameras demonstrated relatively comparable performance. In one test, the Vivo X300 Pro captured slightly sharper detail, while the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition produced more natural-looking yellow tones.
In portrait mode, the Vivo exhibited more aggressive smoothing, whereas the Xiaomi delivered a softer, yet still realistic, result. When recording video, the Xiaomi showcased smooth transitions between optical and digital zoom up to 15x, though visual distortions became apparent beyond that range.
Nighttime recording tests conducted in Hong Kong yielded promising results, though moving subjects appeared somewhat less sharp in low-light conditions.
Even with these initial tests, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition’s camera performance appears competitive in the flagship segment, particularly with extended real-world usage.
The ongoing refinement of smartphone camera technology, as demonstrated by Xiaomi and Vivo, continues to push the boundaries of mobile photography and videography.
