The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is all set to be unveiled on Dec. 25 in China. Ahead of the launch, the brand has been busy confirming key details about the upcoming flagship. Today, Xiaomi shared official information about its 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera, which is positioned to deliver a standout optical zoom experience and redefine smartphone telephoto photography.
Leica 200MP continuous optical zoom explained
At the centre of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s camera system is a Leica-engineered 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens that supports a continuous focal range from 75mm to 100mm. Unlike conventional smartphone telephoto cameras that rely on digital cropping between fixed focal lengths, this solution delivers full 200-megapixel optical output throughout the zoom range.
Xiaomi says this is the first smartphone lens to achieve this while also securing Leica APO optical certification, which focuses on advanced colour correction and reduced chromatic aberration. The lens uses a complex 3G plus 5P dual floating lens structure, allowing internal lens groups to move with precision to achieve true optical zoom in a compact form factor.
According to Xiaomi executives, this design follows the same optical principles seen in professional camera zoom lenses rather than standard periscope implementations, helping preserve detail and colour accuracy across commonly used telephoto focal lengths.
Xiaomi 17 Ultra camera samples
Xiaomi has shared camera samples comparing the Xiaomi 17 Ultra with rival smartphones at focal lengths such as 75mm, 85mm, 90mm, and 100mm. The samples suggest improved sharpness, richer fine detail, and more natural color reproduction, with reduced reliance on aggressive image processing. This approach also benefits portrait photography by delivering consistent background compression without digital interpolation.
Alongside the telephoto camera, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will feature a new Leica one-inch primary sensor known as the OmniVision Light Fusion 1050L. It introduces LOFIC ultra-high dynamic range technology to better handle highlights and shadows in high-contrast scenes. Xiaomi has also confirmed that this will be its slimmest Ultra phone yet at 8.29mm. Pricing is expected to rise due to higher component costs, though the company maintains that the overall experience will justify it.
For more daily updates, please visit our News Section.
Stay ahead in tech! Join our Telegram community and sign up for our daily newsletter of top stories.
Comments