XIAOMI 17 ULTRA WITH MECHANICAL ZOOM

– We miniaturised a professional zoom mechanism and brought it into a smartphone, says senior product marketing manager TJ Walton at Xiaomi during the global launch in Barcelona on 28 February.

The trade magazine Elektronikkbransjen is invited here, with travel and accommodation paid for by Xiaomi.

– The biggest news in the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the telephoto camera: a 200-megapixel Leica APO lens with mechanical optical zoom from 75 to 100 mm. Here, the camera physically moves the lenses, as in an SLR lens, and uses the entire sensor without digital degradation, says Walton.

He shows recordings of night portraits, from 75 to 100 mm.

– These have detailed depth perception and high sharpness. The feature is also used in video, including 'Red Carpet Mode' for cinematic 4K clips, says Walton.

55 billion euros in 2025

We will soon return to Xiaomi's flagship mobile, but first a few words from William Lu, who is the CEO of the Chinese company.

– 2025 was a record year for us, with over one billion connected devices globally and more than 55 billion euros in revenue, says Lu, noting that Xiaomi has been the world's third-largest mobile brand for over five years, that last year they were the world's largest brand with smartwatches and bands, and that in the fourth quarter of 2025 they were the world's fifth-largest brand in tablets.

According to Lu, Xiaomi is the only player with a comprehensive ecosystem for 'Human, Car and Home'.

– We are investing over 24 billion euros in the next five years to elevate our products and technology to new heights, says Lu from the stage.

Xiaomi's global launch event is held in Barcelona just ahead of the MWC mobile fair at the same location, and includes mobiles, tablets, smartwatches, earbuds, electric scooters, and an electric car.

Xiaomi 17

Senior product marketing manager Terrence Xiao introduces Xiaomi 17 as a compact flagship model, focusing on design, image processing, and performance.

– The phone has ultra-thin symmetrical frames and a new geometric shape developed with super-laser measurement of curves. Xiaomi 17 is not only our best-looking but also our best-feeling compact model ever, says Xiao.

The camera setup consists of three 50-megapixel cameras; telephoto, main, and ultra-wide, all developed in collaboration with Leica. Summilux optics and the Leica Fusion 950 sensor are designed to provide high detail reproduction and optical signature, and the front camera is also upgraded to 50 megapixels with autofocus. The mobile is powered by a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor.

6,330 mAh

Xiaomi 17 gets a new Surge battery with increased silicon content, and Xiao emphasises that they have managed to fit 6,330 mAh in a 6.3-inch mobile.

– After 24 hours of regular use, Xiaomi 17 still has 40 percent remaining capacity, says Xiao.

The phone supports 100-watt wired charging, 50-watt wireless charging, and now also PPS for third-party chargers.

The screen has a peak brightness of 3,500 nits at 25 percent APL, and uses a new M10 OLED panel with upgraded red sub-pixel material for lower power consumption.

Xiaomi 17 costs from 14,200 Norwegian kroner.

Master of night

Back to the 17 Ultra, which is presented under the headline “Master of night”.

According to TJ Walton, the model represents “the pinnacle of mobile imaging technology”. It has a new, flat design around the entire device, a slightly smaller camera module, a thinner body, and comes in three colours: black, white, and a green shade said to be inspired by the starry sky (starlit green).

– 17 Ultra is our thinnest and lightest Ultra model ever, says Walton.

Under the shell sits the Snapdragon 802 Gen 5 and a 6,000 mAh battery. A new bionic vapour chamber solution is said to provide 50 percent better cooling. On the display side, a Hyper RGB panel is introduced, where each pixel gets full RGB sub-pixels, which is said to provide clearer images and lower power consumption.

Lofic sensor

The main camera is based on a new Leica 1-inch Lofic main camera sensor, Light Fusion 1050L, which uses capacitor technology with six times increased light capacity per pixel for dramatically better dynamic range.

– Lofic will be the next step in mobile photography, says Walton.

He shows images with contrast situations such as fire, neon signs, and dark backgrounds, which traditionally exceed the cameras' dynamic range, and is also not afraid to show direct comparisons with a competitor. The sensor is also expected to provide significant improvements in video, with 4K 120 fps in 10-bit log and Dolby Vision.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra is launched at 19,700 Norwegian kroner.

Own Leica mobile

Leica CEO Matthias Harsch himself takes the stage to present the Leica Leitzphone "powered by Xiaomi". He describes this more as a photography tool than a phone, and says it is built on Leica's philosophy of essential reproduction.

– We did not ask what a smartphone should be, but what a Leica phone must be for a photographer, says Harsch.

He says the model has a classic Leica design, intuitive controls, and a new "Essential Mode" interface, which allows the user to choose among aesthetic expressions inspired by Leica's lens history.

– Technology should support creativity, not the other way around, says Harsch.

Xiaomi Watch 5

Jennifer Zheng presents the smartwatch Xiaomi Watch 5, and says it has both a larger battery and smarter management.

– It has Wear OS and Google's Gemini integration, which provides access to assistant functions, better app connectivity and voice-controlled actions, says Zheng.

She points out that the watch has sapphire glass on both sides, stainless steel and high durability. A new EMG-based gesture system allows the user to control functions with hand movements.

– Move the muscles, and the watch interprets it directly from the skin, says Zheng.

Practical examples include ending calls, stopping alarms or taking a picture with a double-tap in the air. Watch 5 has a 930 mAh battery and up to six days of usage time. The starting price is 4,300 Norwegian kroner.