Xiaomi is dialing up the camera stakes again, and this time it’s all about the Leica 200 MP telephoto lens on the upcoming Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
Leica 200 MP telephoto gets spotlight treatment
While most flagships boast minor bumps in camera specs, Xiaomi’s taking a bigger swing. The new Leica 200 MP periscope camera isn’t just a bullet point it’s the headline. Although Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed if it’s using Samsung’s HPE sensor, it did spill some key details: the sensor size lands at 1/1.4 inches and supports focal lengths from 75 mm to 100 mm equivalents. That’s a range worth caring about.
To show what it can do, Xiaomi released a round of camera samples that walk through those focal length steps. In a clever move, they’ve thrown in shots from two mystery rival phones for comparison. No surprise the 17 Ultra appears to win out.
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Xiaomi 17 Ultra shows off its zoom muscle
The company didn’t stop at static zoom comparisons. One of their more flashy demos had the 17 Ultra strapped to a drone filming fireworks yes, really. But the real focus has now shifted to telephoto portrait performance, especially in low light.
Here’s what stood out from Xiaomi’s test batch:
- Clear detail retention at full zoom
- Solid subject separation in night portraits
- Consistent performance across focal lengths
- Noticeably less noise than competitors
- Smooth color gradients in complex lighting
Portraits at night? The Leica 200 MP telephoto handles it
Low-light portraits are notoriously tough, but the Leica 200 MP telephoto on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra seems ready. Several shared images focus on subjects taken in dim conditions. While the shots are polished, they still give a convincing peek into how the lens handles shadows, skin tones, and fine edges in less-than-ideal environments.
Still, it’s worth keeping a skeptical lens after all, these are Xiaomi’s own promos.
Leica 200 MP telephoto powers Red Carpet Camera mode
Beyond stills, Xiaomi is teasing something it calls “Red Carpet Camera mode.” Vague? Sure. But according to the company, it’s meant to turn everyday moments into showstopper shots. No hard specs yet, but the phrasing suggests some AI flair, probably designed to punch up lighting and drama in portraits.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is clearly not playing small ball this year. Whether it’s actual innovation or just flashy marketing, the Leica 200 MP telephoto is definitely stealing the early spotlight.
