Leaked camera watermarks allegedly belonging to Xiaomi’s highly anticipated new flagship, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, have caused a stir in the tech world. These data, obtained from internal testing software, point to radical changes in both the device’s naming and camera hardware.

A Name Surprise in the Global Market: Is a “Leitzphone” Coming?

One of the most striking details in the leaks is the naming strategy. In the Chinese market, the device is expected to be sold as “Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica.” However, the real surprise may be reserved for the global market. The leaked watermarks show “Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi” for international models.

This suggests Xiaomi may be using a different identity in the global market, emphasizing Leica’s rich heritage. Model numbers also support this distinction; Chinese and global variants are listed with different codes (2512BPNDAG, 25128PNA1G, etc.).

Unlike previous leaks, new data suggests Xiaomi may be switching to a triple camera system. Here are the details of the leaked camera setup:

• Main Camera: A massive 50 MP, 1-inch OmniVision OVX10500U (OV50X) Light Hunter 1050U sensor.
• Ultra Wide Angle: A 50 MP Samsung S5KJN5 sensor.
• Telephoto: A massive 200 MP telephoto lens based on the Samsung S5KHPE.

It’s worth remembering that the previous model, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, had two different telephoto lenses (50 MP + 200 MP). Whether Xiaomi will compensate for the lack of a 70 mm telephoto lens in this new model with the high lossless digital zoom capabilities of the massive 200 MP sensor or with a different technology remains to be seen.

A significant improvement is also noticeable on the front. The selfie camera is planned to be upgraded from 32 MP to 50 MP. At the heart of the device is expected to be Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. This powerful chip will provide the phone with much greater flexibility, especially in AI-assisted image processing.

While the leaks are exciting, it’s important to remember that hardware choices could change before the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is officially announced. However, for now, all signs indicate that Xiaomi will once again raise the bar in mobile photography.