Xiaomi has announced the Leitzphone, a new collaboration with Leica featuring a 1-inch camera sensor and a physical control ring, alongside the global launch of its 17 Ultra smartphone. The devices emphasize advanced photography capabilities and flagship specifications. The event took place at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
At Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2026 in Barcelona, Xiaomi deepened its partnership with Leica by introducing the Leitzphone, a special edition of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra tailored for photography enthusiasts. Leica CEO Matthias Harsch presented the device, which revives the Leitzphone name previously used by Sharp in Japan starting in 2021. The phone features a single-tone body design with Leica branding, including a red dot logo and matte black finish.
The Leitzphone shares core specifications with the standard 17 Ultra, including a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 16 GB of LPDDR5X RAM, up to 1 TB of UFS 4.1 storage, and a 6.9-inch flat OLED display with 1-120 Hz refresh rate and peak brightness of 3,500 nits. It also includes a 6,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery supporting 90 W wired charging and 50 W wireless charging, plus IP68 dust and water resistance.
Photography is the highlight, with a 1-inch 50-megapixel main sensor using Light Fusion 1050L technology and LOFIC HDR for improved dynamic range. The setup includes a 200-megapixel telephoto lens offering continuous 3.2x to 4.3x optical zoom (75-100 mm) via moving lens elements, an APO lens design to reduce chromatic aberration, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide. A physical ring around the camera module allows control of zoom, exposure, and shutter speed. The Leica-designed interface offers an Essential mode, monochrome shooting, and filters like Leica Chrome and a Monopan 50 simulation. Video capabilities include 8 K at 30 fps and 4 K Dolby Vision up to 120 fps.
Reviews praise the camera's detail, color accuracy, and low-light performance, with images comparable to Leica's professional cameras in tones and contrast. An optional Photography Kit Pro adds a grip with shutter button and extra battery. The standard 17 Ultra starts at £1,299 (about $1,750) in the UK and 1,499 euros in Europe, while the Leitzphone is priced at £1,799 (1,999 euros, roughly $2,362). Both are available globally in Europe but not officially in the US.
Xiaomi skipped the 16 series to align numbering with competitors like Apple. The devices launched months after their Asia debut, focusing on refinement over radical changes.
