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Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leaks on December 5, 2025: 200MP Telephoto, 1‑Inch Sensor and Leica Optics as 17 Pro Max First Impressions Land

December 5, 2025
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Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leaks on December 5, 2025: 200MP Telephoto, 1‑Inch Sensor and Leica Optics as 17 Pro Max First Impressions Land

Xiaomi’s late‑year flagship story just got a lot more interesting.

Fresh spy photos and reports published today give us the clearest picture yet of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra: a camera‑centric monster with a 1‑inch main sensor, 200MP periscope telephoto, new Leica optics and a huge battery, built on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform. [1]

At the same time, real‑world impressions of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max are rolling in from reviewers and early adopters, showing what Xiaomi’s latest hardware and software can already do — and hinting at how far the Ultra could push things. [2]

Below is a full roundup of everything we know today, December 5, 2025, from the latest spy shots to in‑depth reviews.

What’s new today (December 5, 2025)?

Two key reports dropped on December 5 that move the Xiaomi 17 Ultra story forward:

  1. “Xiaomi 17 Ultra Allegedly Spotted in the Wild” – Lowyat.NET
    • New real‑world photos show the phone hidden inside a bulky protective case.
    • Three distinct rear camera lenses are visible, strongly backing rumours that Xiaomi is moving from a quad‑camera to a triple‑camera setup on the Ultra.
    • The leak mentions a 50MP main camera, 50MP ultrawide and a 200MP Samsung ISOCELL S5KHPE telephoto, plus a 50MP selfie camera. [3]
  2. “Xiaomi 17 Ultra Design Tipped Through Spy Photos” – Gizbot
    • Confirms a triple rear camera layout behind a more compact but tightly packed module.
    • Reiterates expectations of a 50MP 1‑inch OmniVision OV50X main sensor, 200MP periscope telephoto and 50MP ultrawide, powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a 6,000–7,000mAh battery. [4]

These stories build directly on leaks from Gizmochina, Gizchina, NotebookCheck, Techlusive, Huawei Central, WebProNews, Gadgets360 and others over the past week, giving us a remarkably consistent picture of Xiaomi’s next Ultra.

Triple‑camera Xiaomi 17 Ultra: from quad to quality‑first

Earlier Ultras (like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra) used a quad‑camera setup with dual telephoto lenses. This year, multiple leaks agree that Xiaomi is cutting the lens count to three, but pushing much harder on individual sensor size and resolution. [5]

Across today’s and recent reports, the current consensus for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra rear cameras is:

  • 50MP main camera
    • 1‑inch‑class sensor (variously tipped as OmniVision OVX10500U / OV50X)
    • Very large physical area for better low‑light and dynamic range
  • 200MP periscope telephoto camera
    • Samsung ISOCELL S5KHPE sensor
    • Designed for long‑range zoom with high detail retention
  • 50MP ultrawide camera
    • Likely OmniVision OV50M or Samsung JN5, depending on the leak

Sources from Techlusive, Gizmochina, NotebookCheck and WebProNews all describe some version of this 50 + 200 + 50MP triple‑camera stack, even if they differ on exact sensor codes. [6]

Some NotebookCheck reporting also hints that the periscope module may be a “true optical zoom” with variable focal length, rather than a fixed‑step telephoto — though that part remains unconfirmed and should still be treated as rumour. [7]

Rectangular vs circular camera island: design is still in flux

One of the most interesting debates today is what the back of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will actually look like.

  • Gizchina’s December 4 leak shows a phone with a large, centered rectangular camera block with four cutouts, three of which appear to be lenses. It’s a radical departure from the circular Leica‑branded ring on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and the article suggests Xiaomi is prioritising thermal headroom and sensor packing over classic aesthetics. [8]
  • Gadgets360’s design leak, based on a Weibo photo from tipster Smart Pikachu, also describes a rectangular deco with multiple lenses and dual LED flash, in the centre of the back panel. [9]
  • Lowyat’s story today, however, points out that the protective case in the spy shots could also accommodate a square or rectangular frame that still fronts a circular Leica island underneath, and notes that earlier “Photography Kit” renders showed a circular module. [10]

Put simply:

  • Triple lenses are now almost certainly happening.
  • Whether they sit in a fully rectangular “camera slab” or a circular Leica‑style ring is still not 100% settled from the leaks.

Leica coating: Xiaomi’s answer to Huawei’s multispectral camera

Beyond raw megapixels, Xiaomi is clearly targeting color science and optical quality.

A detailed report from Huawei Central describes how the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will use a new generation of Leica lens coating. Instead of copying Huawei’s dedicated multispectral camera module (as seen on the Mate 80 series), Xiaomi is supposedly using advanced Leica coatings to achieve similarly rich, accurate colour and lower lens flare. [11]

According to that piece and follow‑up coverage from Techlusive: [12]

  • Leica’s coating aims to
    • Reduce reflections and chromatic aberration (colour fringing)
    • Improve contrast and micro‑detail
    • Deliver more consistent colour between lenses
  • Xiaomi previously used Leica coatings on the 12S Ultra line; the 17 Ultra is expected to ship with a more advanced, custom variant, explicitly positioned as an alternative to Huawei’s multispectral sensor strategy.

If the leaks are accurate, this means Xiaomi is trying to win the camera war not just with sensor size and megapixel counts, but also with more refined optics that clean up real‑world artefacts.

LOFIC sensor tech and 200MP periscope: chasing dynamic range

Another important piece of the puzzle comes from Gadgets360, which reports that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will introduce LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) camera technology. [13]

In plain English, LOFIC is designed to:

  • Prevent bright areas from blowing out (clipping highlights)
  • Capture more detail in both shadows and highlights
  • Reduce glare and ghosting in tricky lighting

Combined with:

  • A large main sensor with f/1.6 aperture,
  • And a 200MP periscope telephoto lens using Xiaomi’s own full‑lens optical system,

the 17 Ultra is being pitched (in leaks) as one of the most dynamic‑range‑capable camera phones we’ve seen, at least on paper.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a 6,000–7,000mAh battery

Across WebProNews, Techlusive, Gizmochina and Gizbot, one hardware theme is rock solid: this is another Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 + big‑battery flagship. [14]

From these reports, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is expected to offer:

  • SoC: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm)
  • RAM/Storage: top‑tier LPDDR5X + UFS 4.0 (exact configs TBD, but likely similar to 17 Pro Max)
  • Battery: between 6,000mAh and 7,000mAh
  • Charging: at least 100W wired, based on 3C certification leaks; likely fast wireless as well [15]
  • Software: HyperOS 3 based on Android 16, with Leica‑branded camera modes and AI photo tools [16]

For creators and heavy users, the big takeaway is simple: this should be an all‑day (and then some) camera phone, especially if the 7,000mAh rumours pan out.

Photography Kit 2.0: turning the Ultra into a pseudo‑camera

One of the most interesting angles that traces back to the GSMArena coverage (now echoed by NotebookCheck, 91mobiles, Croma and Reddit threads) is the updated Xiaomi Photography Kit designed for the 17 Ultra. [17]

What leaks say so far:

  • The Photography Kit wraps around the phone, adding:
    • A grip for better handling
    • A physical shutter button
    • Additional controls and possibly tripod mounting points
  • Certification documents uncovered by NotebookCheck suggest the new kit includes a built‑in battery capable of 15W charging, effectively letting the accessory double as a small power bank for the 17 Ultra. [18]
  • Concept images from multiple outlets show the kit in at least two colours (e.g. beige and black) and confirm that only three camera lenses sit behind the four visible cutouts, matching the triple‑camera narrative. [19]

If Xiaomi executes this well, the 17 Ultra could feel less like a phone with a good camera and more like a compact system camera that happens to run Android.

Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: real‑world impressions set expectations for the Ultra

While the Ultra is still unannounced, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is already on sale in China, and its reviews are giving us a very real benchmark for what Xiaomi’s new platform can do.

Key points from NotebookCheck, The Verge, Gadgets360 and long‑form reviews: [20]

Hardware and battery

  • Display: 6.9‑inch 2K‑class LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz
  • Rear display: 2.9‑inch secondary AMOLED on the back, wrapping around the camera plateau
  • Chipset: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
  • Battery:7,500mAh with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging
  • Cameras: triple 50MP rear stack (wide, ultrawide, 5x telephoto), 50MP selfie

NotebookCheck’s lab review describes the 17 Pro Max as a “fantastic, lightning‑fast smartphone” with excellent battery life, Wi‑Fi 7 support, and premium build quality, noting that its rounded metal frame and huge battery still manage to undercut Apple and Samsung flagships on price. [21]

Design and user experience

  • The Verge highlights the rear display as the signature flourish, used for:
    • Selfie previews with the main cameras
    • Music and widget control
    • Novel accessories like a Game Boy‑style case that turns the rear screen into a mini console. [22]
  • Beebom’s first impressions call it “one of the most premium‑looking phones Xiaomi has ever made”, unapologetically inspired by the iPhone but thinner, lighter and more battery‑dense than Apple’s equivalent. [23]
  • A popular Vocal Media first‑impressions piece (paywalled but visible in previews) says the phone “feels like a flagship the moment you hold it” and argues that the rear display is more useful than gimmicky, especially for photography. [24]

Why this matters for the Ultra

Gadgets360 explicitly notes that the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is likely to share several core specs with the 17 Pro Max, including that 6.9‑inch 2K 120Hz OLED, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and 7,500mAh‑class battery, but with an upgraded camera stack and LOFIC tech on top. [25]

In other words: if the 17 Pro Max already delivers top‑tier performance and endurance, the Ultra’s main job is to push camera hardware and optics beyond what even the Pro Max offers.

Rumoured Xiaomi 17 Ultra specs at a glance (as of December 5, 2025)

Based on today’s December 5 leaks plus recent coverage, here’s the most believable Xiaomi 17 Ultra spec picture so far. All of this is still unofficial and subject to change at launch:

  • Display
    • 6.9‑inch 2K OLED, 120Hz refresh rate
    • Flat panel with ultrasonic in‑display fingerprint scanner [26]
  • Chipset
    • Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 (3nm)
  • RAM & Storage
    • Likely up to 16GB LPDDR5X and 1TB UFS 4.0, mirroring 17 Pro Max configs [27]
  • Rear cameras (rumoured)
    • 50MP 1‑inch‑class main sensor (OVX10500U / OV50X)
    • 200MP periscope telephoto (S5KHPE)
    • 50MP ultrawide (OV50M or JN5)
    • Leica optics with new‑gen anti‑glare coating and LOFIC technology [28]
  • Front camera
    • 50MP OmniVision OV50M selfie sensor [29]
  • Battery and charging
    • 6,000–7,000mAh battery
    • 100W wired fast charging (3C listing)
    • High‑wattage wireless charging very likely [30]
  • Other features
    • HyperOS 3 (Android 16)
    • Satellite communication support on at least one variant
    • Updated Photography Kit that doubles as a 15W power bank [31]

Expected launch date and availability

Most sources now converge on a December 2025 China launch for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, with global availability in early 2026:

  • Techlusive and AndroidHeadlines both suggest an early or mid‑December launch in China, alongside the new Photography Kit. [32]
  • NotebookCheck’s spyshot analysis notes that an IMEI entry for the global model has already been spotted and tentatively points to a March 2026 global launch window, likely around or shortly after MWC. [33]
  • Gizmochina and Gizbot both frame this week’s spy photos as a pre‑launch leak cycle, reinforcing the idea that an official announcement is just weeks away. [34]

Until Xiaomi confirms anything, these remain educated guesses — but the volume and consistency of leaks make a December China launch feel highly plausible.

What this means for 2026’s camera flagship race

If even most of these rumours come true, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will enter 2026 with:

  • A 1‑inch‑class LOFIC main sensor
  • A 200MP periscope telephoto designed for long‑range clarity
  • Advanced Leica optics and coatings taking aim at Huawei’s multispectral approach
  • Monster battery life comparable to or better than the already‑impressive 17 Pro Max
  • A Photography Kit ecosystem that blurs the line between phone and dedicated camera

That positions it squarely against:

  • Apple iPhone 17 Pro Max, which still leans on software efficiency and tight integration
  • Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, expected to double down on AI imaging
  • Huawei Mate 80 Ultra, currently leading the pack in multispectral and low‑light tricks

For now, Xiaomi fans and camera enthusiasts will be watching December closely. The 17 Pro Max has already proven that Xiaomi’s latest hardware platform is fast, efficient and surprisingly polished; the only open question is whether the 17 Ultra can translate all these leaks into a real‑world camera upgrade big enough to grab the crown.

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References

1. www.gizbot.com, 2. www.notebookcheck.net, 3. www.lowyat.net, 4. www.gizbot.com, 5. www.notebookcheck.net, 6. www.techlusive.in, 7. www.notebookcheck.net, 8. www.gizchina.com, 9. www.gadgets360.com, 10. www.lowyat.net, 11. www.huaweicentral.com, 12. www.techlusive.in, 13. www.gadgets360.com, 14. www.webpronews.com, 15. www.gadgets360.com, 16. www.techlusive.in, 17. www.notebookcheck.net, 18. www.notebookcheck.net, 19. www.gizmochina.com, 20. www.notebookcheck.net, 21. www.notebookcheck.net, 22. www.theverge.com, 23. gadgets.beebom.com, 24. vocal.media, 25. www.gadgets360.com, 26. www.gadgets360.com, 27. www.notebookcheck.net, 28. www.techlusive.in, 29. www.techlusive.in, 30. www.gadgets360.com, 31. www.notebookcheck.net, 32. www.techlusive.in, 33. www.notebookcheck.net, 34. www.gizmochina.com

Mateusz Brzeziński

Technology News

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