Xiaomi 17 Ultra Camera Leak: One Less Lens But A Bigger Focus On Quality

Beijing - The upcoming Xiaomi 17 Ultra, anticipated to debut in China before the end of December 2025, appears to be taking a bold new direction in mobile photography. Contrary to the industry trend of adding more lenses, credible leaks from sources like XiaomiTime and multiple spy shots indicate the device will feature only three rear cameras. This is a significant reduction from the quad-camera system, which included dual telephoto lenses, found on its predecessor, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. This move suggests Xiaomi is pivoting from quantity to an uncompromising focus on the quality and capability of each individual sensor.

The most notable change is the removal of the dedicated 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom featured in the previous model. Instead, Xiaomi is reportedly consolidating its telephoto prowess into a single, vastly more powerful sensor. The star of the new setup is expected to be a 200-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL S5KHPE periscope telephoto camera. This high-resolution sensor is engineered to provide superior zoom capabilities and greater detail capture, potentially making the separate 3x lens redundant.

The rest of the camera array is also poised for substantial upgrades. The main camera is tipped to use a 50MP OmniVision OVX10500U sensor, while the ultra-wide-angle shooter is expected to be another 50MP sensor, either the OmniVision OV50M or the Samsung S5KJN5. For selfies, a significant jump to a 50MP front-facing camera, likely using the OV50M sensor, is also reported, up from 32MP in the prior generation. The overarching strategy is clear: utilize fewer but larger and more technologically advanced sensors.

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Beyond the sensors, the optical hardware is also rumored for a generational leap. A key leak from tipster Smart Pikachu suggests the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will feature a new generation of Leica-branded lenses with a specialized coating. This coating is designed to tackle persistent optical issues at the hardware level, significantly reducing lens flare, ghosting, and chromatic aberration for clearer, higher-fidelity images directly from the sensor.

Powering this advanced imaging system will be Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, built on a 3nm process. This processor will provide the immense computational power required for processing 200MP images and advanced AI photography features. Other rumored flagship specifications include a large battery, a flat display with an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, and satellite connectivity features.

The design, partially obscured in spy shots, is expected to undergo a subtle evolution. While a protective case hints at a possible rectangular camera module to align with other Xiaomi 17 series phones, the brand is more likely to retain the distinctive circular camera island from the 15 Ultra. Furthermore, the popular external "Photography Kit" accessory with a physical shutter button and grip, first introduced for the 15 Ultra, is expected to continue its support for the new model.

This strategic shift reflects an evolving philosophy in high-end mobile photography. As computational photography matures, simply adding more lenses offers diminishing returns. Xiaomi's approach with the 17 Ultra seems to be about strengthening the fundamental optical chain—better lenses, larger sensors, and smarter processing—to achieve gains that more cameras cannot. It is a calculated bet that enthusiasts will value pure image quality over a broader but less specialized range of focal lengths.

Anticipation is building for the official unveiling, expected in China in late December 2025. A global launch, likely at events like MWC 2026, is projected to follow shortly after. If the leaks hold true, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will challenge the prevailing "more is more" trend in smartphone cameras, proposing that for the ultimate photo quality, sometimes less can indeed be more.

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200MP Telephoto Camera Specs Leica Optics Smartphone Leak Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 Triple Camera Xiaomi 17 Series Xiaomi 17 Ultra