Xiaomi's latest flagship, the 17 Ultra, arrives in a special Leica Edition variant. This model features an exclusive dual-tone design inspired by Leica M-series cameras, complete with a knurling pattern on the frame for improved grip. It also includes dedicated Leica Moment modes and dual-satellite communication capabilities.

The standard Ultra packs notable hardware upgrades, including the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset and a larger, brighter 6.9-inch flat OLED display. The camera system simplifies to a triple setup but retains the 1-inch main sensor and adds a 200MP telephoto with continuous optical zoom. A bigger 6,800mAh battery and a 50MP autofocus selfie camera round out the improvements.

This special edition targets photography enthusiasts who value Leica's design language and enhanced security features. It arrives as Xiaomi continues pushing its camera-focused 'Ultra' line against rivals like Samsung and Google. The review notes the Chinese variant is tested, with the international model pending. It remains to be seen if the Leica extras justify the premium for global buyers.