Fresh hands-on images of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition have surfaced online, revealing a major branding twist for its global debut: it will launch outside China as the Leica Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi. The leaks, shared by X/Twitter user @Frankforphones, come from a demo unit spotted in a Bangkok store and confirm long-standing rumors ahead of Xiaomi’s global event.
Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi
— Frank 🇨🇦📱 (@Frankforphones) February 23, 2026
Xiaomi 17 Ultra ultra Leica edition pic.twitter.com/87fq9XDsPI
Xiaomi is set to unveil the Xiaomi 17 series, Xiaomi Tag, and Xiaomi Pad 8 series at a Barcelona event on February 28, 2026, just before MWC 2026. While the Chinese version sticks to Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition branding, the global variant adopts the Leitzphone name—a nod to Leica’s past Leitz Phone 1, 2, and 3 models.
Key highlights from the leaks:
- Design tweaks: A large circular rear camera module with multiple sensors, LED flashes, and rotated Leica branding for portrait-mode readability. The frame shifts to silver (from black), ditching the dual-tone look for a sleek dark gray finish. “Leica Camera Germany” is engraved on the left frame, with volume and power buttons on the right.
- Camera details: Watermarks on sample shots read “Leitzphone,” and a mechanical zoom ring remains for DSLR-style control.
- Hardware specs (expected to match the Chinese model): Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, 6.9-inch AMOLED display, 6,800mAh battery with 90W wired/50W wireless charging, and up to 1TB UFS 4.1 storage.
The images also show Bluetooth file transfers labeling the device as “Leitzphone powered by Xiaomi,” solidifying the rebrand. For more visuals, check the full leak thread and NotebookCheck coverage.
This global strategy mirrors Leica’s premium imaging heritage while leveraging Xiaomi’s hardware prowess. Pricing and exact availability remain unconfirmed, but expect announcements at the Barcelona launch. Stay tuned for live updates.