The starting price of Xiaomi 17 Ultra is 6,999 yuan, an increase of 500 yuan compared to the previous generation model

Xiaomi officially launched its annual imaging flagship, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, on the evening of December 25, with a starting price set at 6,999 yuan.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is equipped with a brand new one-inch main camera and Leica technology, and introduces LOFIC ultra-high dynamic technology, specifically optimized for high-contrast scenes such as fireworks. Xiaomi Group partner and president Lu Weibing stated that this product is "the thinnest Ultra to date," attempting to address the common issue of bulkiness in flagship imaging phones, and claims it to be the "strongest fireworks tool" during this year's Spring Festival.

This release continues the strong market performance of the Xiaomi 17 series. The Xiaomi 17 series previously achieved the highest sales across all channels for domestic phones during the "Double 11" shopping festival, with sales exceeding 1 million units within 5 days, surpassing the previous generation Xiaomi 15 series. As of now, Xiaomi's global smartphone market share has reached 13.6%, firmly ranking in the top three, second only to Samsung and Apple.

The new device will officially go on sale at 10 AM on December 27. Notably, Xiaomi has canceled the 256GB version, starting directly with a large capacity of 512GB. This strategic adjustment, combined with its interconnectivity features that integrate with the iPhone ecosystem, shows that Xiaomi is actively attracting dual-device users and high-end customers while maintaining the stickiness of existing users. The model is now available for pre-sale and will officially go on sale at 10 AM on December 27. It is understood that the starting price of the new device has increased by 500 yuan compared to the previous generation Ultra model.

Imaging System and Hardware Specifications

The enhancement of imaging capabilities is the core selling point of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. The new device features a one-inch "Light and Shadow Master" main camera combined with LOFIC ultra-high dynamic technology, aimed at improving image quality tolerance from the hardware level. Lu Weibing pointed out that compared to the iPhone, this model can effectively suppress color overflow when shooting fireworks, maintaining pure and noise-free dark areas while achieving details in both highlights and shadows.

In addition, the device is equipped with a 200-megapixel continuous optical zoom lens, utilizing a complex 8-element lens structure to achieve true optical lossless zoom from 75mm to 100mm focal lengths, and has received Leica APO chromatic aberration correction certification.

In terms of core performance, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is powered by the fifth-generation Snapdragon 8 Supreme mobile platform and features a dual-path stereo annular cooling pump heat dissipation system to ensure temperature control under high-load scenarios. Despite the significant reduction in thickness, the device still houses a 6800mAh Jinsha River battery and supports 90W wired fast charging and 50W wireless fast charging, attempting to strike a balance between battery life and performance

Industrial Design and Body Stacking

Xiaomi has made significant improvements in body stacking technology this time. The thickness of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has been compressed to 8.29mm, reducing more than 1mm compared to the previous generation, marking the first time the Xiaomi Ultra series adopts a 2D flat screen design, paired with a four-curved wrap-around middle frame. Lu Weibing stated at the launch event that this move aims to address users' complaints about the "feel deviation" of imaging flagships, creating a device that is stress-free for daily use.

In terms of body details, the new device features a 6.9-inch screen covered with third-generation Dragon Crystal glass, significantly enhancing drop resistance, and supports IP68, IP66, and IP69 dust and water resistance standards, capable of handling high-temperature and high-pressure water spray scenarios. In terms of color options, in addition to the regular black, white, and cold smoke purple, the most eye-catching is the starry green version, which incorporates mineral particles in the back cover to present a unique layered effect. Additionally, the segmented volume buttons feature a circular element design, enhancing the overall refinement.

Cross-Ecological Interconnection and Market Positioning

To further expand its high-end user base, Xiaomi has made attempts in cross-ecological interconnection. The new device introduces the iPhone Smart Enjoy Desktop feature, allowing users to directly mirror and control their Xiaomi phone from an iPhone, enabling cross-device file dragging, food delivery, and photo shooting operations. This feature is seen as Xiaomi's strategic move to break down barriers with the Apple ecosystem and attract more "dual-device" users.

In terms of market positioning, the Xiaomi 17 series has already achieved initial success through differentiated configurations. The Xiaomi 17 series, with core highlights such as the "Smart Enjoy Back Screen" developed with over 1 billion yuan in R&D investment, has become the hottest digital flagship in Xiaomi's history. This series uses the same Dragon Crystal glass material for the back screen as the main screen, supporting LTPO adaptive refresh rates, providing rich emotional value. The release of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is expected to further elevate the average selling price (ASP) and brand premium capability of this series.