Xiaomi 17 Ultra Could Be Xiaomi’s Most Complete Flagship Yet

In the battle of ultra-flagship smartphones, Xiaomi is preparing to launch its ultimate powerhouse, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. While the Chinese variant is already available, the global version is rumored to make its debut on February 28.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra aims to surpass last year’s Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which turned heads with its impressive camera system and top-tier performance powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite. That said, as we mentioned in our review, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra wasn’t a completely polished ultra-flagship package and still had a few finishing touches missing. So what actually changes with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra? Let’s dive in.

What is the Price of Xiaomi 17 Ultra in Nepal?

According to recent reports, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is expected to be priced at €1,499 for the 16GB/512GB variant and €1,699 for the top-end 16GB/1TB model.

Last year, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra was priced quite aggressively in Nepal at Rs. 1,49,999 for the 16GB/512GB variant. However, with the ongoing memory shortage and rising component costs, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra could see a noticeable price hike this time around. As a result, it is still too early to accurately predict the Xiaomi 17 Ultra price in Nepal.

Now that we’ve covered the pricing, the specifications of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra’s global variant are expected to be similar to the Chinese variant, though we might still see a few changes. So let’s dive into what the Xiaomi 17 Ultra brings on paper.

Xiaomi 17 Ultra Overview

Like many recent flagships, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has shifted to a flatter design language. Both the front and rear panels are now completely flat, including the frame, giving it a more modern look. Personally, I prefer this flatter design, but it will ultimately come down to individual preference.

One notable upgrade this year is the addition of an IP69 rating. The global variant is also expected to retain the same color options as the Chinese model: White, Black, Purple, and Green.

Up front, the display grows slightly larger to 6.9 inches and is now fully flat. It’s a 2K LTPO AMOLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate and up to 3500 nits of peak brightness. Protection is handled by Xiaomi’s latest Shield Glass 3.0.

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At the core, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. A fitting, ultra-powerful chipset for a phone that carries the “Ultra” branding. Furthermore, it will be paired with 12/16GB RAM and 512GB/1TB UFS 4.1 storage.

Xiaomi began its long-term partnership with Leica in 2022, which significantly improved the brand’s camera credibility. Recently, this collaboration has evolved into a deeper co-creation model, and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the first flagship to fully leverage this upgraded partnership.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra continues to use a 1.0-inch type main sensor, but this time it switches to a new 50MP Light Fusion 1050L, replacing the previous sensor from Sony.

Another major change is the move from a dual-telephoto setup to a single telephoto camera. On paper, this might sound like a downgrade, but in practice, it isn’t. This new telephoto lens offers continuous zoom coverage from 75mm to 100mm, effectively handling the roles of both previous lenses and everything in between.

Interestingly, this telephoto unit is based on a new version of Samsung’s 200MP 1/1.4-inch sensor, delivering 3.2x and 4.3x optical zoom. Meanwhile, the ultrawide camera remains unchanged at 50MP, whereas Xiaomi has finally upgraded the selfie camera to a 50MP unit using the OmniVision OV50M sensor.

One of the few differences between the Chinese and global variants of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra could be the battery capacity. While the Chinese model packs a massive 6800mAh battery, the global version is expected to settle for a smaller 6000mAh unit. That’s still respectable, but it does feel like a slight compromise for an “Ultra” flagship.

On the plus side, charging speeds remain unchanged. The phone supports 90W wired HyperCharge, 50W wireless HyperCharge, and up to 90W universal PD PPS charging.

In terms of OS, Xiaomi 17 Ultra will come with Xiaomi HyperOS 3 on top of Android 16. The HyperOS 3 features deep integration with Apple’s ecosystem, allowing for “AirDrop-like” file sharing and screen mirroring for iOS devices.

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Overall, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra feels like a more refined and confident flagship compared to its predecessor. The shift to a flatter design, the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and the deeper co-creation partnership with Leica clearly show Xiaomi is aiming for maturity rather than experimentation.

We have already seen reviews of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra Leica Edition, which has the same camera setup as the normal Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and it seems to have one of the best camera systems ever on a smartphone. The only real concern could be the potential battery reduction in the global variant, and of course, the expected price hike.

If Xiaomi manages to justify its premium pricing with consistent camera performance and a better OS experience, the 17 Ultra could easily stand among the best ultra-flagships of the year. That said, it will face tough competition from rivals like the vivo X300 Pro, which already made its debut in Nepal late last year.

What are your thoughts on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra? Let us know in the comments below!