The long-awaited Xiaomi 17 Ultra is around the corner, and a testing unit might've been spotted out in the field – heavily disguised, of course.
As you've probably heard, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is the next exotic camera flagship.
If you're curious about mobile photography, and you wish to explore beyond the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro, I'm sure it's on your radar. The upcoming Oppo Find X9 Ultra and Vivo X300 Ultra are on that list too, but the Xiaomi 17 Ultra might be the one to materialize first, with a possible premiere in December.
That's a solid disguise. Almost.
On Weibo (China's super popular social media), there's a tipster who shared two images of a person holding a phone with a pretty strange case. This is the up-close shot:
Image credit – Todo Plus, Weibo
That bulky camouflage case does its purpose and not much can be said about the device underneath.
More importantly, there are just three snappers on the device's rear: a main camera, an ultra-wide and a telephoto one, allegedly. This corroborates earlier rumors about the Xiaomi 17 Ultra dropping the secondary dedicated zoom.
The single telephoto camera is expected to have a bonkers 200 MP sensor that could offset the loss of the secondary zoom. The main and ultra-wide lenses are also expected to use high-end Omnivision or Samsung sensors:
The device is expected to run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Early reports suggest the battery capacity could range from 6,000 mAh to 7,000 mAh, which is droolworthy.
How many dedicated cameras should a flagship have?
Two dedicated zoom snappers are a must.
16.67%
Main, ultra-wide, telephoto: one of each is enough.
33.33%
I dream of a phone with more than four dedicated cameras.
50%
Three rear cameras: how Ultra is that?
I know that three rear cameras might sound underwhelming for a device carrying the Ultra name – it frankly feels like a strange compromise for an exotic flagship.
However, Xiaomi is clearly putting all its eggs in the sensor basket: if the rumors hold true for a large 200 MP telephoto and two premium 50 MP shooters, the system could still be fantastic.
Personally, I try to avoid digital zoom and it's sad to see the secondary telephoto gone, but I'm eager to see what the 17 Ultra can do in real life.
Sebastian, a veteran of a tech writer with over 15 years of experience in media and marketing, blends his lifelong fascination with writing and technology to provide valuable insights into the realm of mobile devices. Embracing the evolution from PCs to smartphones, he harbors a special appreciation for the Google Pixel line due to their superior camera capabilities. Known for his engaging storytelling style, sprinkled with rich literary and film references, Sebastian critically explores the impact of technology on society, while also perpetually seeking out the next great tech deal, making him a distinct and relatable voice in the tech world.
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