Xiaomi Unveils 17 Ultra, AirTag Rival, and Ultra-Slim Power Bank
▼ Summary
– Xiaomi launched multiple products ahead of MWC, headlined by the camera-focused Xiaomi 17 Ultra smartphone co-developed with Leica.
– The Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a 200-megapixel telephoto camera with optical zoom and a large 6,000 mAh battery supporting fast wired and wireless charging.
– A special Leica edition phone celebrates the camera company’s 100th anniversary, featuring a durable body, unique software theme, and a physical-style rotating zoom ring.
– The company also released photography add-on kits for the Ultra model and announced EU/UK pricing, with the phones starting at €999 and the Ultra starting at €1,499.
– Additional launches include an electric scooter, an AirTag-like tracker, a slim magnetic power bank, the Xiaomi Watch 5 smartwatch, and Redmi Buds 8 Pro earbuds.
Ahead of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Xiaomi has introduced a comprehensive lineup of new products, headlined by a powerful camera-centric smartphone developed in collaboration with Leica. The launch also includes a competitive smart tag for tracking items, a new smartwatch, and an exceptionally thin power bank, marking a significant expansion of the brand’s ecosystem for European and UK markets.
The centerpiece of the announcement is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, a device born from the company’s partnership with the legendary camera maker Leica. This collaboration goes beyond branding, incorporating genuine Leica lenses and software filters that emulate the distinct photographic styles of iconic cameras like the M9 and M3. The phone’s camera system is formidable, featuring a 50-megapixel main sensor with a large one-inch size, complemented by a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens. However, the standout is a remarkable 200-megapixel telephoto camera with a variable optical zoom, allowing for lossless magnification between 3.2x and 4.3x equivalent focal lengths.
Powering the experience is Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with a sizable 6,000 mAh battery that supports 90W wired charging and 50W wireless Hypercharge technology. The display is a expansive 6.9-inch OLED panel protected by Xiaomi’s proprietary Shield Glass 3.0. To commemorate Leica’s centennial, a special edition model is available, featuring a durable aluminum-alloy body with a premium finish, 16GB of RAM, 1TB of storage, and a unique physical rotating ring that mimics the zoom control on a traditional camera.
Enhancing the photography experience further, Xiaomi unveiled two snap-on accessory kits. The Bluetooth-connected Photography Kit adds physical shutter and video buttons, while the higher-end Photography Kit Pro offers a leather finish, detachable controls, zoom functionality, and its own 2,000 mAh battery, enabling a new fast-shot mode. The standard Xiaomi 17 model was also detailed, boasting a massive 6,330 mAh battery with 100W HyperCharge capability.
Pricing for the new smartphones starts at €999 for the Xiaomi 17, rising to €1,499 for the 17 Ultra. The exclusive Leica Edition commands €1,999. The photography kits are priced at €99.99 and €199.99 respectively.
Beyond smartphones, the product drop was extensive. The new Xiaomi Tag provides a versatile tracking solution, compatible with both Apple’s Find My network and Google’s Find My Device platform. Weighing only 10 grams, it uses a long-life button cell battery and can be purchased singly for €14.9 or in a four-pack for €49.99.
For power on the go, the company introduced an ultra-slim power bank measuring just 6mm thick. This 98-gram device houses a 5,000 mAh battery, delivers 22.5W wired and 15W wireless charging, and includes magnets for secure attachment to compatible phones like recent iPhones. It is priced at €59.99 for black or silver, with an orange variant costing €64.99.
The new Xiaomi Watch 5 smartwatch features a round 1.54-inch AMOLED display and a 930mAh battery rated for up to six days of use. It includes gesture controls and can generate a detailed 60-second health report using metrics like heart rate, blood oxygen, stress, and sleep data. This watch will retail for €299.99.
Rounding out the launch are the Redmi Buds 8 Pro with active noise cancellation and a total battery life reaching 33 hours for €69.9, and the Electric Scooter 6 Ultra. The scooter offers a 1200W peak motor, a 75km range, 12-inch all-terrain tires, disc brakes, and a TFT display, with prices starting at €329.99 and going up to €799.99 for the top configuration.
(Source: TechCrunch)
