Xiaomi 17 Ultra launched with Snapdragon 8 Gen 5, 200MP periscope camera and manual camera ring: All the detail

Xiaomi's latest flagship is bringing back a feature smartphone photographers have been missing: a physical zoom ring. The 17 Ultra, launched in China alongside a 'co-created' Leica Edition, that packs in an 1-inch sensor and a 200MP periscope lens, turns the ring around its humongous camera island into a manual control ring.The 17 Ultra packs a triple Leica-branded rear camera setup headlined by a 50MP main shooter with a 1-inch Light Fusion 1050L sensor. It's joined by a 200MP periscope telephoto camera offering continuous optical zoom between 75mm and 100mm, and a 50MP ultrawide lens with autofocus capabilities. The entire system is designed to handle everything from landscape photography to detailed telephoto shots.At the front, there's a 6.9-inch flat LTPO AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate and an eye-searing 3,500-nit peak brightness. Under the hood, Xiaomi's equipped the 17 Ultra with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with up to 16GB RAM and 1TB storage. The phone runs HyperOS 3.0. The 17 Ultra packs in a 6800mAH silicon-carbon cell supporting 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. Despite the largest battery in an Ultra model, this one’s the thinnest ever at 8.29mm thick. The phone comes with IP66/IP68/IP69 water and dust resistance ratings.The 17 Ultra by Leica Edition takes things further with a physical zoom ring featuring 20 precision ball bearings that can detect movements as small as 0.03mm. The ring automatically activates the camera when rotated and can be customised for exposure compensation or manual focus adjustments.This special edition sports a dual-tone design inspired by Leica's M-series cameras, complete with textured leather, the iconic red dot badge, and exclusive film simulations mimicking classic Leica cameras.Pricing for Xiaomi 17 Ultra starts at CNY 6,999 (around Rs 89,455) for the standard 17 Ultra, while the Leica Edition begins at CNY 7,999 (around 1,02,235). Both models go on sale in China December 27.