Xiaomi 17 Ultra Camera Design Leaked

Xiaomi is set to shake up the flagship phone race with the upcoming Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and we just got our clearest look at its bold new design.

Leaked photos from Weibo reveal a major departure from the previous model, featuring a striking rectangular camera module.

This device camera module is rumored to pack a 1-inch 50MP main sensor and a massive 200MP telephoto lens, all powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip.

While a Philippine price and launch date aren’t set yet, a global release is expected soon after its China debut, which could happen as early as December 2025 or January 2026.

Moving from the iconic circular design of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra to this centered rectangle is a functional decision.

The shape likely allows for denser sensor packing and better thermal management for those high-powered camera components.

In short, they’re prioritizing hardware over traditional aesthetics.

The prototype shows a black finish with a metal frame, and while it still has visible screw mounts, the aggressive design language is clearly final.

Why the camera block needs to be that big

The rumored specs explain the need for all that space.

• Main Camera: A 50MP sensor in the 1-inch class.
• Ultrawide: A 50MP ultra-wide unit.
• Telephoto: An extremely aggressive 200MP dedicated telephoto lens.
• Front Camera: A 50MP shooter for high-quality selfies and vlogs.

A 200MP zoom lens is a huge bet on delivering unmatched detail at long range. Paired with the top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip to handle the computational photography.

What this means for the flagship race

With this design, Xiaomi is doing two things. First, it’s signaling a new, technical design language for its Ultra line.

Second, it’s clearly positioning the 17 Ultra as a dedicated camera tool, not just a more powerful Pro model.

The accelerated leak timeline suggests a launch is imminent, potentially putting it head-to-head with other major 2026 flagships from Samsung and others.

On paper, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra looks like it’s coming for the camera crown with pure hardware ambition.

The big question for us will be the Philippine price and availability.

If it lands with a competitive price tag, it could be a very compelling option for our local market.

What do you think—are you a fan of this new, rectangular design direction?