Xiaomi 17 Ultra appears closer to India launch

Xiaomi’s next flagship smartphone could soon enter the Indian market. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra, along with the standard Xiaomi 17, has reportedly cleared BIS certification. This step usually signals that a commercial launch is not far away. While Xiaomi has confirmed global availability for the 17 Ultra in 2026, the BIS listing suggests India is among the priority markets.

The development follows the recent China launch of the Xiaomi 17 series. Xiaomi introduced four models in total. However, early reports indicate that India may only receive the Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra. The Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max, which feature a secondary rear display, are expected to remain China-exclusive.

Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 anchors the flagship lineup

Xiaomi has positioned the Xiaomi 17 series firmly in the ultra-premium category. All models run on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. This places the Xiaomi 17 Ultra directly against upcoming flagship phones launching in 2026.

In China, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. It also uses Dragon Crystal Glass 3 for protection. Meanwhile, the standard Xiaomi 17 offers a smaller 6.3-inch OLED screen while retaining the same flagship processor.

Leica cameras remain the main highlight

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra continues Xiaomi’s partnership with Leica. It features a triple-camera setup with a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 200MP telephoto lens. This setup targets landscape, portrait, and street photography users.

Xiaomi has also introduced redesigned photography kits for the Ultra model. These kits support magnetic attachment and improve handling for extended camera use.

The Xiaomi 17 also carries Leica branding. It includes a 50MP primary sensor, a 50MP ultra-wide camera, and a 50MP telephoto lens with a 60mm floating design.

Battery sizes and expected India pricing

Battery capacity is another key focus this year. The Ultra variant packs a 6,800mAh battery with 90W wired and 50W wireless charging. Surprisingly, the smaller Xiaomi 17 includes an even larger 7,000mAh battery.

In China, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra starts at CNY 6,999, while the Xiaomi 17 starts at CNY 4,499. For India, prices are expected to match or slightly exceed the Xiaomi 15 series. The Xiaomi 15 launched at Rs 64,999, while the Xiaomi 15 Ultra was priced at Rs 109,999.

What this means for Indian buyers

If the reports hold true, Xiaomi is continuing its premium-focused strategy in India. The phone appears positioned as a camera-first flagship for 2026. Competition is expected from upcoming Vivo and OPPO flagship launches, making the premium segment more crowded next year.