The global smartphone market is closing out 2025 with a controversial outlook, according to third-quarter data from Counterpoint Research Samsung retains the lead with a 19% stake, closely followed by Apple with 18%. Appears in third place Xiaomiwhich, with a consolidated share of 14%, is the best-selling Chinese brand worldwide. This position allows the Asian manufacturer to look ambitiously into the premium segment.
The growth of Xiaomi Last year, it focused on regions such as Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America, where it gained traction, particularly in the mid-range segment. The challenge for the company now is to move up the price pyramid where the margins are higher.
A thinner Xiaomi Ultra
In this context, on December 25th in Beijing, Xiaomi presented its new flagship: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. The device represents a qualitative leap in the design of the Ultra line, reducing its thickness to just 8.9 mm, making it the thinnest Ultra in the brand’s history.
The phone contains the chip Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5the latest from Qualcomm, accompanied by a cooling system that, according to the company, improves thermal conductivity by 50% compared to the previous generation.
One of the most notable aspects is this 6800mAh batterya remarkable capacity given the smaller thickness of the device. The phone also comes with IP66, IP68 and IP69 certification for water and dust resistance, as well as support for 51 4G and 5G bands covering up to 210 countries.
Great camera thanks to the alliance with Leica
If there is something that sets the Xiaomi 17 Ultra apart, it is its photographic systemthe result of what the brand defines as a “strategic co-creation model” with the German brand Leica.
The camera system includes three sensors: a 14mm ultra-wide-angle camera and a 23mm main camera 1 inch sensor and a 75-100mm telephoto lens with optical zoom and 200 megapixel resolution. The brand emphasizes that the latter uses a three-lens Leica APO optical design to reduce chromatic aberration.
The telephoto lens has a 1/1.4-inch sensor and the ability to use that 200MP native over the entire zoom range without having to resort to digital cropping, thanks to a system of independent lens groups.
There is also a special version called “Xiaomi 17 Ultra from Leica“, inspired by Leica’s M-series cameras, with textured leather surfaces, the iconic red Leica dot on the body and a physical focus ring that allows precise manual adjustments. This edition includes exclusive modes that recreate the image style of the legendary Leica M9 and M3 using style transfer models trained on hundreds of thousands of original photos, as well as simulating film tone and grain.
Dispute on the premium cell phone podium
The inevitable question is how this is positioned Xiaomi 17 Ultra against their rivals. Apple launched it iPhone 17while Samsung will unveil the series in February 2026 Galaxy S26. When it comes to specs, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra offers numbers that outperform its competitors in several areas: the 6800 mAh battery contrasts with the approximately 4500-5000 mAh of Samsung’s Ultra models and the iPhone Pro Max; and the triple camera system with a 1-inch main sensor and 200MP telephoto lens is a more aggressive choice than competing configurations.
However, specifications are not everything. Apple and Samsung have mature ecosystems, image processing that has been refined over the years and, in Apple’s case, a vertically integrated operating system that many users do not want to do without.
The price will be crucial. With a starting value in China of about $850This puts the Xiaomi 17 Ultra below the Ultra and Pro Max models from Samsung and Apple, which typically cost over $1,200. This price difference with competitive specifications is Xiaomi’s classic strategy to gain market share.
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