Xiaomi sets sights on high-end market with new phones

Xiaomi marked the grand finale of its 15th anniversary with a high-end product launch event, which introduced a series of new devices, including the Xiaomi 17 Ultra smartphone.

Lu Weibing, president of Xiaomi, said the new phone "embodies a generational leap in mobile optical technology and showcases our top-tier scientific and engineering capabilities".

The launch follows Xiaomi's announcement on Dec 18 of an upgraded global imaging strategic partnership with Leica. Moving beyond earlier co-development models, the two companies have now entered a "strategic co-creation phase", integrating Leica's professional optics, design aesthetics, and interactive philosophy directly into Xiaomi's products.

Behind Xiaomi's persistent drive toward the premium market lies robust and continuous investment in core underlying technologies. In the first three quarters of this year alone, Xiaomi's research and development spending reached 23.5 billion yuan ($3.35 billion), with full-year expenditure projected to hit 32–33 billion yuan.

With its deepened collaboration with Leica and sustained R&D commitment, Xiaomi said it will continue to strengthen its foothold in the global high-end technology market, signaling a clear direction toward innovation-driven growth.