After launching in China recently, Xiaomi’s new Xiaomi 17 series now appears to be gearing up for international markets — with India expected to be one of the key regions. The China lineup includes the Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, all powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. However, reports suggest that Xiaomi has different plans for its global rollout.
A well-known tipster has hinted that India may not receive the Pro models with secondary rear displays. Instead, the standard Xiaomi 17 could be joined by a brand-new flagship variant: the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
India Launch Timeline and Expected Models
According to tipster Yogesh Brar (@heyitsyogesh), both the Xiaomi 17 and the yet-to-be-announced Xiaomi 17 Ultra are currently undergoing testing in India. If everything stays on track, Xiaomi may introduce both models in the country by March 2026.
While Xiaomi has not officially unveiled the 17 Ultra anywhere, leaks have already painted a clear picture of what to expect. The phone is rumored to feature a massive 6.9-inch 2K OLED flat display with a 120Hz refresh rate. Security could be handled by an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, and fast charging speeds may reach up to 100W.
Next-Level Camera Hardware
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra could be a major leap forward in smartphone imaging. The primary camera is said to use a 50-megapixel sensor with a bright f/1.6 aperture and advanced LOFIC technology that reduces glare and enhances clarity.
The triple-camera setup may also include a 50-megapixel Samsung JN5 ultra-wide lens and a 50-megapixel Samsung JN5 telephoto camera. Long-range photography is expected to get a big boost thanks to a 200-megapixel Samsung HPE periscope sensor supported by 4×4 RMSC technology for sharper zoom performance. Xiaomi is even rumored to be using a custom full-lens optical system to improve focusing accuracy.
For selfies, the phone could feature a 50-megapixel OmniVision OV50M front camera.
Software and Pro Models Staying China-Exclusive
The report also suggests that the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max and Xiaomi 17 Pro — both equipped with secondary rear displays — may remain exclusive to the Chinese market. These models were launched alongside the Xiaomi 17 earlier in September but might not make it to global shelves.
On the software side, Xiaomi has confirmed that Android 16-based HyperOS 3 will soon roll out in India. Industry watchers believe the new OS will debut with the Xiaomi 17 series during its India launch window.
If the leaks hold true, Xiaomi may shake up its global lineup strategy in 2026 — with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra emerging as the highlight for international markets, especially India.
