Xiaomi and Leica are expanding their mobile photography partnership with a new feature on the upcoming Xiaomi 17T Series that aims to make smartphone photos feel more alive.
Called “Leica Live Moment,” the feature captures short moments of motion before and after a photo is taken, allowing users to preserve expressions, movement, and emotions that a single image may miss.
The feature arrives as Xiaomi and Leica enter the fifth year of their collaboration, which has focused on bringing professional-style camera experiences to smartphones.
“Photos and videos have become integral to how we connect and share,” Xiaomi said. “People expect more from their cameras, for them to go beyond simply capturing a moment and instead become a tool for expression, storytelling, and creativity.”
The Xiaomi 17T Series also introduces Leica’s 5x telephoto camera across all models in the lineup for the first time. Xiaomi said the zoom lens is designed to better capture facial expressions and motion, whether users are shooting subjects nearby or from a distance.
The companies said mobile photography is evolving beyond the goal of simply matching traditional cameras. Instead, the focus is now on creating new ways of telling stories through smartphones.
The concept of moving photos is not entirely new. Apple introduced Live Photos years ago, but Xiaomi and Leica believe the format still has room to grow, especially in portrait photography.
The Xiaomi 17T Series includes “Leica Live Portrait,” which combines motion capture with portrait mode and Leica’s signature background blur effect, also called bokeh. Xiaomi said the feature is meant to make portraits feel more natural by preserving subtle movements such as smiles, glances, and pauses.
Aside from camera upgrades, the Xiaomi 17T Series will also feature a larger battery and an upgraded eye-care display designed for longer viewing sessions.
Xiaomi has yet to announce pricing and availability for the Xiaomi 17T Series.
