The third week of 2026 delivers Xiaomi's Leica-branded flagship for review, Samsung S26 performance leaks, and rumors of canceled ultra-thin devices as mobile industry momentum builds ahead of MWC.
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra by Leica has arrived at our labs, marking one of the first major flagship arrivals of 2026. This co-engineered device features a distinctive dual-tone finish inspired by Leica's camera heritage, complete with the signature Red Dot logo. The unboxing experience reflects its premium positioning, including a 100W GaN charger, braided USB-C cable, protective case, metal lens cap, red wrist strap, and microfiber cloth.
Beyond aesthetics, the device introduces functional innovations like a knurled aluminum frame and mechanical Control Ring surrounding the camera module. This rotating interface allows direct switching between the phone's optical zoom levels, providing tactile control reminiscent of professional cameras. Early handling suggests this could offer photographers more intuitive control over the upgraded camera system.
Meanwhile, Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S26 series appeared in Geekbench listings showing processor variations. The S26 Ultra appears to use a slightly underclocked Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset (2x 4.19GHz cores + 6x 3.63GHz cores), while the standard S26 showed higher clock speeds (2x 4.74GHz cores). This suggests Samsung may be optimizing performance profiles differently across models, potentially balancing thermal management with processing power. Leaked images also confirm redesigned camera islands and more rounded corners on the Ultra model.
In canceled device news, Xiaomi's ultra-thin 17 Air project (5.5mm thickness) appears to have been shelved despite ambitious specifications including a 200MP main camera and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. Industry sources suggest thermal constraints in such a slim form factor may have proven insurmountable with current technology.
Other developments this week:
- Galaxy S27 Ultra tipped for 200MP ISOCELL S5KHP6 sensor upgrade
- vivo's V70 series launching in India mid-February
- RedMagic 11 Air gaming phone confirmed for January 20 launch with active cooling
- iPhone 18 Pro models rumored to feature under-display Face ID technology
- Nothing Phone (4a) series upgrading to UFS 3.1 storage
- Xiaomi 17 Max in development with 8,000mAh battery and 100W wired charging
The mobile industry continues its rapid pace as we approach MWC 2026, with these early leaks and releases setting expectations for the year's premium device landscape. Performance optimizations, camera advancements, and charging innovations remain central battlegrounds as manufacturers refine their flagship offerings.
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