Chinese tech giant Xiaomi has already unveiled the first phones of its latest flagship generation, so we've seen the Xiaomi 12, but there's been no official confirmation of the top-end model yet.
That doesn't mean the Xiaomi 12 Ultra isn't on the way though, as we've heard enough leaks and rumors to be pretty sure this super-sleek high-end smartphone is coming sooner or later.
Phone fans should be excited about this upcoming phone as Xiaomi will be using it as a showcase for the best specs and features its design team has prepared. Below is everything we know so far.
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra released in 2021 had a huge screen, three super powerful cameras, a second screen on the back, a fast processor, and fast charging. However, its high price has made it a difficult sell for many people.
So while last year's Ultra was impressive, it wasn't perfect, and there are plenty of changes the Xiaomi 12 Ultra could make to get a better score from us. That's why we've also put together a short wish list for the new phone.
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- What is it? The premium member of the Xiaomi 12 family
- When did it come out? Probably mid-2022
- How much will it cost? Around €1,199 / AU$1,799 (or around €1,600) (*two*)
Xiaomi 12 Ultra price and availability
Part of the Xiaomi 12 range has been unveiled, so far it's the 12, 12 Pro and 12X, but we're still expecting many more members of the range including the 12 Ultra, 12 Lite and possibly a 12T and 12T Pro as well.
Judging by the Mi 11 launch schedule, we could see the Xiaomi 12 Ultra unveiled in March or April when the standard phone launches globally (since it's currently only available in China). We'll have to wait and see though, as Xiaomi's Ultra phones have only seen two iterations so far, so it's hard to predict a model.
It's worth noting that one source believes there won't be a Xiaomi 12 Ultra because the brand apparently only has one high-end phone in 2022 and that's the Xiaomi Mi Mix 5. However, we haven't heard that claim repeated much. so take it with a pinch of salt.
As for the price, well, "expensive" would cover it nicely, although you have to admit it's pretty vague.
The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra was extremely expensive, costing €1,199 / AU$1,799 (or around €1,600), making it comparable to the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra or iPhone 13 Pro Max. We would not expect many changes this year.
Currently, leaks suggest that the Xiaomi 12 Ultra will be just as expensive, at least judging by the specs, as we haven't heard of any actual price leaks yet.
News and rumors
Perhaps the most important Xiaomi 12 Ultra information we've seen comes not from a leak, but from other phones: the Xiaomi 12 and 12 Pro. The company has already released some of the non-Ultra deals in the series and points in common between them may point to features of Ultra.
Standard and Pro phones have the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset, 120Hz refresh rate displays, 32MP front-facing cameras, 50MP main cameras, 50W wireless power, and a minimum of 8GB RAM and 128 GB of storage, up to 12 GB and 256 GB respectively. We could see those same specs in the Ultra.
Additionally, the Pro has a 2-inch 6.7K display, three 50MP rear cameras (including a telephoto and ultrawide snapper next to the main one), and 120W wired charging. I'd be curious if the Ultra featured a downgrade on any of those areas.
Now we come to the leaks. They all focus on one aspect of the Xiaomi 12 Ultra: its camera bump. We've seen an aluminum cast of the phone, a digital rendering of it, and also a case for the device, and each one shows off a circular camera bump that's absolutely huge - expect loads of rear cameras.
Another intriguing fact is that there could also be a Xiaomi 12 Ultra Enhanced. We don't know anything about the device except its name, but judging by that name, it's an even more premium version of the 'standard' Ultra.