Xiaomi 18 Ultra could become one of the most ambitious camera phones of the company, but, according to a new leak, the project could be canceled due to too high cost. Insider Digital Chat Station revealed characteristics of the smartphone, which was allegedly being prepared for release. They had to become the most unusual feature three 200-megapixel camerasincluding a periscope telephoto with a large sensor and continuous optical zoom.
Xiaomi did not officially confirm either the cancellation of the model or the given characteristics, so for now it is about the leak.
Xiaomi 18 Ultra was supposed to get a flat display with a frame of about 1 mm
According to Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi 18 Ultra was planned to be equipped a flat display with symmetrical bezels of about 1 mm on all four sides. This design would make the front panel as minimalist as possible. For the Ultra model, this would also mean ditching the curved edges in favor of a more practical flat screen. The insider also mentions a top-of-the-line chipset that could allegedly exceed the mark 5 million points in the benchmark. However, the name of the processor and the specific test are not disclosed, so this indicator should not be taken as a confirmed characteristic.
Three 200 MP cameras could become the main feature
The most interesting part of the Xiaomi 18 Ultra was supposed to be the camera. According to the leak, the smartphone was planned to be equipped three 200-megapixel sensors. The main camera was supposed to use a large one 1/1.12-inch LOFIC sensor. Such a sensor had to provide a high dynamic range and work better with complex lighting. The ultra-wide-angle camera could also get a large sensor — 1/1.56 inch. For this type of camera, this area is quite large and could significantly improve photo quality compared to typical small ultra-wide sensors. But the third module was supposed to be the most unusual.
The 200MP periscope could get continuous optical zoom
The telephoto camera Xiaomi 18 Ultra was supposed to use 200-MP periscope sensor with a size of 1/1.28 inchalso with LOFIC technology. Even more interesting is what the insider attributes to the module continuous optical zoom. Unlike smartphones with fixed optical zoom, such a system can smoothly change the focal length without having to switch between individual fixed zoom levels. If this information is true, the Xiaomi 18 Ultra could get one of the most sophisticated cameraphone systems on the market. The set of additional sensors and functions allegedly also included:
- multispectral sensor;
- support for a magnetic external lens;
- vibration motor 0916;
- symmetrical stereo speakers.
Thus, Xiaomi seems to have considered the 18 Ultra not just as another flagship, but as a smartphone with the most advanced mobile photography capabilities.
The price could have caused the cancellation
One of the main reasons for rejecting the project is its cost. According to the leak, Xiaomi could be planning a version 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of built-in memory for about 9999 yuan. It’s close $1490 excluding taxes, local surcharges and other costs. For Xiaomi, such a price would be unusually high. The company would have to compete not only with other Android flagships, but also with devices of the premium segment, where buyers pay much more attention to the brand and the ecosystem. Three large 200-MP sensors, a periscope with a large sensor, a complex system of continuous optical zoom and additional components could significantly increase the cost of the smartphone. That is why, according to the insider, Xiaomi allegedly decided to abandon further development of the model.
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max can become the main smartphone of the series
If the Xiaomi 18 Ultra is indeed canceled, it will probably take the highest position in the new line Xiaomi 18 Pro Max. This does not necessarily mean that Xiaomi will abandon experiments with camera technologies. The company can transfer some of the developments that were developed for Ultra to future smartphones. Three 200-megapixel cameras and a periscope with continuous optical zoom look particularly interesting. If their implementation turned out to be too expensive for the serial Xiaomi 18 Ultra, individual technologies may appear in subsequent generations after cost optimization. For now Xiaomi 18 Ultra remains an unconfirmed canceled projectand not an officially closed model. If the leak is correct, the company could actually abandon a smartphone that, on paper, should have been one of the most interesting camera phones of its generation.
