The Xiaomi 18 Ultra could arrive sooner than expected, and it may bring back a feature that disappeared from the current model.
According to a new leak, Xiaomi is preparing the next Ultra flagship for a late-year launch. This launch may potentially occur around the Christmas period.
That would mirror the unusual timing of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, which broke from the brand’s traditional February Ultra launches. It debuted in China last December. If the rumour proves accurate, Xiaomi may now be shifting its flagship schedule. The Ultra model may now arrive toward the end of the year rather than early the next one.
The leak comes from well-known tipster Smart Pikachu, who claims Xiaomi is actively developing the 18 Ultra with a quad-camera setup. Consequently, that would mark a return to the four-lens configuration used on earlier Ultra phones.
The current Xiaomi 17 Ultra took a different approach. Instead of a second telephoto camera, Xiaomi opted for a mechanical zoom system with variable focal length. This change reduced the total camera count while aiming to offer more flexible zoom capabilities. While that design change was technically ambitious, the new leak suggests Xiaomi could pivot back to a more traditional multi-camera arrangement for the next model.
Details about the potential fourth lens remain unclear for now. If Xiaomi does restore a quad-camera system, it could mean the return of a dedicated telephoto or periscope-style zoom lens alongside the main and ultra-wide sensors. Nevertheless, that’s still speculation at this stage.
The leak also hints at a broader shift in Xiaomi’s release strategy. The standard Xiaomi 18 series could reportedly launch as early as September. This would potentially place it closer to Apple’s annual iPhone announcements. If that happens, the Ultra variant could arrive around December. This would give Xiaomi two flagship moments within the same year.
For now, the Xiaomi 18 Ultra remains firmly in rumour territory. But if these early details hold up, the next Ultra phone could combine a familiar camera setup with an earlier-than-usual debut.
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