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| The Xiaomi 15 Ultra. |
In a move that could shake up the premium smartphone market ahead of the holidays, Xiaomi appears poised to launch its most powerful phone of the year—the Xiaomi 17 Ultra—much earlier than expected. After unveiling the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max in September, the tech giant seems ready to complete its lineup with a surprise December debut for its photography-focused flagship.
An Ultra Arriving Ultra-Early
According to prominent leaker Smart Pikachu, Xiaomi is in the final stages of preparing the Xiaomi 17 Ultra for launch this very month. If true, this would mark a significant shift in the company’s release schedule. Historically, the "Ultra" variant of Xiaomi’s flagship series has never arrived before February, making a potential December or January launch window highly unusual.
Rumors circulating on Chinese social media platform Weibo suggest that pre-orders could open between December 15 and December 25, with a specific whisper pointing to a December 18 announcement event. This aggressive timeline suggests Xiaomi is aiming to capture early-adopter spending before the year ends.
The leaker shared further context on their Weibo account, which you can see here, fueling the growing anticipation within the tech community.
Camera Evolution: Holding the 1-Inch Sensor, Refining the Zoom
The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is tipped to carry a significant photographic legacy forward: the 1-inch type main camera sensor. This feature, once a hallmark of ultra-premium phones, has become increasingly rare as manufacturers experiment with new sizes and technologies. If rumors hold, the 17 Ultra could be the last flagship standing to offer this specific, larger-format sensor, appealing to photography purists.
However, the camera system is also rumored to see a strategic simplification. Most reports indicate that Xiaomi will abandon the dual-telephoto (secondary zoom camera) setup seen in some predecessors. Instead, the 17 Ultra is expected to feature a single, but massively upgraded, periscope zoom lens. This could mean a higher megapixel count, larger sensor size for the telephoto, or improved optical range—all aimed at delivering superior image quality from a more streamlined module.
Power and Pricing: What to Expect
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra will align with its siblings, harnessing the raw power of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. This ensures it will sit at the very peak of Android performance.
For potential buyers concerned about cost, there appears to be good news. Early indications suggest the starting price will remain largely unchanged from the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. This would represent a compelling value proposition in the high-end segment, especially if the camera upgrades materialize.
Global Availability: A Tale of Two Launches
Prospective international customers should note a likely staggered release. While the Xiaomi 17 Ultra may launch in China this December, it is not expected to reach global markets until around February 2025.
This aligns with Xiaomi’s traditional timeline for worldwide announcements, likely to be centered around MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona. At that event, the global versions of the entire Xiaomi 17 series, including the Ultra, are anticipated to make their official debut.
For those looking for a current Xiaomi powerhouse available immediately, the excellent Xiaomi 15T Pro is a fantastic option and can be found on Amazon.
As always with pre-launch rumors, it’s wise to treat these details with cautious optimism. However, with multiple leakers converging on a similar narrative, the stage seems set for Xiaomi to deliver an early holiday surprise to smartphone enthusiasts. All eyes are now on an official announcement, which could be just days away.