The rumors and leaks surrounding the Xiaomi 12 Ultra allow us to begin to glimpse the future ultra premium smartphone. Release date, price, design, photo module… Let’s recap.
The Xiaomi 12 are all out, or almost. There were the Xiaomi 12, 12 Pro, 12X and maybe soon a 12 Lite, but the Chinese manufacturer has not yet unveiled the pinnacle of its range: the Xiaomi 12 Ultra. However, rumors about him are beginning to accumulate. We take stock.
Design: three backs for more choices
Various elements should make the Xiaomi 12 Ultra stand out strongly in the crowd of high-end smartphones. The first is also the most visible: as with the Mi 11 Ultra, Xiaomi would have chosen to install an absolutely gigantic photo block on the back of its phone, according to the Dutch site Let’s Go Digital, who had Technizo Concept perform multiple 3D renderings for the occasion. This design would therefore swap the very rectangular appearance of the 2021 block, with its integrated screen, for something round. In the center, we would find the main photo module with all the secondary modules positioned in a circle around it.
However, more recent leaks from the sometimes-conflicting leaker Digital Chat Station hint that the Xiaomi 12 Ultra could once again opt for a rectangular design. The case is therefore not yet fully heard.
Second notable point, this time almost certain, a Leica logo should house like a sticker on the back of the phone, to underline the partnership assigned with the photo specialist.
Last differentiating point for the back of the phone: it could exist in three different versions, for as many materials. Clearly, you would have a Xiaomi 12 Ultra with a ceramic back, another with a glass back and a last one with a “vegan” leather back (probably plastic therefore). A nice customization option for a phone that will certainly far exceed the 1000 euro budget.
200 megapixel sensor or not
With such a photo block, it will not be surprising that the Xiaomi 12 Ultra relies heavily on the photo. A partnership with Leica would therefore have been signed to compete with other Chinese brands, such as OnePlus and Oppo associated with Hasselblad or Vivo with Zeiss. Concretely, we do not yet know what this partnership would be about. Generally, photo specialist brands bring their color science as well as a bunch of filters to apply to your shots.
Let’s move on to the hardware, and in particular the main photo module. The case is debated. Some leaks mention the presence of a 50-megapixel Samsung ISOCELL GN5 sensor, but older leaks had once mentioned a much more sophisticated 192-pixel sensor, but also more complicated to integrate.
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For the rest of the photo configuration, we expect an ultra wide angle and an X5 telephoto lens with both 48 megapixel sensors. The arrival of a second X10 telephoto lens for example, to better compete with the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Huawei P50 Pro, therefore does not seem to be immediate.
A Snapdragon and a QHD+ screen
Apart from the photo and the design, little information has leaked out about this phone concerning its pure and hard technical data sheet. Some hallway noises still evoke the arrival of Qualcomm’s new SoC, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Plus. On paper, it would have the advantage of being engraved by TSMC, which would allow it to better control its rise in temperature.
On the RAM side, the Xiaomi 12 Ultra should align with the standards in force with 12 GB or 16 GB. Regarding storage, remember that last year, only the 256 GB version was released in France. Xiaomi could make this choice again, since few users who can afford such a device will opt for a 128 GB version.
Let’s finish with the screen. There too, even if no leak allows us to advance it with more certainty, the industry standards are today quite clear for the high end: an Oled panel should be on the program, with a QHD + definition and a 120 Hz refresh rate for fluidity. Side size however, the mystery remains. Xiaomi has indeed raked in several of its models on the 12 range. It remains to be seen whether the 12 Ultra will follow suit.
Finally, Xiaomi is expected to renew its partnership with Harman Kardon for the sound part.
Xiaomi 12 Ultra price and release date
The Xiaomi 12 Ultra is expected to be unveiled sometime in June in China. It is likely that we will have to wait a few weeks before seeing it arrive in our green meadows.
On the price side, the Xiaomi 12 Ultra could perhaps be negotiated more expensive than the Mi 11 Ultra, sold for 1200 euros when it was released. Indeed, the Xiaomi 12 Pro was released at 1100 euros. A walk of 100 euros between the two therefore seems fine.
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