GoKawiilXiaomi scrapped the 18 Ultra over an estimated $1,490 price tag, leaker claims
Leaker Digital Chat Station says Xiaomi had designed a Xiaomi 18 Ultra with a top-tier chipset, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage, and a triple 200MP camera array including main, ultrawide and periscope telephoto lenses plus a magnetic external lens. The post claims Xiaomi planned to price the device at roughly CNY 9,999 (about $1,490) but scrapped the launch, concluding the cost was unsustainable for sales.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
If accurate, this suggests Xiaomi is drawing a line on how far it will push component costs before consumer pricing becomes a risk, even for its showcase flagship tier. It also indicates the company may be rethinking its 'Ultra' branding strategy, having already folded flagship duties into the Pro and Pro Max models this cycle. For buyers, it hints that cutting-edge camera hardware like 200MP triple arrays may remain confined to unreleased prototypes rather than reaching shelves soon.
- Xiaomi reportedly canceled an 18 Ultra model with a triple 200MP camera setup and flagship chipset.
- The phone was said to be priced around CNY 9,999 (~$1,490), deemed too expensive to sustain sales.
- Xiaomi's 2025 lineup instead centers on the 18 Pro and Pro Max, without an Ultra variant.
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max — Since the ultra-spec Xiaomi 18 Ultra never made it to market, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is the closest you can actually get to that flagship camera and performance experience right now. It offers a taste of Xiaomi's high-end imaging and chipset ambitions without waiting on a canceled dream phone.
See Xiaomi 17 Pro Max on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: androidauthority.com, 2026-10-05
Published there as: “This ‘Ultra’ flagship looked like a spec monster, but no one will be able to buy it”
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