Are you waiting for the Xiaomi 18 Ultra? Rumors are circulating again that it won't be released at all

The end of Xiaomi’s top-tier camera phone is being discussed again. Leaker Kartikey Singh published the information on X, stating that Xiaomi has completely scrapped the most powerful model of the upcoming series. Instead of the usual quartet with a photographic Ultra at the top, we will reportedly only get Xiaomi 18, 18 Pro, and 18 Pro Max. We wrote about the series breaking into several waves and the basic eighteen being delayed at the beginning of August.

Xiaomi 18 Ultra Reportedly Won’t Be Released Due to Memory Crisis

The reason for the cut is said to be memory prices. Both DRAM chips and NAND storage have sharply increased in price this year due to the demand for artificial intelligence, and memory now accounts for over a fifth of the manufacturing cost of flagships. Packing Ultra features into the phone – such as the announced 200MP camera – would push the price higher than what most people are willing to pay. Simply put, it’s not possible to produce the Ultra cheaper, so the brand is reportedly postponing it by a generation.

At least the Ultra isn’t disappearing for good. It is expected to return with the Xiaomi 19 Ultra model, most likely around the turn of 2027 and 2028, once component prices stabilize. Until then, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max will be the top of the range.

Are you waiting for the Xiaomi 18 Ultra? Rumors are circulating again that it won't be released at all Adam Kurfürst News Adam Kurfürst News

Will Any True Ultra Remain Outside China?

Moreover, Xiaomi is reportedly not alone in this. Rising memory prices have apparently prompted Oppo and vivo to reconsider as well. Their top-tier devices this year – Oppo Find X9 Ultra and vivo X300 Ultra – even reached global markets, but their successors, the Oppo Find X10 Ultra and vivo X500 Ultra, are expected to remain exclusive to China, according to Singh.

If this holds true, the only true Ultra flagship you could realistically buy outside of China would be the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra. Everyone else in the high-end segment would have to contend with Pro Max models.

Would you miss the Xiaomi 18 Ultra, or is the Pro Max more than enough for you?

Sources: Gizmochina, GSMArena