Xiaomi 16 Ultra May Launch Before 2026 With Pro-Level Camera
Xiaomi 16 Ultra may launch in late 2025 with a 200MP camera, Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip, 7,000mAh battery, and Leica-tuned optics. India launch expected in 2026.
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Xiaomi may bring its 16 Ultra model to market before it usually would, moves that could shift its lineup schedule.
Company insiders say the 16 Ultra could debut late this year in China alongside the standard 16 and Pro versions, a departure from Xiaomi’s pattern of releasing Ultra phones in the first quarter. The change follows a post by Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing on Weibo stating that the device would mark a new stage in mobile imaging.
Technical details circulating online describe a camera assembly that pairs a 50-megapixel main sensor with a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide module. Leica optics are set to feature across the rear array, supported by AI-driven image processing. Observers note that this setup positions the model to compete with offerings from Samsung, Apple and Huawei.
On the performance front, the device is expected to sport a 6.8-inch LTPO AMOLED screen with 2K resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Power may come from the yet-to-be-announced Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset, backed by a battery in the 7,000–7,500 mAh range and support for 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Local market observers say Xiaomi could bring the 16 Ultra to India in the first quarter of 2026, with a starting price near Rs 1,10,000 for the 16GB/512GB variant. That figure matches the launch price of its predecessor, the 15 Ultra, and may shift depending on currency movements and component costs.
Xiaomi has not shared an official timeline.
