Xiaomi 16 Ultra tipped to launch much earlier than expected
Xiaomi did not start to tease its highest-end Android smartphone until January 2025, even though the 15 and 15 Pro were unveiled as soon as possible after the launch of the Snapdragon 8 Elite platform shared by all 3 devices in 2024.
The OEM has acknowledged the existence of the 15 Ultra's successor well in advance by comparison, having just made it effectively official in July 2025.
The move has led to speculation that Xiaomi will schedule just 1 launch event for the 16 series later this same year, during which the 16, 16 Pro and 16 Ultra will be introduced together.
Then again, it is based on the remarks of a leaker (albeit a typically reliable one) who may be implying that the 16 Ultra's launch might simply be moved up to precede the next Chinese New Year.
Nevertheless, the tip may or may not explain rumors of an extra "16 Pro Max" variant with what might be the biggest battery of the bunch: it might simply be the Ultra instead.
Therefore, it might indeed take a potentially killer advantage over the Vivo X300 Ultra, Oppo Find X9 Ultra and even the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra before 2025 is done - in China, at least.
It is possible that Xiaomi might wait until MWC 2026 to unleash its new ultimate flagship on the international market in any case.
Source(s)
