Home IFTTT Pocket-lint Xiaomi 12S Ultra rumours, news and features

Xiaomi 12S Ultra rumours, news and features

July 02, 2022

When the Xiaomi 12 series launched, the top-end flagship in the line, the 12 Ultra, was conspicuous in its absence. But now the company has confirmed that the 12 series is about to be replaced by the 12S range and - among them - the 12S Ultra. 

When it's unveiled, it's likely to be the bleeding-edge showcase of everything Xiaomi can cram into a modern phone, with upgraded camera options and the highest-end specs as far as its display and chipset are concerned.

Xiaomi 12S Ultra availability and price

  • 4 July launch confirmed
  • From £1,199?

Xiaomi has already announced that it will introduce the three-phone 12S range on 4 July during an event in which it will show off its first Leica-branded camera units. Among them, we will see the 12S Ultra, as well as the 12S and 12S Pro. Retail availability will likely be initially limited to China to begin with, and a wider rollout a little later. We suspect between the end of July and September. 

Turning to the question of price, you can safely assume that the phone will command a high price tag, given its flagship status, and going by the example of the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra, which landed at £1,199 when it was released.

Without any official word on the price, there's no reason to assume the next phone will be substantially more affordable, so if you're a big Xiaomi fan waiting for it you might want to brace yourself for another big number.

Design

  • New design
  • Large circular camera unit?
  • Ceramic and leather options?

The most consistent leaks that we've seen around the Xiaomi 12S Ultra have all focused on one big aspect of the phone - its camera bump. This is something that increasingly feels like the biggest factor in how a phone looks, given one side is a display and the rear is the bit that can be changed up.

And the 12S Ultra seems like it's not interested in playing things safe - the indications are that it's going to have a massive, complex camera system that takes up a large portion of the phone's back in a circular shape.

On the one hand, it's undeniably a seriously big camera unit, but we've also seen plenty of phones in the last few years give over as much as half their backs to cameras, and if the specs that Xiaomi can cram into the design are worth it, we can't see anyone being too bothered by how it looks.

Aside from the actual design, there are also rumours that there will be different materials available. There's rumour that there will be white and black ceramic options, while Xiaomi's own teaser confirms the existence of a leather-like finish on the back of a green and gold model. 

Display and hardware specs

  • Adaptive 120Hz refresh rate expected
  • 2K resolution based on precedent
  • Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
  • 4800mAh battery, 67W charging

We also don't have a firm indication of what display the 12S Ultra will employ, but we can situate you roughly thanks to the precedent set by the standard Xiaomi 12 line, which will act as the baseline for the fancier phone.

Those handsets boast 120Hz refresh rate displays, and the Pro version sits at 6.7 inches and 2K resolution, making for some really impressive pin-sharp elements. Now, whether the 12 Ultra can actually upgrade on this is an open-ended question, but we'd be very surprised if it came in with less impressive specs. It's also likely to be ab LTPO display, offering adaptive refresh rates.

As to the core hardware, we'd expected the Xiaomi 12S Ultra to step forward over the 12 Pro. That might see it using the rumoured Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and that might help us narrow down the launch time frame. Xiaomi has a great relationship with Qualcomm and we wouldn't be surprised to see the Xiaomi 12S Ultra as the launch device for the tweaked hardware. We've seen it referenced by Ice Universe, a leaker with a solid track record.

Elsewhere we've seen leaks suggesting that there will be a 4800mAh battery and that it will support 120W charging. These details come from Digital Chat Station on Weibo, a leaker with a good reputation, and would fit in with Xiaomi's fast-charging strategy for 2022. Most core models now include this. 

Cameras

  • Triple camera system
    • 50MP main - 1-inch IMX989 sensor
    • 48MP ultrawide
    • 48MP telephoto
  • ToF sensor

It's clear from the leaked design of the phone's camera bump, if that impression is accurate, that the 12S Ultra will have a serious range of cameras to leverage as you take photos and videos.

Xiaomi has been building up to the launch of the 12S Ultra by teasing a new sensor it's been working on with Sony: the IMX989. It's a 1-inch sensor, making it huge in comparison to practically every other flagship sensor out there. Xiaomi has also revealed that it's partnered with Leica to create the Sumicron mobile lenses, which feature a special coating to improve optical performance. 

The number of cutouts in the case pictured above indicates that there could be even more going on though - and it's likely that we'll also see laser autofocus and a time of flight system in place.

Xiaomi 12S Ultra rumours: What's happened so far?

Here's everything we know so far about the Xiaomi 12S Ultra. It's worth noting, prior to Xiaomi's announcement, it was assumed this would be the 'Ultra' model of the Xiaomi 12 line. Since 28 June, it's been clear that it will be the 12S Ultra, not the 12 Ultra. In older stories you'll see it referred to as '12 Ultra'. 

29 June 2022: Xiaomi teases 1-inch primary Sony IMX989 sensor

In a post to Weibo, Xiaomi has shown off the difference in size between its IMX989 equipped primary camera, and the current crop of flagship cameras. 

28 June 2022: Xiaomi confirms launch date and teases design

Xiaomi took to social media to confirm the 12S series will launch on 4 July, and shows a teaser of the design. 

15 June 2022: Xiaomi 12 Ultra appears on 3C website

The Xiaomi 12 Ultra has appeared at a certification website, suggesting launch is imminent.

7 June 2022: New Xiaomi 12 Ultra render gives us our best look yet at specs and design

These clean renders from a reliable source give us a good look at what the Xiaomi 12 Ultra design.

17 May 2022: Huge Sony camera sensor could appear in Xiaomi 12 Ultra

A report from Digital Chat Station leads many to speculate that Sony's latest 50MP 1/1.1-inch sensor could appear in the Xiaomi 12 Ultra.

04 April 2022: Xiaomi 12 Ultra could come in special variants

According to TechNave, we could see special versions of the Xiaomi 12 Ultra, with a choice of finishes.

07 March 2022: Renders show off Xiaomi 12 Ultra with huge camera

Renders reportedly showing the Xiaomi 12 Ultra show off a huge camera on the rear of the phone.

07 March 2022: Xiaomi 12 Ultra 4900mAh battery and 120W charging

A Weibo leaker suggested that the Xiaomi 12 Ultra will get a big battery and support fast charging.

19 February 2022: Xiaomi 12 Ultra: Official listing and leaks tout existence and expected launch date of Xiaomi's flagship champion

Appearance in a database suggests that the 12 Ultra is coming, with a launch time frame suggested.

06 January 2022: There might not be a Xiaomi 12 Ultra at all

A report indicates that there's a chance Xiaomi won't release a 12 Ultra at all this year, based on model numbers in its database.

14 December 2021: Xiaomi 12 Ultra case leak shows-off complex rear camera setup

A leaked case image indicates that the 12 Ultra will have a massive circular camera unit, with plenty of cutouts for different lenses and parts.

16 November 2021: Xiaomi 12 Ultra to ditch rear screen, could be first with Snapdragon 898?

An apparent leak suggests that the 12 Ultra will no longer feature a rear screen, like the 11 Ultra, and speculates on its potential chipset.

16 November 2021: There might be a Xiaomi 12 Ultra Enhanced model

A report by fansite Xiaomiui indicates that there might be two Ultra models, one even more high-end than the normal Ultra and called Ultra Enhanced.



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