Highlights
- Xiaomi 18 Ultra project reportedly cancelled due to the high proposed price of ¥9,999 for 12GB + 256GB, raising concerns over sales sustainability.
- It was reportedly planned with three 200MP cameras (main, ultra-wide, periscope) with continuous optical zoom, a magnetic external lens, a multispectral sensor and Snapdragon flagship chip.
- Previous leaks have revealed a 1mm narrow-bezel flat display, symmetrical dual speakers and benchmark scores above 5 million.
Xiaomi’s reportedly cancelled 18 Ultra could have been one of the company’s most ambitious camera smartphones yet. A new leak from tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS) reveals the planned camera setup, which reportedly included three 200MP cameras, continuous optical zoom, a multispectral sensor and a magnetic external lens.
The tipster also claims that Xiaomi had considered a 12GB RAM + 256GB storage version priced at ¥9,999. However, the project was reportedly cancelled internally because of concerns that the high price could make sales difficult to sustain.
Xiaomi 18 Ultra Project Was Reportedly Cancelled
According to Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi has already cancelled the 18 Ultra project. The reason reportedly came down to its proposed price, with internal concerns that the phone would be too expensive and that sales would not be sustainable at that level.
The tipster says Xiaomi had considered a 12GB + 256GB configuration at ¥9,999. It is important to note that the Xiaomi 18 Ultra was a planned/prototype device and not an officially announced retail smartphone. Xiaomi has not confirmed the cancellation.
If the report is accurate, the cancellation means the company may have decided that the ambitious hardware planned for the phone would have pushed its price beyond a commercially viable level.
Xiaomi 18 Ultra has been cancelled, and its specs just leaked 👀
As per Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi planned a crazy camera phone but killed it because the price would have been too high.
– Three 200MP cameras
– 1/1.12 inch LOFIC main camera, a new sensor tech that keeps bright skies and lights from getting blown out
– 1/1.28 inch periscope with continuous optical zoom, up from 1/1.4 inch on the 17 Ultra
– Flat display with 1mm bezels on all four sides
– Benchmark score above 5 millionSo this time there is no Ultra. Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max already launched in China last month, and the standard Xiaomi 18 is expected in December. Ultra is expected to return with Xiaomi 19 Ultra.
— Abhishek Yadav (@yabhishekhd) October 5, 2026
Xiaomi 18 Ultra Was Planned With Three 200MP Cameras
The camera setup appears to have been the biggest highlight of the planned Xiaomi 18 Ultra. The leaked configuration reportedly included three 200MP cameras, with large sensors across the main, ultra-wide and periscope cameras.
Xiaomi 18 Ultra Camera Setup
- 200MP Main Camera with 1/1.12-inch sensor and LOFIC technology
- 200MP Ultra-Wide Camera with 1/1.56-inch sensor
- 200MP Periscope Camera with 1/1.28-inch sensor and LOFIC technology
This would have made the Xiaomi 18 Ultra an unusually camera-focused flagship, particularly because all three major rear cameras were reportedly planned around 200MP sensors.
200MP Periscope With Continuous Optical Zoom
The planned telephoto camera was reportedly even more ambitious. Xiaomi was said to be working on a 200MP periscope camera with a 1/1.28-inch sensor and LOFIC technology.
The camera was also tipped to support continuous optical zoom. Unlike conventional fixed optical zoom systems that offer specific zoom levels, continuous optical zoom would allow the lens to move through a range of optical focal lengths.
Magnetic External Lens Was Also Planned
The Xiaomi 18 Ultra’s camera system reportedly had another unusual feature: a magnetic external lens.
The DCS post also mentions a multispectral lens and a 0916 motor as part of the planned hardware. Together, these features suggest Xiaomi was exploring a much more extensive photography system for the Ultra model.
Xiaomi 18 Ultra Could Have Cost ¥9,999
The reported pricing was another major part of the Xiaomi 18 Ultra leak.
| Configuration | Reported Price |
| 12GB + 256GB | ¥9,999 |
For comparison, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra started at ¥6,999 in China. That means the proposed starting configuration of the 18 Ultra would have been significantly more expensive.
A separate report had also suggested that the planned Xiaomi 18 Ultra could cross the ¥10,000 mark. However, Digital Chat Station’s latest information specifically mentions ¥9,999 for the 12GB + 256GB version.
This unusually high proposed price also fits with the claim that cost and sales concerns played a role in the reported cancellation.
1mm-Level Four-Sided Narrow-Bezel Display
The camera hardware was not the only ambitious part of the planned device. The Xiaomi 18 Ultra was reportedly designed with a four-sided flat display featuring around 1mm bezels.
The narrow bezels would have given the phone a more immersive flagship appearance while keeping the screen flat rather than curved.
Snapdragon Flagship Chip With 5 Million+ Benchmark Score
The Xiaomi 18 Ultra was also expected to use a Snapdragon flagship chipset. Digital Chat Station reportedly mentioned a benchmark score of more than 5 million points.
While the leaked information highlights the performance level, the specific Snapdragon chipset for the cancelled device has not been confirmed in the supplied details.
Symmetrical Dual Speakers and Other Features
The planned Xiaomi 18 Ultra was also said to feature symmetrical dual speakers.
Other hardware mentioned in the leak includes the 0916 motor, multispectral lens and magnetic external lens. These additions further indicate that Xiaomi was exploring a high-end photography-focused device with more specialised camera hardware than a typical flagship.
Xiaomi 18 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Ultra
The leaked Xiaomi 18 Ultra would have represented a major change in Xiaomi’s Ultra camera strategy if it had reached the market.
| Xiaomi 18 Ultra (Cancelled/Tipped) | Xiaomi 17 Ultra | |
| Main Camera | 200MP, 1/1.12-inch LOFIC | Leica 23mm main camera 50MP |
| Ultra-Wide | 200MP, 1/1.56-inch | Leica 14mm ultra-wide camera 50MP |
| Periscope | 200MP, 1/1.28-inch LOFIC | Leica 200MP 75-100mm telephoto200MP |
| Optical Zoom | Continuous optical zoom tipped | Digital zoom up to 120x |
| External Lens | Magnetic lens tipped | Leica Summilux optical lens |
| Price | ¥9,999 tipped | ¥6,999 starting price |
The biggest reported difference is clearly the proposed camera hardware. The 18 Ultra was tipped to feature three 200MP cameras and continuous optical zoom, while its proposed ¥9,999 price would have placed it well above the 17 Ultra’s starting price.
Xiaomi 18 Ultra Full Leaked Specifications
Since the Xiaomi 18 Ultra was reportedly cancelled before becoming an official retail product, the following specifications should be treated as leaked or planned specifications, rather than confirmed final specifications.
| Specification | Xiaomi 18 Ultra |
| Status | Reportedly cancelled project |
| Display | Four-sided flat display |
| Bezels | Around 1mm |
| Main Camera | 200MP, 1/1.12-inch, LOFIC |
| Ultra-Wide Camera | 200MP, 1/1.56-inch |
| Periscope Camera | 200MP, 1/1.28-inch, LOFIC |
| Optical Zoom | Continuous optical zoom |
| External Lens | Magnetic external lens |
| Additional Camera Hardware | Multispectral lens |
| Motor | 0916 motor |
| Performance | Snapdragon flagship chip |
| Benchmark | 5 million+ points tipped |
| Speakers | Symmetrical dual speakers |
| RAM | 12GB tipped |
| Storage | 256GB tipped |
| Proposed Price | ¥9,999 |
If the leak is accurate, the Xiaomi 18 Ultra could have been an extremely ambitious camera flagship. However, since the phone was reportedly cancelled before an official launch, these specifications and the proposed pricing should be treated as leaked plans rather than final product specifications.
