Xiaomi’s upcoming flagship, the Xiaomi 16 Ultra, is now expected to debut earlier than initially planned. Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing shared the first official teaser for the device last Friday, and trusted source Digital Chat Station has reported that the launch window has been moved forward. Instead of early 2026, the flagship may now be unveiled before the end of this year.

A Shift in Xiaomi’s Launch Strategy

This marks a significant change from Xiaomi’s traditional release schedule, as the company typically unveils its Ultra-branded models after major holiday seasons. According to insiders, the change is driven by Xiaomi’s desire to showcase the latest imaging innovations developed through its deepening partnership with Leica.

The Xiaomi 16 Ultra will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 processor, the same high-end chipset that’s expected to power most Android flagships during this cycle. Unlike the recent wave of curved-display phones, the Xiaomi 16 Ultra is set to stand out with a flat-screen design.

In addition to the standard Ultra model, Xiaomi is also working on two more variants: the Xiaomi 16S Ultra and the Xiaomi 16 Ultra Max. These models recently surfaced in the GSMA IMEI database with the model numbers 25128PNA1C and 25128PNA1G, respectively.

The 16S Ultra is rumored to feature Xiaomi’s in-house XRING chip, while the 16 Ultra Max will likely include the most advanced camera system in the entire lineup.