What you need to know

• Rumors claim Xiaomi is looking to upgrade the Dynamic Back Display for its upcoming 18 Pro.
• This screen could arrive at 4 inches, instead of 2.6 inches like the 17 Pro and Pro Max.
• It was mentioned that this screen could sport "higher brightness," and there's a chance "privacy protection" could enhance this rear display as well.
• Xiaomi's president, Lu Weibing, was on a livestream shortly after the 17 series debuted, stating it shattered pre-order records and that the brand would look to replicate this rear screen design on future devices.

Xiaomi is coming off the back of a rather eye-catching flagship phone, and now rumors say its next iteration could keep the train moving.

This week, a tipster on the Chinese social media platform Weibo posted alleged details about Xiaomi's upcoming 18 Pro (via GSMArena). Tipster Smart Pikachu claims the OEM is working on a successor to the 17 Pro with a 4-inch display on its rear panel. It seems the aesthetic of this screen could remain the same, as the post states Xiaomi will integrate "large round corners" (machine translated).

What's more, the tipster speculates the Xiaomi 18 Pro could feature an RGB Dynamic Back Display with "high brightness" and "high PPI." This last bit is resolution-based. A higher PPI could help a screen with a higher, more defined, and detailed resolution. Perhaps Xiaomi is trying to make its back display similar to the phone's front screen in looks alone.

The tipster's post mentioned one more interesting possibility: "privacy protection." It's unclear what this could mean. There's a chance the tipster means this in a similar vein as Samsung's Privacy Display, but for the rear screen. Some users in the comments wonder if this could be the case, too, but nothing is confirmed.

It's a "magical" external display

Xiaomi's 17 series was significant since it was the first set of phones to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The company didn't hold back with the 17 Pro and Pro Max. The base Xiaomi 17 was pretty standard, with a compact 6.3-inch screen and a square camera housing. It was the other two—the Pro models—that featured its new 2.6-inch Dynamic Back Display. This screen offered dynamic alerts, AI wallpapers, custom clock faces, virtual pets, and more.

Most phones aren't doing this anymore. You can put foldables into the equation here, but those are foldables. Xiaomi's 17 Pro and Pro Max were so attractive that they shattered sales records. Xiaomi's president, Lu Weibing, held a livestream after the series launched, stating the phones shattered records minutes after going live for pre-orders.

While both the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max feature the Dynamic Back Display, the latter shone the brightest. It was stated during this report that Xiaomi plans to replicate this design on future flagships after such a positive reception. With this, the rumors about the 18 Pro featuring an upgraded Dynamic Back Display aren't so surprising.

Android Central's Take

The Dynamic Back Display on Xiaomi's phones is very cool. It's like merging that foldable cover display experience with a slab phone. It also feels like there are two ways of doing an external display: either you go all in like the Xiaomi 17 Pro/Pro Max or you're more minimal like Nothing's Glyph Matrix. Each have their charm, and each get the job done in different ways. These rumors only talk about the Xiaomi 17 Pro, but I'm almost certain the next Pro Max would feature the same, considering the company is looking to replicate success.

The Xiaomi 17T Pro has the same problem as the Vivo X300 FE — it costs too much at launch. The phone debuted at €899 ($1,046), or £799 ($1,075) in the U.K. for the 12GB/256GB model. That's €100 ($116) more than the launch price of last year's 15T Pro, and it's clear that this is something Xiaomi is doing across its entire range in 2026. To put that into context, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra was introduced at €1,499 and is now available for €1,399 ($1,627) in the region.

Having said that, the 17T Pro fills a valuable niche; it goes up against devices like the X300 FE and the Find X9. Unless you need the absolute-best cameras these brands have to offer, I think these devices are a better choice than the X300 Ultra and the Find X9 Ultra flagships.

I've always liked using Xiaomi's T models, and with the 17T and 17T Pro launching just eight months after their predecessors, it's understandable that both devices share the same foundation. The 17T Pro retains the same 6.83-inch panel, the same IP68 ingress protection, 5x optical zoom camera, 32MP front camera, and the same connectivity — including a USB-C port that's still based on USB 2.0. Hey Xiaomi, how about not shortchanging customers for once? While this may not have been an issue in the past, with XR glasses gaining momentum, the lack of USB 3.2 connectivity is going to be a real issue — I wasn't able to connect the 17T Pro to my Rokid Max 2.

With that nit picked, let's get to the new features. Although the 17T Pro inevitably has a lot of similarities to its predecessors, there's a decent amount of new stuff on the device. The all-new 7,000mAh silicon battery is the biggest Xiaomi put into a phone, MediaTek's latest Dimensity 9500 platform is under the hood, the cameras have a few new tricks, and I like the color variants this year.

The 17T Pro looks a lot like its predecessor

Visually, the 17T Pro looks a lot like last year's 15T Pro, and the in-hand feel is nearly the same. The bigger battery means the phone is a little heavier at 219g (the 15T Pro is 210g), but this isn't noticeable in everyday use. Xiaomi once again used a square design around the camera island, but unlike last year, this feels unfinished — it doesn't have the chamfered edges that smoothly blended the camera housing into the body. I feel like Xiaomi should have paid attention to the design a little bit more, because the 17T Pro doesn't stand out all that much against OPPO and Vivo's offerings.

That said, I like the blue model I'm using. The glass rear has a matte texture, and it accentuates the hue, and the color extends to the mid-frame, which is once again made out of aluminum. The flat sides have beveled edges to ensure the phone doesn't dig into your palm, and the mid-frame has a matte finish as well. Xiaomi didn't go overboard with the buttons, and you get the usual power and volume buttons on the right.

The rest of the design is pretty standard; the USB-C port is located at the bottom, the SIM tray sits next to it, and the fingerprint sensor is located a little too low on the panel — yet again. I don't get why some brands do this, and it just makes accessing the sensor needlessly awkward. Thankfully, Xiaomi retained IP68 dust and water resistance, and with Gorilla Glass 7i covering the panes of glass, the phone has a decent amount of resilience against tumbles (you'll still need to invest in a good case, though).

The 6.83-inch AMOLED panel is unchanged from last year, so you get the same 2772 x 1280 resolution and 120Hz refresh. The phone does a good job with HDR content in general, and it gets bright — I tested this quite extensively in India's blistering heat, and I had no problems using the 17T Pro outdoors. The phone retains 3840Hz PWM dimming, and it now covers the entire brightness range, which is good to see. Xiaomi also touted better eye protection this year, with the phone getting hardware-level blue light control.

Need a huge battery? This is the phone to get

Coming to the hardware, the biggest change is the 7,000mAh silicon battery, so let's start there. The 17T Pro manages to last two days with medium use, and with heavy use involving navigation and taking hundreds of photos, I still got a day's worth of charge comfortably. The bigger battery along with the switch to a silicon-carbon anode makes the 17T Pro a much better choice than its predecessor, and I like that the phone has USB PD charging. Xiaomi's bundled charger goes up to 100W, and takes just under 45 minutes to charge phone fully; there really isn't a need to charge this phone overnight.

But if you want to go that route, you'll get the usual battery protection modes. The phone also gets 50W wireless charging as standard, alongside reverse charging. On the whole, the 17T Pro is one of the best phones around if you need a big battery and fast charging tech.

The rest of the hardware isn't anything to scoff at either. The model I'm using has 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage, and it comes with global 5G bands, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, and dual-band GPS. The vibration motor is pretty good in its own right, and it has good feedback while using the keyboard and navigating the interface.

Xiaomi went with MediaTek's latest 3nm Dimensity 9500 platform, and it has Arm's new C1-Ultra, C1-Premium, and C1-Pro cores alongside a 12-core Mali-G1 Ultra GPU, which does a better job than the Immortalis-G925 in the Dimensity 9400+. The higher frequencies allows the 17T Pro to tout noticeable gains over the 15T Pro, and while this isn't particularly noticeable in day-to-day use, it handles demanding tasks without any issues whatsoever. What I like the most is that it doesn't overheat anywhere as much as its Qualcomm-based rivals in sustained gaming scenarios.

The main camera is truly incredible

Xiaomi is reusing the same cameras as last year, but the main sensor is now called Light Fusion 950 (instead of Light Fusion 900). The 50MP main camera uses an OmniVision OVX9500 sensor, and it's joined by the 50MP Samsung JN5 tele module with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP OmniVision OV13B wide-angle lens. Xiaomi is making a big deal out of motion photos; the feature has been around for a while, and if you like it, you can now use it with Xiaomi phones.

Like last year, the main camera does an excellent job in daylight as well as challenging lighting situations. You get great dynamic range, good white balance, and vibrant colors. The tele lens is similarly great, and it delivers excellent shots at 5x, and doubles as a reliable portrait shooter. That said, the 115mm focal length (5x) isn't ideal when it comes to portraits, and Xiaomi should have offered an 85mm option like most other phones in this category.

There is a 2x mode as well, and while it's great in its own right, I got used to the quality of the portraits I get from OPPO and Vivo phones, and I feel like Xiaomi lags a little behind in this area. On that note, the selfie lens isn't that great, and this phone deserves a better wide-angle camera — particularly when you consider how good the other lenses are.

Should you buy the Xiaomi 17T Pro?

I'm not going to talk about the software too much; the 17T Pro comes with Android 16 out of the box, and it is optimized to run fluidly on the phone. I didn't see any lag or slowdowns, but the software itself is in need of a visual overhaul, and it doesn't feel quite as modern to use as OriginOS and ColorOS.

It wasn't all that long ago that you could get a Xiaomi T series phone for around $500. But the industry as a whole is trending upwards in this area, and it isn't just Xiaomi that's selling its value flagships at what would've been flagships prices three years ago (the Xiaomi 13 debuted at €999 in 2023). So, where does that leave the 17T Pro? You're not getting huge gains from the 15T Pro, so if you're able to get last year's phone at a discounted price, that would be my recommendation — it has 90% of the same features.

But if you aren't able to get the 15T Pro at a decent deal and need a bigger battery, the 17T Pro is a viable alternative. I still think it's better to wait a little while before buying the phone — Xiaomi will inevitably lower prices over the coming weeks, like it does with all devices in its portfolio. If you'd rather not wait, POCO's F8 Ultra is a solid choice as well — it has a better design, amazing cameras, the latest internals, and a 6,500mAh battery — and it costs a much more reasonable €659 right now.

What you need to know

• Recent rumors claim that Xiaomi is working on a Privacy Display for its devices, but it will do so differently than Samsung.
• The company could look to software to get this done, and it might do so for HyperOS 4 (Android 17) "later this year."
• Rumors after the Galaxy S26 Ultra debuted claimed other OEMs were looking to chase after Samsung's newest feature, and Xiaomi and Honor were highlighted as potential candidates.

Samsung's Privacy Display was a true highlight for the Galaxy S26 series, and another rumor expands on which of its competitors will do the same.

Rumors about this have continued on social media, with tipster Yogesh Brar claiming that Xiaomi is working on a Privacy Display (via Digital Trends). Early speculation from Brar claims that Xiaomi is working on a feature that's "like" Samsung's Privacy Display. This could be due to the Chinese OEM chasing a path toward this security feature through software.

Brar claims that Xiaomi could deploy its version of Privacy Display through a future HyperOS update. The post says this might arrive with HyperOS 4 "later this year." Exactly how this could work is still unclear, especially since Xiaomi is (allegedly) chasing a software route, not hardware. As the publication theorizes, Xiaomi's software-based Privacy Display could have some significant limitations compared to a hardware version.

We'll have to see what this looks like to know for certain. Brar's claim suggests HyperOS 4 will carry this, which is based on Android 17. Last year, Xiaomi started its major HyperOS rollout around late October. Perhaps we'll see similar behavior again, and with this Privacy Display software.

Competition

Shortly after the Galaxy S26 series debuted, we were already seeing reports that Samsung's competitors were eyeing Privacy Display. Rumors claimed that additional OEMs were already looking to mirror its technology. Specifics weren't given, but it was speculated that such OEMs could include Xiaomi and maybe Honor. What's most curious is that the tipster alleged that these companies would deploy a Privacy Display like Samsung, at a hardware level.

However, what we're seeing rumored today about Xiaomi is that it could look to software to make this happen. It's a curious shift, one that makes us even more curious as to how this would shape up. Earlier rumors said that we could see other OEMs' take on Samsung's Privacy Display later this year, in September, and after. Samsung's new feature is incredibly welcome, especially for the sake of user privacy, but it's not completely without fault.

In our testing, it appears that the inclusion of such technology has negatively impacted the S26 Ultra's brightness. The display is slightly darker than the S25 Ultra from all angles.

Android Central's Take

I'm really curious as to how a software version of the Privacy Display would work. Before, Samsung was solving a privacy issue for users, and removing the need of grabbing for an external version that you'd stick on. Sure, both have their negatives, but they get the job done. For Xiaomi—if I'm to believe this rumor—how would software get this done? Hopefully, I won't have to wait too long to find out.

What you need to know

• New models in Xiaomi's T lineup could launch earlier than expected (May 2026) but with noticeably higher prices.
• The base Xiaomi 17T is said to jump to €749, while the Pro could hit €999 — that’s up to €200 more than last year.
• Key specs for both models have also leaked.

Do you remember when Xiaomi's T series offered flagship features without the high price? That might be changing. A new leak says the Xiaomi 17T and 17T Pro will arrive in May 2026, eight months sooner than expected, and their prices could bring some serious sticker shock.

According to a report from French website Dealabs, the regular Xiaomi 17T is expected to start at €749 (about $876) for the 12GB/256GB version. That’s €100 more than last year’s Xiaomi 15T. The bigger shock is the 17T Pro, which could cost €999 (about $1,169), making it €200 more expensive than the Xiaomi 15T Pro.

Display and power upgrades

What do you get for the higher price? The Pro model potentially comes with impressive features. According to the report, it has a 6.83-inch 144Hz OLED screen (up from 120Hz), MediaTek’s top Dimensity 9500 chip (made with TSMC’s advanced 3nm N3P process), and a 7,000mAh battery that supports 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.

For cameras, it may include a 50MP Light Fusion 950 main sensor (the same 1/1.31-inch unit as the Xiaomi 17), a 50MP 5x telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultrawide lens.

The regular 17T is expected to have more modest specs: a 6.59-inch 120Hz OLED screen, a Dimensity 8500-Ultra chip, a 6,500mAh battery with 67W wired charging (but no wireless charging), and a smaller 50MP Light Fusion 800 main sensor.

Both phones are said to have 12GB of RAM, UFS 4.1 storage, 32MP selfie cameras, and will be available in Blue, Black, or Purple.

Based on the leak, the 17T Pro looks very powerful. However, a starting price of €999 puts it close to the base models of the Galaxy S26 and OnePlus 14.

Android Central's Take

A 7,000mAh battery and wireless charging on a Pro model that is supposed to offer value is impressive. You get almost flagship-level performance for less than a Galaxy Ultra or iPhone Pro Max. Still, Xiaomi’s €200 price increase in one generation suggests the company is testing how much customers are willing to pay. For users, this means the days of sub-€800 flagship killers are ending. If you want top features without spending a fortune, you now have to look for last year’s deals or accept that premium phones now start at €1,000.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi is finally launching a true successor to its HD TV stick after nearly five years, with a global release likely soon.
• Performance gets a bump with a 38% faster CPU and updated GPU, making everyday streaming smoother.
• It still caps out at 1080p, but adds HDR10+, Dolby Audio, and DTS:X to improve overall viewing and sound quality.

After almost five years, Xiaomi is finally releasing a true follow-up to its entry-level HD streaming stick. The Xiaomi TV Stick HD (2nd Gen) has just shown up on the company’s global website, so a worldwide launch is likely coming soon.

On paper, it offers the upgrades you’d expect: faster performance, improved video support, and the same affordable approach that made the original popular for bringing old TVs back to life.

Xiaomi says the new stick offers a 38% boost in CPU performance over the first-gen Mi TV Stick, thanks to upgraded Cortex-A55 cores and a Mali-G31 MP2 GPU. It also supports AV1 decoding, a modern codec that makes streaming more efficient and is now required for any Google TV device certified after March 2021. This means the stick is fully certified for Netflix, Google TV, and all the popular apps.

Video output tops out at 1080p at 60Hz, which is expected for an HD-focused device. But Xiaomi added HDR10+ support for better contrast, plus Dolby Audio and DTS:X for richer sound.

The remote lands with dedicated buttons for Netflix, Prime Video, YouTube, and Google Assistant, and you’ve got dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0 for connectivity.

The elephant in the room

But there are still some drawbacks, mainly with RAM and USB. The stick still comes with only 1GB of RAM and 8GB of storage, just like the previous version. That’s not much for Google TV’s interface, which has become more demanding since the original ran Android 9.

You’ll probably notice slower multitasking and longer app loading times, especially when switching between streaming services. Xiaomi also kept the microUSB port for power instead of moving to USB-C, which is surprising for a device launching in 2026.

In terms of design, it’s compact with curved edges, measuring 107.4 by 30 by 14 millimeters. It plugs directly into an HDMI port or can use the included extender. The form factor works well.

The main question now is the price. Xiaomi hasn’t shared official pricing yet, but the first-gen HD model sells for about €44 (around $51), and the 4K second-gen stick launched at €59.99 (about $69). This new model will likely be priced between €45 and €55 when it arrives in Western Europe, the UK, and other global markets soon.

If you want to upgrade an old 1080p TV and need a simple Google TV experience with good app support, this stick should do the trick.

Xiaomi improved the processor and added better codec support, which are good steps. However, the same memory and old charging port mean this isn’t a clear-cut upgrade. It’s a more capable stick, but not necessarily a better investment.

If you're planning to purchase a new premium Android phone in 2026 and want something that isn't a Samsung Galaxy or a Google Pixel, you might want to take a gander at Xiaomi's offering(s). The Chinese behemoth recently launched its flagship 17 series in multiple key markets worldwide. The lineup includes two smartphones, the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, both of which are packed with more features than you can shake a stick at. Gorgeous design? Check. Terrific cameras? Absolutely. The latest in terms of hardware and software? You got it.

But even with all their similarities, Xiaomi's two newest smartphones are quite different, so choosing one over the other isn't as easy as it may seem. So, let's take a comparative look at Xiaomi 17 vs. Xiaomi 17 Ultra and see how these two members of the same family fare against each other.

Xiaomi 17 vs. Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Design and display

Compare these two Xiaomi flagships side by side, and the first visual distinction that becomes immediately apparent is their differing physical footprint. While the Xiaomi 17 is a fairly compact device, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is a much more substantial piece of hardware. As you'd expect, the 17 Ultra is also a bit heavier (28g, to be exact) than the 17. Flip the flagships to their business side, and the size difference also translates to the amount of visual real estate you get.

The Xiaomi 17 comes with a 6.3-inch OLED panel (protected by Xiaomi Shield Glass) with a pixel density of around 460ppi, whereas the Xiaomi 17 Ultra packs a 6.9-inch OLED screen (protected by Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0) with a pixel density of about 416ppi. Surrounded by extremely thin bezels, both displays are amazing to look at and fantastic to interact with, thanks to their 120Hz variable refresh rate, 12-bit color depth, up to 3,500nits of peak brightness, DCI-P3 color space compatibility, and multi-format HDR support.

The rear design is where things get quite interesting. The Xiaomi 17 sports an all-glass back panel, with its triple-lens camera setup housed in a color-matched square housing in the top-left corner. On the other hand, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra features a gargantuan circular black camera island that's home to its powerhouse triple-lens camera system, and the housing occupies most of the top half of the fiber-reinforced plastic back panel. It goes without saying that both of these smartphones have top-tier build quality, complete with an aluminum frame, tactile physical buttons, and IP68 certification for dust and water resistance.

Xiaomi 17 vs. Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Specs

Both flagships are loaded to the gills, with Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 silicon headlining the spec sheets. Although the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (16GB RAM and 512GB/1TB storage) takes things a bit further compared to the Xiaomi 17 (12GB RAM and 256GB/512GB storage), both phones offer superfast LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. Needless to say, these two devices can effortlessly handle just about anything you throw at them, and both are capable of holding their own against the best Android phones available out there.

You also get all essential connectivity and I/O options on both smartphones, including Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, multi-band 5G, NFC, and USB Type-C 3.2 with DisplayPort functionality. In true Xiaomi fashion, there's even an IR blaster included in the mix.

Xiaomi 17 vs. Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Cameras

Both the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra pack impressive primary camera arrays co-engineered with Leica, continuing the long-standing collaboration between the two brands. The Xiaomi 17 has a triple-lens rear camera system with a 50MP (1/1.31-inch size) primary sensor, a 50MP floating telephoto unit with 2.6x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide module. It's a versatile setup that lets the Xiaomi 17 capture incredible photos and high-resolution videos in all kinds of lighting conditions.

But as incredible as that is, it's the Xiaomi 17 Ultra that really takes things to the next level, with a triple-lens rear camera setup comprising a 50MP (1-inch) primary sensor, a 200MP telephoto unit with 3.2x-4.3x continuous optical zoom, and a 50MP ultrawide module. If all that sounds like some serious camera hardware, it's because it is.

As noted by Android Central's Harish Jonnalagadda in his review, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra captures extraordinary photos packed with detail, even in less-than-ideal lighting. All three lenses work equally well, and Xiaomi has made a lot of improvements to its image processing and color tuning. The same is true for videos, too, with full support for cinematic color profiles and professional video controls.

Furthermore, the camera experience on both smartphones is helped by a laundry list of customization tools, Leica-inspired photographic styles, RAW capture support, Log video recording, and a lot more. In summation, the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra are hands down two of the best Android camera phones you can get in the market right now.

Xiaomi 17 vs. Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Software and battery life

Running Android 16 out of the box, the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra are identical in terms of their overall software experience. You get Xiaomi's HyperOS 3 UI overlaid on top, and it's quite reliable for everyday use.

Although HyperOS 3 is not as feature-laden as some competing UI overlays like One UI (Samsung) and OxygenOS (OnePlus), you still get a bunch of customization options (dynamic wallpapers, 'HyperIsland' alerts) and Xiaomi's own suite of AI-powered utilities, along with Google's AI-based tools like Gemini.

The company has promised up to six years of OS updates and security patches for the two phones, but Xiaomi's track record isn't exactly the best when it comes to software support, so we'll just have to wait and see how things turn out in the real world.

Regarding the battery, it's a good thing that Xiaomi (like many other Chinese brands) has also embraced silicon-carbon technology, as both the Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra have pretty sizeable powerpacks. It's also worth noting that the Xiaomi 17 comes with a bigger battery and faster wired charging (6,330mAh with 100W) compared to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (6,000mAh with 90W), despite the former being the more compact of the two.

That said, you do get equally speedy wireless charging speed (50W) on both smartphones, so neither should have any issues going on a full day (or two) with moderate to heavy use.

Xiaomi 17 vs. Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Which should you go for?

While they are very expensive, there's no denying that Xiaomi 17 (starting at around $1,199) and Xiaomi 17 Ultra (starting at about $1,732) are two of the most powerful and feature-laden Android smartphones you can buy in 2026. From top-of-the-line specifications to remarkable camera hardware to blazing-fast charging technology, they tick all the right boxes. You really can't go wrong with either, but (assuming you live in a region where they're available and don't care about the price) which one should you get?

The answer is fairly straightforward. If you want a well-rounded flagship smartphone that's comfortable enough for everyday use, the Xiaomi 17 will serve you quite well. As a matter of fact, the Xiaomi 17 is the sensible choice for most users. On the other hand, if you're someone who takes their photos (and videos) very seriously, getting the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is certainly recommended. It's a somewhat niche smartphone, but the 17 Ultra can (almost) double as a professional-level photo and video camera.

I like to read a lot, and when I'm about to travel, my Kobo e-reader is the last thing I pack in my bag. But I forgot to do so on a recent trip, and I only realized my mistake as I got to airport security. Thankfully, I was using the Xiaomi 17 Ultra at the time, so I wasn't too worried.

That's because Xiaomi has a dedicated Reading Mode, and it is great to use. Other brands also have a similar feature, but Xiaomi does it better than just about anyone else, and it makes reading on the 17 Ultra so much more comfortable. The feature lets you turn the entire screen monochrome, and when you turn down the brightness of the panel, it's easier on the eyes — the effect is similar to using an E Ink device.

Honestly, I didn't mind the fact that I didn't get my e-reader by the end of the flight, and I even started using the 17 Ultra to read a lot more just because of this feature.

Reading Mode makes a huge difference on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra

Reading Mode has been a mainstay on Xiaomi phones for close to a decade now, and the brand built out this feature in recent years. The default Cycle option automatically adjusts colors based on what you're using and according to the time of day, switching to warmer hues at night to make it easier to use the phone.

I like the Classic option; in this mode, you can either turn the entire screen monochrome, or tone down the colors to make it a little easier to read, or use the full-color option. In all three options, you can manually adjust the color balance, so if you prefer the panel to be warmer, you can do so.

Another nifty inclusion is a Texture slider that lets you achieve a grainy effect, mimicking the feel of an e-reader. You can adjust the intensity of the effect, and it makes a difference if you're reading a book on the device.

How to enable Reading Mode

Reading Mode is baked into the phone's settings, and it's straightforward to enable on the 17 Ultra:

1. Navigate to Settings.
2. Go to Display & brightness.
3. Navigate to Reading mode.
4. Toggle it to On.
5. Choose the option you want. I like using the monochrome mode, so I go to Classic, and choose Black and white in the color options.

Although this isn't a new addition, I haven't used my phone to read in a really long time, and it wasn't until I tried doing so on the 17 Ultra that I realized just how good it is. If anything, I'm using the 17 Ultra as my daily driver because it's just so convenient to read on the device.

Of course, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra gets a lot right besides this feature; as an overall choice, it is much better than the Galaxy S26 Ultra — you get a bigger battery, better design, the cameras are on another level, and the phone is built to last.

POCO has been on a roll recently, and the brand is doing all the right things with its budget and mid-range phones. What's particularly interesting is that POCO now collaborates with Marvel to release limited-edition models of its phones, like last year's X7 Pro Iron Man Edition. The brand is renewing that license in 2026 with the introduction of the POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition.

This year's phone looks quite different, and if anything, it grabs even more attention. I'll get to the design in a minute, but let's start with the X8 series. POCO is debuting the X8 Pro and X8 Pro Max globally, and the devices are now on sale in the U.K., India, and other key markets. The X8 Pro starts at £289 ($385) in the U.K. for the 8GB/256GB model, and ₹33,999 ($367) in India.

The Iron Man edition comes in at $399, and it is sold in a 12GB/512GB configuration — the phone costs ₹43,999 ($476) in India. The POCO X8 Pro Max, meanwhile, starts at the equivalent of $469. This is what the devices cost:

• POCO X8 Pro (8GB/256GB): $329 / £289 / ₹32,999
• POCO X8 Pro (12GB/256GB): ₹37,999
• POCO X8 Pro (8GB/512GB): $369 / £319
• POCO X8 Pro (12GB/512GB): $399 / £349
• POCO X8 Pro Iron Man Edition (12GB/512GB): $399 / ₹37,999
• POCO X8 Pro Max (12GB/256GB): $469 / £359 / ₹42,999
• POCO X8 Pro Max (12GB/512GB): $529 / £399 / ₹46,999

The POCO X8 Pro Max is quite interesting as it comes with MediaTek's Dimensity 9500s platform and a huge 8,500mAh battery. It's clear that POCO is aiming the device to be a mid-range alternative to the Nord 5 and the Pixel 10a, and it has plenty to deliver in that area. I'll talk about the X8 Pro Max in a different post, instead turning my attention to the X8 Pro.

As I'm using the X8 Pro Iron Man Edition, I'll focus on the design. The phone comes in a unique box with plenty of Marvel accouterments — including a custom case — and there's a sense of occasion when unboxing the phone. The phone itself feels better in-hand than its predecessor, and that's because it has a smaller 6.59-inch panel.

You get Iron Man in a black-and-gold armor, with the Stark Industries logo inscribed underneath. The gold accent serves to differentiate the design a little bit, and it contrasts well with the overall aesthetic. While it is a bit ostentatious, there's no doubting that the X8 Pro Iron Man Edition is built to draw eyeballs — even with the case on, you'll get plenty of attention while using this phone outdoors (I definitely did).

I also like that the cameras don't jut out too much, and the camera housing has a minimalist design that doesn't draw attention away from the Iron Man armor. The rear has a silky texture that feels good to hold, and I didn't bother with the case most of the time. Another positive is the metal mid-frame; it feels much nicer to hold and use, and definitely gives the phone an upmarket look.

There's also a few custom icons and software effects, but other than that, the X8 Pro Iron Man Edition is similar to the regular model. The 12GB/512GB configuration is ideally suited, and you get LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage modules, so in this area, the device is no different to the F8 Ultra or other flagships.

I like that the global model also gets a bigger 6,500mAh battery this time — it was exclusive to the Indian model last year. The bigger battery lasts all day with ease, and even with heavy use, there are no problems getting to the end of the day. Xiaomi's standard 100W charging tech is intact, and as it's based on USB PD, you can use any PD charger and charge the phone at 100W.

The smaller 6.58-inch OLED panel is a joy to use; it gets brighter than last year and has excellent colors, and you get all the software customizability that you're used to with other POCO phones. You get 3,840Hz PWM dimming as well, and Dolby Vision content in select streaming platforms.

Switching to the internals, the Dimensity 8500 Ultra is nearly identical to last year's 8400 Ultra; it uses the same cores and is also built on a 4nm node. It gets slightly faster thanks to higher frequencies, but the difference isn't noticeable in daily use. That said, it remains a decent mid-range chipset, and I didn't see any issues in regular use.

It's a similar story with the cameras, and the 50MP main camera does a decent enough job. It isn't on the same level as the F8 Ultra, but it is better than its predecessor, and it holds up well enough in this category.

The X series has sold incredibly well in India, and the X8 Pro builds on last year's X7 Pro. It is slightly faster, lasts slightly longer, and the cameras take slightly better photos — an iterative upgrade if ever there was one. However, the X7 Pro debuted at ₹26,999 ($292), so POCO somehow needs to convince buyers to pay a lot more to get a phone that's largely similar. I think there's enough new with the X8 Pro to justify a purchase, and if you're interested in the device, the X8 Pro Iron Man Edition is the obvious choice.

We've gone hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and have come away quite impressed with what Samsung has managed to achieve. It's not a radical shift from the S25 Ultra, but subtle improvements like the lighter design, fancy new display, and faster charging are all quality of life upgrades that are welcomed.

Xiaomi has been busy as well and, in an attempt to steal some of Samsung's thunder, has launched the Xiaomi 17 Ultra globally. This is an equally impressive flagship worthy of its high price and, in some instances, even beats the S26 Ultra.

If you live in a region where you have the option to buy either phone, and you're still finding it tough to decide, here's everything you need to know about how these Samsung and Xiaomi flagships compare.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Design and display

The Galaxy S26 Ultra gets a slight design makeover with gentler curves along the corners and an even slimmer and lighter design. This is much needed, given how the existing Ultra isn't the most ergonomic for everyday use. The S26 Ultra measures 7.9mm thick and weighs 214 grams. This makes it lighter and slimmer than the Xiaomi 17 Ultra. The Galaxy also comes with a built-in stylus, which Xiaomi lacks.

The display on the Galaxy S26 Ultra is both impressive and disappointing. The downside is that it's not the 10-bit panel previously advertised, but an 8-bit panel. Samsung, though, has managed to fake a 10-bit color profile via a process called FRC, also known as temporal dithering.

Senior Editor Nicholas Sutrich has done an impressive deep dive into this tech, and the verdict is that while the S26 Ultra does produce a 10-bit color gamut, a side effect of this technique is slight pixel flicker, which can induce headaches or eye fatigue if you're sensitive to it.

On a positive note, the new Privacy Display feature is quite amazing. It basically mimics the effect of privacy screen protectors at a pixel level, which darkens the screen if viewed from an angle. You can turn this feature on or off at any time and even customize it to trigger for specific apps. Not only that, even pop-up notifications from designated apps will be blacked out, which I personally think is a really cool trick, making it one of the best Samsung phones in the market.

Xiaomi, on the other hand, has left no stone unturned, putting a 6.9-inch 12-bit AMOLED panel in the 17 Ultra. The result is an extremely vibrant screen with an incredible peak brightness of up to 3,500 nits (Samsung tops out at 2,600 nits). The resolution of the display is a tiny bit lower than the Galaxy's, but the pixel count is still a healthy 400+ ppi, so you won't notice any difference in sharpness even if compared side by side.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra looks stunning in green, with its imposing circular camera island on the back. It gets an IP68 rating for dust and waterproofing, just like the S26 Ultra. It is a tiny bit thicker and heavier than the Samsung, but not by much. Build quality is fantastic, and it truly feels like a $1,000+ smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Performance and specs

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra uses a custom version of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, just like previous generations. The standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 promises a 20% boost in CPU and GPU performance, while using 20% less power. The S26 Ultra ships with 12GB of RAM for the 256GB and 512GB storage tiers, but you get 16GB of RAM for the 1TB storage variant. Samsung has kept the pricing the same as before, as the Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.99, which is good news. The other storage tiers are priced as follows: $1,499.99 and $1,799.99.

We're in the process of reviewing the S26 Ultra, and we have no doubt that it'll simply breeze through our gaming and productivity tests. Performance has never been an issue with the Galaxy S line since it always uses the best Qualcomm SoC for that year. What will be worth noting is how well the Ultra handles heat during sustained workloads.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra starts at an equivalent of €1,499 ($1,770) for the base variant with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage. There's a second variant with 1TB of storage. Samsung's pricing is more attractive for the equivalent storage tier, but the Xiaomi comes with more RAM, which is why it costs more.

It's powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, so performance should be similar to that of the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Xiaomi claims its 3D Dual-channel Ice-loop cooling system "improves thermal conductivity by up to 50%." We'll have to do a side-by-side comparo here to see which phone has better heat management.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra retains the same battery size of 5,000mAh but finally gets faster 60W wired charging. Wireless charging speeds have also gone up to 25W, and the phone is compatible with Qi2 via a case. Given the more power-efficient SoC, we could expect to see an increase in battery life with regular use.

While we haven't compared them yet, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra appears to have even better battery life than the Samsung thanks to its huge 6,000mAh capacity. In our usage experience, this easily gets you through one full day of heavy usage. What's even better is the 90W wired charging, which can fully charge the phone from empty in under 50 minutes. You also get 50W wireless charging, which is way higher than what Samsung offers.

Xiaomi's HyperOS has come a long way from the MIUI days, but it still has its share of quirks with certain apps like Wordle simply refusing to run. To their credit, other areas like memory management and notification spam have been addressed quite a bit. Xiaomi has also upped the long-term update commitment to six years for the 17 Ultra. However, this is six years of HyperOS updates, which might not necessarily translate to six Android OS versions.

Samsung continues to offer seven generations of Android OS upgrades and security updates. The latest version of One UI comes packed with new AI features, some of which feel like variations of Google Pixel's AI features. For instance, Now Nudge is similar to Magic Cue, where it automatically gives you contextual suggestions in certain apps. Samsung now has its own call screening feature, while Photo Assist borrows features from Google Photos, where you can simply tell it what changes you wish to make to the photo in natural language.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Cameras

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra definitely has a more impressive camera setup. There's a 1-inch main 50MP sensor that captures truly detailed photos with natural colors. Then there's the 200MP telephoto that has something called "continuous zoom," which allows you to get optical-quality shots from 3.2x to 4.3x. The ultrawide camera is no slouch either, with a 50MP sensor with autofocus. All three cameras have been co-engineered with Leica.

The front camera is a 50MP sensor with autofocus. Video capabilities are equally impressive, with all four cameras being able to shoot Dolby Vision HDR video at 4K 60fps.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra doesn't shake up the camera system too much from its predecessor, but what you get are wider apertures for the main and 5x telephoto cameras. Ideally, this should result in brighter, cleaner low-light shots. The Ultra series, so far, has had some of the best cameras on a globally available Android flagship, but this changes with the entry of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra.

Software trickery can only take you so far, but there's no substitute for a physically larger sensor, which is something the 17 Ultra possesses. We'll definitely try to do a camera comparison between these two phones in the future, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Xiaomi will beat out Samsung in this area.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 17 Ultra: Which one should you buy?

As tempting as the Xiaomi 17 Ultra looks, I think the safest choice for most buyers will be the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. It's hands-down the most boring choice next to the Xiaomi, but Samsung has generally had a good track record of after-sales service and software updates. At the end of the day, you can't really put a price on peace of mind knowing that the company has you covered if something were to happen to your device.

The problem with the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is that it still lives in the shadow of the brand's "budget" perception that many of us have. Xiaomi has been trying to break out of this for years, which is why we're seeing its flagships released to more countries every year rather than just China.

Paying around $1,700 for a Xiaomi is a tough pill to swallow, but if you want the absolute best set of cameras, this is your best bet right now. For the few mobile photography and videography enthusiasts who don't mind putting up with the quirky software, you're in for a real treat. The price then becomes a non-issue when you know that you'll make the most of the hardware in the phone.

What you need to know

• An interview with Xiaomi's president, Lu Weibing, and CNBC reveals plans to produce its in-house chip, the XRing, annually.
• Potential upgrades and features weren't discussed, however, Xiaomi's president says it's thinking of integrating its chip in global releases, too.
• The XRing O1 debuted last year with a 10-core design to compete with other makers, as well as Arm's v9.2 cores.

Xiaomi came through with its own custom chip last year; now reports say it's not slowing down.

In a recent interview with CNBC, Xiaomi's president, Lu Weibing, informed the publication that the company is looking to take its custom chip development seriously (via 9to5Google). While Xiaomi released its first-ever chip, the XRing O1 in 2025, Lu Weibing stated it's now looking to "release a yearly upgrade." The mentality around its custom chip seems to have changed, as CNBC highlights a previous statement by Xiaomi's vice president, which claimed the company "couldn't commit" to such an undertaking.

Now, Lu appeared confident in front of CNBC in stating consumers should expect yearly XRing chip upgrades for its devices. Moreover, they added the next-gen chip for 2026 will arrive in its phones during its Chinese release, and there are plans to implement it for its global launches, too.

The Xiaomi president states in their interview that its AI, Xiao AI, will seek "international markets." Supposedly, the Chinese OEM plans to integrate its AI assistant on its phones during global launches and in vehicles.

All in on the XRing

There were two major occurrences for Xiaomi last year regarding its in-house chip: a report about a "chip platform department" and the XRing O1's launch. For the former, some reports claimed Xiaomi "internally" notified its members about the creation of such a department. This was designed to facilitate and better manage the work behind its custom chip. Reports added that Xiaomi tapped Qin Muyun, who previously worked as Qualcomm's senior director of product marketing, to take charge.

Xiaomi also invested 30 billion yuan (~$4.1 billion) in 2025 for its chip ambitions. Jump ahead one month to May 2025, and we're met with the debut of the XRing O1—Xiaomi's chip. The product rocks Arm's v9.2 cores and a 10-core design to try and strive for higher ground over its would-be rivals.

During its launch, there was speculation that Xiaomi would keep its XRing chips for its main market: China. However, seeing what Xiaomi's current stance is now, it looks like it wants more people to experience what it's been working on.

As MWC 2026 comes to an end, we at Android Central are highlighting the products that stood out the most to us. Several of us were on the ground at the show, testing tons of new products, including those that were entered for a chance at the spotlight in our Best in Show awards, which we held alongside our sister sites TechRadar and Tom's Guide.

So, without further ado, here are the products that were awarded Best in Show at MWC 2026!

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra

The Galaxy S26 Ultra launched ahead of MWC 2026 at a separate Unpacked event, but its presence was still felt at the show. The phone steps things up by featuring the latest Qualcomm chipset, exclusive to Samsung phones, while sporting several notable upgrades that should help this phone stand out.

Aside from a brighter 200MP camera and improved telephoto lens, the new Privacy Display arrives as the first of its kind on a smartphone, allowing you to hide the contents of your screen from onlookers. I’ve tried it myself and the effect is truly, well… effective! Now you don’t have to bother with privacy screen protectors on your phone, although we still recommend picking up a regular Galaxy S26 Ultra screen protector!

Xiaomi 17 Ultra

Xiaomi is no stranger to making terrific camera phones, and the 17 Ultra is a masterstroke. The phone's global debut brings the 1-inch 50MP main camera to a wider audience, and it's clear that Xiaomi has been busy over the last year — its camera and tuning algorithms are noticeably better than the 15 Ultra and its predecessors. This alone makes the Xiaomi 17 Ultra one of the best camera phones.

What's also notable is that the rest of the cameras are just as good, and the new zoom lens is unique in the industry: It handles 3.2x to 4.3x mechanical zoom, and that's just not something you see on a phone. It's evident that Xiaomi is looking to make a statement, and the 17 Ultra is thoroughly deserving of the award.

Xiaomi Watch 5

Xiaomi's Watch 5 doesn't look quite as good as the Pixel Watch 4, but that's okay; its sheer size gives it a decent presence, and its 1.54-inch OLED panel is one of the brightest in its category.

Xiaomi deserves credit for its ability to combine the best of Wear OS with its own unique extras, and this allows the Watch 5 to be a true standout. Another plus point is the battery life; thanks to a bigger silicon-carbon battery, the smartwatch easily lasts over four days between charges, and you just rarely get that with other Wear OS products. Xiaomi's health and fitness monitoring features are among the best around, and the Watch 5 doesn't really miss out on anything else

Tecno Modular Phone concept

Modular phones never quite took off, but the idea was always a cool one, and Tecno is reviving it with its latest concept. It starts with an impossibly thin phone, measuring 4.9mm, which features different zones on the back where you can magnetically attach various accessories. This includes battery backs, a speaker, a microphone, and even a camera grip with a telephoto lens, allowing you to extend your optical range as far as 20x! The best part: You can stack accessories for the ultimate media phone.

Unfortunately, it’s just a concept, but it’s the best example of a modular phone I’ve seen in a long time. It’s no wonder there was such a commotion at Tecno’s MWC booth.

Honor Magic V6

Honor somehow managed to make its svelte foldable even thinner; the Magic V6 is one of the thinnest devices in its category. But what truly stands out is that Honor managed to do this while slotting a bigger battery into the Magic V6. The foldable has great cameras as well, and Honor's software has a few cool new features that bridge the divide to Samsung.

Interestingly, it also gets the same level of ingress protection as the Magic 8 Pro, and that's another achievement in Honor's favor — it's just difficult to build a foldable with IP69 dust and water resistance. The result is that the Magic V6 is doubtless one of the best foldables of 2026.

Honor Robot Phone

The Magic V6 was not the only thing Honor showed off at MWC 2026. After teasing it for months, the company finally showcased the capabilities of its Robot Phone during the event. The device features a 200MP camera mounted on a three-axis gimbal, letting you use the smartphone almost like a DJI Osmo Pocket. The built-in gimbal helps capture smooth and stable videos even when you are moving. Honor also uses AI to power the motorized camera, so it can automatically track subjects and keep them in the frame.

Beyond that, the Robot Phone is quite playful as well. It can nod, respond, and even dance based on its surroundings, giving the device a bit of personality. Honor says the Robot Phone is intended to be a commercial product. It's not available yet, but the company expects it to go on sale sometime in the second half of 2026.

MemoMind One

If Meta Ray-Bans feel less like smart glasses and more like regular glasses with a camera and speakers, the MemoMind One from XGIMI, showcased at MWC 2026, might be closer to what you expect from a true pair of smart glasses. Unlike Meta's approach, the MemoMind One includes a built-in projector that displays information directly in your field of view. Once you put them on, the glasses create a virtual screen that can show the time, phone notifications, news updates, and reminders. They also feature built-in speakers for calls, meeting recordings, and live translation.

The MemoMind One is still in development according to XGIMI, but the company expects the glasses to launch sometime in Q2 2026.

TCL NXTPAPER 70 Pro

The U.S. market is finally getting a TCL NXTPAPER flagship. In a rare move, TCL is bringing the NXTPAPER 70 Pro stateside soon with the brand’s unique NXTPAPER 4.0 display technology and higher-quality specs. The highlight is certainly the 6.9-inch FHD+ display, with a matte finish, e-paper viewing modes, and zero display flicker. There’s also a minimalist smartphone mode that activates a black-and-white e-paper experience to limit distractions and let you focus on your content.

On the inside, you get a MediaTek Dimensity 7300 processor and a 5,200mAh battery. The camera system is capable, too, with a 50MP primary shooter. A slider on the side of the phone lets you switch between one full color viewing mode and three e-paper modes.

While some low-end TCL phones like the 60 XE NXTPAPER 5G made their way to the country last year, getting a premium offering with eye-friendly tech is exciting for U.S. buyers.

Motorola Razr Fold

Motorola's biggest win of MWC 2026 was the announcement that the Razr Fold will be supported for seven full years of Android OS updates. The complete specs reveal for the Razr Fold confirmed Motorola's upcoming foldable will beat the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold in key ways, with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 processor and up to 16GB of RAM, although the highlight is the battery.

The company crammed a silicon-carbon battery inside the Razr Fold with a capacity of 6,000mAh, surpassing every foldable on the U.S. market and falling short only compared to the Honor Magic V6. It will also charge at up to 80W speeds with a cable and 50W wirelessly. We also learned the Razr Fold will sport an 8.1-inch, 2K OLED main screen and an outer 6.6-inch screen with a 165Hz variable refresh rate. Another thing to like is Motorola's Razr Fold design, which has a square camera bump that doesn't rock on a table and silky PANTONE finishes.

All told, it’s a valiant effort for Motorola's big-screen foldable that should prove a real challenge for Samsung and Google in the U.S.

Lenovo ThinkTab X11

Lenovo's line of "Think" products reigns in enterprise spaces, and the company is taking it to another level with the ThinkTab X11. This tablet features a rugged build and comes with a case for even extra protection, ensuring that it can handle even the toughest environments. It features a 10.95-inch 2.5K display, a very capable Snapdragon 7-series chipset, a large 10,200mAh battery, and MIL-STD-810H/IP68 certifications for durability

Even more, the battery is easily removable without the need for screws, and you can use it in a batteryless mode with a compatible adapter, that way there's less concern for battery depredation, especially when the tablet is in constant use.

It started with Wordle; I enjoy doing the puzzle daily, so I pulled up the NYT Games app on my Xiaomi 17 Ultra only to see that it crashed upon launching. So I went into the settings and cleared storage, and the app worked. But when I launched it the following day, it was the same problem. I ultimately decided to just do the puzzle via the browser.

Thankfully, this was the only problem I noticed on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in the two weeks I used the phone as my daily driver. Now, I've had dozens of problems with the software on Xiaomi phones over the last decade, but to the brand's credit, it did a good job addressing long-standing issues like memory management and notification problems.

Other than a few errant crashes, the Android 16-based software on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra has been reliable to use, and that's a good thing — it means that Xiaomi is finally learning from past mistakes. On that note, while it isn't an issue as such, Xiaomi needs to overhaul notification pulldown gestures; ColorOS and OriginOS do a better job, and if the brand can just "borrow" how its Chinese rivals handle notifications, I wouldn't have anything to complain about with the software on Xiaomi phones.

Actually, as we're on the subject, Xiaomi needs to do a better job rolling out long-term updates. Okay, that's definitely the last of my quibbles with the phone. Well, Xiaomi could do with a visual refresh of the UI, but other than that, the software on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is decent.

I began with the software, because that ultimately determines which phone I use as my daily driver. Chinese phone manufacturers have solved the fundamentals; whether it's the Find X9 Pro, Vivo X300 Pro, or the Realme GT 8 Pro, you get the latest internals, huge batteries, vibrant OLED panels with meaningful customizability, fluid software, and standout cameras.

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is no different; I used all the preceding Ultra phones the brand rolled out, and there's no question that the brand is delivering decent upgrades this year. Xiaomi is still using a 1-inch sensor for the 50MP main camera, and there's a new 200MP tele lens, 50MP wide-angle, and a 50MP lens at the front.

Xiaomi is once again leveraging its Leica collaboration to good effect, and you get a decent set of custom modes and shooting styles. Now, there's a dedicated Leica Edition of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra with a mechanical zoom ring, but that's limited to China — the model I'm using is the global Xiaomi 17 Ultra that made its debut at Mobile World Congress at 2026. The phone is going on sale in the U.K., India, and other global markets, where it starts at the equivalent of €1,499 ($1,770) and £1,299 ($1,750) in the U.K. Obviously, that's close to what you'd pay for a foldable, and it's clear that the RAM shortage is driving prices to never-before-seen levels.

The 200MP zoom lens is of particular interest as the module gets continual optical zoom going from 3.2x to 4.3x. The zoom lens is the one I end up using the most as it doubles as a portrait shooter, and Xiaomi made heady gains in this area from previous years. Vivo's X300 Pro still has an edge, but it's a slender lead at this point — the Xiaomi 17 Ultra takes portraits that are technically just as good, but I prefer Vivo's tuning a little better.

That said, the 50MP main camera on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is nothing short of extraordinary. The phone takes outstanding shots in just about any scenario, and I got detailed photos in challenging low-light conditions. The only quibble I have with the camera is that it doesn't do as good a job with fast-moving subjects — like a toddler running around the house.

Xiaomi's image tuning is better than last year, with the phone delivering photos with true-to-life colors. Xiaomi nailed the technicalities, and there really isn't anything to fault with any of the cameras this time — I enjoyed using the wide-angle lens too. The Xiaomi 17 Ultra did a great job with videos as well; all rear cameras have the ability to shoot 4K60 Dolby Vision video, and there's decent stabilization and good color rendition.

Xiaomi went out of its way to highlight its Leica collaboration; there's a Leica logo on the rear of the phone, and the camera island itself has Leica branding. On that subject, the phone feels better in-hand than last year; it has a flat design, and the rounded edges make a difference when it comes to usability.

I really like what Xiaomi did with the design this year; the green model looks exquisite, and it has a satin texture that feels great to hold — it looks every bit as high-end as the Vivo X300 Pro. The green color extends to the sides as well, and the matte texture on the mid-frame contrasts well with the satin finish at the rear.

The camera island dominates the design, and its positioning means there's no wobble when using the phone on a table. Xiaomi did a good job with weight distribution as well, and I didn't get the feeling that the phone is top-heavy. Instead of a traditional volume rocker, Xiaomi is using dedicated up and down volume buttons, and they're better in my view.

Interestingly, you don't get any extra buttons; there's no camera control button, no shortcut key to launch an AI assistant, or any other extraneous buttons that clutter the device. That's refreshing in a way, and I like what Xiaomi did with the design of the phone. It gets IP68ingress protection, but the global model misses out on IP69. Durability is good — I don't see any damage on the device even after a few tumbles.

Switching over to the front, Xiaomi went with a bigger 6.9-inch panel this time, but because of thinner bezels, the phone isn't noticeably wider or taller than the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and that's a good thing. If anything, it's better to hold and use than the Galaxy S26 Ultra even though it's a little heavier at 219g.

The 6.9-inch AMOLED has exquisite colors, and it gets brighter this year. I used the phone outdoors on an usually-hot day in Bengaluru, and didn't have any issues. Xiaomi always does a great job calibrating its panels out of the box, and that's no different this year. In addition, you get extensive customizability when it comes to adjusting the color balance on your Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and there are decent eye comfort features.

Viewing Dolby Vision content on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is an absolute joy, and the phone holds up just as well at gaming. Granted, I just played Balatro on the phone alongside a few runs of Dead Cells, but it did a great job. I tested demanding games as well, and like other 2026 flagships, it handles visually-intensive titles without breaking a sweat.

It tends to get hot, but that is the case with all Qualcomm-powered phones I tested this year, and it doesn't get any warmer than the iQOO 15 or Realme GT 8 Pro during extended gaming sessions. What I like about Xiaomi phones is that you get all the high-res codecs you need; the phone has the full AptX suite — including AptX Adaptive — and you get LHDC 5.0, giving you the ability to stream lossless media to headsets or buds that use these codecs.

Xiaomi doesn't have a telephoto lens attachment — unlike what OPPO and Vivo are doing on their phones — but the brand continues to roll out its Photography Kit accessory that includes a custom case and a grip. This time, you get two variants, and the Kit Pro comes with a detachable grip and is a delight to use. The grip includes camera controls and a shutter button, and it mimics the feel of using a digital camera, even if it adds a little bulk and heft to the phone.

The regular kit is a decent choice if you don't want to add too much bulk to the phone, but you miss out on the versatility of just being able to use the case. Either way, the accessory bundle is polished, and Xiaomi did a good job in this area. I would've liked Xiaomi to deliver a dedicated camera lens attachment, but that looks to be a little while away.

Now, what Xiaomi actually got right is the hardware; the 17 Ultra has the latest available internals, and the phone comes with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage. It is just as fast as the other flagships I used in recent months, and I have no issues when it comes to the internals.

The only gremlin I noticed is that the phone didn't connect to my home's 6GHz band — it was on the 5GHz channel. Now, the Xiaomi Pad 8 and Find X9 Pro don't have this problem, so I don't really know why the 17 Ultra was limited to the 5GHz band. As these things go, it's a pretty minor inconvenience. I didn't have any issues with Bluetooth, NFC, or making calls with the device. The vibration motor is pretty good too, and it has detailed feedback while using the keyboard and navigating the UI.

Battery life is an area where Chinese phones dominate, and the 17 Ultra has a 6,000mAh battery that lasts over a day without breaking a sweat. Even with heavy use involving local travel and navigation, the 17 Ultra lasted all day without any issues. And when it comes to charging, the phone retains Xiaomi's 90W charging tech, and it takes under 50 minutes to charge fully.

The Chinese model has a bigger 6,800mAh battery, so it is annoying to see the global variant being limited in this area, but even then, I didn't see any issues getting the phone to last all day.

Overall, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is just better to use than its predecessors. The changes to the design make it easier to hold and use, and the upgrades to the cameras along with the new tuning algorithms give the phone a distinct advantage. There's no question that the 17 Ultra is better than the Galaxy S26 Ultra and Pixel 10 Pro XL, and if anything, it is on an equal footing with the Find X9 Pro and Vivo X300 Pro. The differences are all down to what kind of image tuning you prefer, but when it comes to the technical details, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is undoubtedly one of the best camera phones of 2026 — and I'm excited that it is now available globally.

It's that time of the year again. CES 2026 is behind us, and now our attention turns to Europe as MWC 2026 Barcelona is just a couple of weeks away. For those unfamiliar, MWC, or Mobile World Congress, is one of the biggest annual events in the mobile industry. It is a trade show similar to CES, where brands from around the world showcase their latest gadgets and innovations.

Like in previous years, the Android Central team will be on the show floor bringing you hands-on coverage and highlighting what truly matters. Several brands, including Honor, Meta, and Tecno, have already confirmed their presence at MWC, and we expect plenty of new product announcements.

With that in mind, here's everything we know will be there and what we anticipate seeing at MWC 2026. In the meantime, if you want a sense of what to expect, you can revisit the best products from our 2025 Best of MWC awards and the coolest things we saw at MWC 2025.

MWC 2026: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? Mobile World Congress, or MWC, is the world's largest consumer and business trade show where brands showcase their latest innovations. Expect new smartphones, wearables, consumer tech, and of course, plenty of AI-focused products on display.
• Who is it for? Tech enthusiasts, industry professionals, telecom experts, analysts, and members of the media who want to see what is next in communications and consumer technology.
• Where is it? MWC 2026 will take place at Fira Gran Via in Barcelona, Spain.
• When is it? MWC typically runs in late February or early March. This year, it will take place from March 2 to March 5, 2026.
• What does it cost? Standard exhibition passes start at €989 and can be purchased directly from the official MWC website.

What companies will be there at MWC 2026?

Given the scale of MWC 2026, you can expect just about every major player in mobile tech to have a presence in Barcelona. That said, in recent years, some brands have chosen to host their own standalone events around the same time to grab headlines.

Samsung, for instance, is holding its Galaxy Unpacked event on February 25 to launch the Galaxy S26 series, while Nothing has the Phone 4a series event scheduled for March 5. Even so, many brands are expected to be on the show floor. Here are some notable ones we expect to see:

• Google
• TECNO
• Honor
• Nothing
• Xiaomi
• Samsung
• Dell
• RedMagic
• Vivo
• Lenovo and Motorola
• Qualcomm
• MediaTek
• Microsoft
• Arm
• Meta
• TCL
• ZTE
• Adobe
• Huawei

What to expect from MWC 2026?

Unlike the past few years, not many brands have officially confirmed their presence at MWC 2026 just yet. That could change soon, though, since the main show is still a couple of weeks away and announcements typically ramp up closer to the event.

Even so, we already have confirmation from a few companies. Here are the brands that have confirmed so far, along with those we expect to see at MWC 2026, although this is by no means an exhaustive list.

Google

Google typically has a big presence at MWC with a sizeable booth on the show floor, but it usually reserves its biggest software announcements for Google I/O, which is now confirmed for May 19, 2026. So if you're hoping for major Android 17 news, this probably isn't the event for it.

The Pixel 10a launched recently, so we could see it showcased on the show floor. That said, you can still expect some AI and Android-related updates from Google during MWC. It's also worth noting that Android 16 QPR3 is scheduled for March, so the company could officially roll it out around the event with a few new features.

Honor

Honor is one of the brands riding high right now. The company has posted strong growth recently and also impressed us with the Magic 8 Pro. It's also one of the few major names that has officially confirmed its presence at MWC 2026. While Honor hasn't revealed the exact date and time of its keynote yet, we're expecting at least two big hardware launches from the brand.

There's a good chance we'll see a new foldable as a follow-up to last year's Magic V5. In addition, Honor's microsite hints that its anticipated Robot Phone will be on the show floor. We still don't know exactly what the Robot Phone will offer, but it appears to be a smartphone paired with a gimbal-style camera setup and AI features on top.

Samsung

Samsung usually has a big presence at MWC, but this year it's hosting its Galaxy Unpacked event just days before the show, on February 25 in San Francisco. That means the Galaxy S26 series will already be official by the time MWC kicks off.

Even so, MWC could be the first opportunity for both media and the public to go hands-on with the new Galaxy S26 series.

Last year, Samsung also showcased the Galaxy S25 Edge again at MWC after unveiling it at Unpacked, so we are hoping to see a few surprises from the Korean brand this time as well.

Tecno

Alongside Xiaomi and Honor, Tecno has also become a regular at MWC, and the company is hosting another showcase this year. Last year, Tecno grabbed attention with its Spark concept phone, which managed to pack high-end specs and a bigger battery than the Galaxy S25 Edge in a 'slim' form factor.

This year, we're expecting something equally fun. Tecno has already confirmed that it'll unveil the CAMON 50 Series and the POVA 8 Series at the show. And if past years are anything to go by, we won't be surprised to see another bold concept device or a few ecosystem products make an appearance alongside the new phones.

Nothing

Nothing has confirmed that it will host the Phone 4a series launch event in London on March 5, just after MWC 2026 wraps up. That said, the company is known for building hype ahead of its launches, and MWC would be the perfect stage to tease what's coming.

Rumors suggest Nothing will launch two devices as part of the lineup, the Phone 4a and Phone 4a Pro, with updated cameras, a slightly refreshed design, and a new chipset. Nothing has already confirmed that there will be no flagship release from the brand this year, so these could be the only smartphones we see from the company in 2026.

HMD

HMD usually has something interesting to unveil at MWC. Last year, the company showcased earbuds that doubled as a MagSafe power bank, and this year we're once again expecting something creative from the brand.

Xiaomi

For the past few years, Xiaomi has used MWC as its global launchpad for flagship phones, and 2026 should be no different. We're expecting to see the Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra make their international debut in Barcelona. The global variant of the Xiaomi 17 Ultra is rumored to feature top-tier specs, including the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a sizeable 6,000+ mAh battery.

As usual, the real highlight will likely be Xiaomi 17 Ultra's Leica-tuned camera system. Beyond the phones, Xiaomi typically brings along a few ecosystem products as well, so we wouldn't be surprised to see new wearables, tablets, or smart home devices share the stage.

Qualcomm

Qualcomm typically has a large presence at MWC. While we do not expect the company to launch any new consumer hardware on the show floor, it usually showcases a range of demos highlighting its latest SoCs and chip capabilities. This year, however, could be slightly different.

Qualcomm's SVP of Engineering, John Smee, recently revealed in an interview that the company will showcase 6G technologies at MWC 2026 and "not just theoretical innovation but live applications."

MediaTek

MediaTek has confirmed that it will host its 'AI for Life' keynote on March 4 at 10:30 AM CET, which is 4:30 AM ET. The company says the keynote will highlight its newest products and innovations, along with insights into its latest partnerships, so this is one event we will be watching closely.

Beyond the big phone launches, expect plenty of AI gadgets across categories. Smart glasses had a major moment at CES, and I wouldn't be surprised to see even more brands push into that space at MWC. We'll be on the show floor all week, so make sure to check back for all the latest updates from the show floor.

I didn't enjoy using the Redmi Note 13 Pro+ or last year's Redmi Note 14 Pro+; these devices just didn't justify the cost, and it almost felt like Xiaomi was intentionally hobbling the devices by pre-installing older software. Still, the brand had an excuse: with Google traditionally rolling out stable Android releases in Q4, Xiaomi claimed that there just wasn't enough time to have the software ready on devices that launched the following January.

With the Redmi Note 15 Pro+, Xiaomi no longer has that excuse. The stable build of Android 16 was available on June 10, 2025, with Google accelerating the launch window just to ensure brands can use the latest version of Android. However, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ still runs Android 15 out of the box, and it's clear now that Xiaomi doesn't want to deliver long-term updates to its phones.

The software situation has been a sore point on Xiaomi phones for a while now, and the brand isn't doing anything to address that. If anything, it looks like the strategy with Redmi Note devices is to intentionally pre-install older Android builds — there's no other reason why Xiaomi would do this. Although the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ will get four guaranteed Android OS updates, one of those is used to bring the device up to Android 16 — which it should have launched with.

Xiaomi says it is intent on regaining market share in key countries like India, and the brand mentioned it is going back to its roots to do so. Now, I just don't see that with the Redmi Note 15 Pro+; I used all Redmi Note devices starting with the debut model in 2014, and the series always delivered a great value. Even if Xiaomi switched gears in recent years and turned to the mid-range segment, it wouldn't have been difficult to roll out a device that excelled in this category.

Just look at the Nord 5; the phone continues to be a great choice in 2026, and it costs a little less than the Redmi Note 15 Pro+. Xiaomi really needs to go back to the drawing board and evaluate just what it wants to do with Redmi Note phones, because right now, it doesn't look like the brand has a coherent plan.

It isn't that I don't like everything on the Redmi Note 15 Pro+. The new design is pretty good, and the Mocha Brown model I'm using looks great. The vegan leather finish feels good in-hand, the camera island stands out for all the right reasons, and the slightly bigger 6.83-inch AMOLED panel is a joy to use.

And thanks to a massive 6,500mAh battery, there are no problems getting the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ to last over a day even with heavy use. The device also gets IP69 ingress protection alongside IP68, giving it the same resilience as high-end devices like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Find X9 Pro.

I'm not as enthused about the choice of chipset; the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4 is good enough in daily use, but it just doesn't have the power that you get with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3, which is on the Nord 5. I noticed some lag in day-to-day use, particularly around launching the camera and saving photos to the gallery, and the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ doesn't handle intensive games well. Also, the use of UFS 2.2 storage modules is annoying given that most other devices get UFS 3.1 storage in this category.

The biggest bugbear has to do with the cameras; the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ uses the same 200MP main camera as its predecessor, and it gets an 8MP wide-angle lens. There's no telephoto lens, and I would've liked a decent 3x shooter instead of the wide-angle lens.

Look, the main camera takes great photos, and that hasn't been a problem with the device. But it doesn't quite have the versatility that you get on the POCO F8 Pro, and while that device costs more, the gulf isn't as wide as it should be — and that's where the Redmi Note Pro 15+ once again fails to justify its pricing.

I just don't see why you should pay over $400 — it costs £349 in the U.K. and ₹37,999 in India — for a device that doesn't come with the latest software and misses out in other areas. Xiaomi has shown that it can deliver good budget phones and flagships, and its POCO strategy has been on point over the last two years, with the F8 Ultra being a standout. The brand needs to reevaluate what it's doing with Redmi Note devices, because as it stands, the Redmi Note 15 Pro+ is nowhere close to a recommendation.

What is Mobile World Congress and when is it?

Mobile World Congress (MWC) is an annual gathering of the biggest companies in the mobile tech world. It's where companies show off their latest devices, software, and everything awesome in-between. Pretty much anything used to keep you connected to the world around you, you'll find here.

The event happens in late February or early March and is always hosted in Barcelona, Spain. This year, it is from March 2 to 5.

Will Android Central be there — and what do we expect to see at MWC 2026?

Yes, Android Central is going this year! Managing Editor Derrek Lee, Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda, and senior contributors Brady Snyder and Sanuj Bhatia will all be present at MWC.

We expect a lot of announcements including some phone launches happening this year.

Here are a few of the companies we expect to be present at the event.

• AMD
• Arm
• AWS
• Meta
• Aurzen
• Clicks
• Fairphone
• Google
• Honor
• Lenovo
• MediaTek
• Nokia
• NVIDIA
• Qualcomm
• Samsung
• Samsung Display
• TCL
• Tecno
• TikTok
• Xiaomi

Keep checking this page, and check out our home page for all the news coming out of MWC 2026.

The Redmi Note 15 might be the clearest example yet of how Xiaomi is trying to fix its once-iconic mid-range lineup, but doing so at a frustratingly slow pace. I've been using the Redmi Note 15 for more than a week now, and there are so many moments when it feels like Xiaomi is listening again. But then there are moments when it reminds you why the Redmi Note name has lost some of its shine over the past few years.

Xiaomi's Redmi Note series was once an easy recommendation in the mid-range smartphone space, but that reputation began to slip a few generations ago, particularly around the Redmi Note 11 Pro, which our Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda described as a "poor showing for the category." Since then, Xiaomi has struggled to consistently deliver the kind of value that made the series iconic in the first place.

The Redmi Note 15 does not completely undo that damage, but it does suggest that Xiaomi is slowly finding its footing again. You get a display that stands out for the price, a large battery, a slim design that makes the phone comfortable to use day-to-day, and several extras that make it a compelling option in its bracket.

At the same time, familiar issues remain. The software already feels slow and dated, and the camera does a little to stand out in an increasingly crowded mid-range segment.

Redmi Note 15: Price and availability

Xiaomi introduced the Redmi Note 15 first in its home market of China in August 2025, then rolled it out to global markets on December 18, 2025, followed by a launch in India on January 6, 2026.

The Redmi Note 15 is available in both 4G and 5G variants, which is somewhat unusual for a smartphone in 2026 since most brands have shifted entirely to 5G. That said, the Redmi Note 15 5G comes in 128GB and 256GB storage options. While Xiaomi has introduced 6GB RAM variants in some global markets, both the 128GB and 256GB models sold in India ship with 8GB of RAM.

The Redmi Note 15 starts at INR 22,999/€279, while the 8GB/256GB variant is priced at INR 24,999/€299. All models also include a microSD card slot shared with the SIM tray, allowing storage expansion of up to 1TB.

Redmi Note 15: What I like

While brands like Samsung appear to have stepped away from slim smartphones with the rumored cancellation of the Galaxy S26 Edge, other Android brands are still willing to experiment with the form factor. And that becomes immediately obvious the moment you take the Redmi Note 15 out of the box.

At 7.35mm, the Redmi Note 15 isn't as thin as other "slim" smartphones, but it is noticeably slimmer than traditional flagships like the Pixel 10 Pro or the OnePlus 15, both of which measure over 8mm.

The Redmi Note 15 manages this while staying light at just 178g and still packing a sizeable battery. Much of this is made possible by Xiaomi adopting silicon-carbon battery technology, while some other brands are still taking their time to implement it.

That low weight largely comes from the phone's plastic build, which can feel a bit cheap at times. That said, given the pricing, I find it's a reasonable compromise.

Design-wise, the Redmi Note 15 looks like a fairly standard budget Xiaomi device, with rounded edges and curved glass, something that is becoming less common on smartphones today. The rear features a squarish camera module that misleadingly appears to house three sensors, but actually includes just two cameras.

What doesn't feel cheap, however, is the display up front. The Redmi Note 15 ships with a large 6.67-inch AMOLED panel that is easily one of the best I have seen in this segment. It supports a 120Hz refresh rate and reaches up to 3,200 nits of peak brightness.

While many smartphones in this price range still have thick bezels, Xiaomi has done a solid job keeping them to a minimum. The AMOLED panel delivers vibrant colors, good viewing angles, and a consistently pleasant experience in daily use. The under-display fingerprint sensor is also reliable and works well.

There were plenty of things that impressed me about the Redmi Note 15, but the most Note-worthy is its battery. For a phone this thin and light, it packs a sizeable 5,520 mAh battery and supports up to 45W fast charging. While it cannot match devices like the OnePlus 15R or Oppo Find X9 Pro, which come with much larger batteries, I had no trouble getting through a full day on a single charge, even on 5G.

There is also support for 18W wireless charging, which is rare in this segment, and Xiaomi still includes a charger in the box, something other brands could learn from.

The primary camera is quite impressive. It is the first smartphone to use Samsung's ISOCELL HM9 sensor, which was developed in collaboration with Xiaomi. The result is strong performance in good lighting, with the camera delivering consistently solid shots in broad daylight.

Photos look sharp and detailed, with colors that lean slightly bright without feeling unnatural. The 108MP sensor also enables up to 3x lossless zoom via sensor cropping, helping compensate for the lack of a dedicated telephoto camera. Low-light performance does take a hit, with the processor pushing noise reduction a bit too far to recover lost detail, but that is fairly typical behavior for large sensors in this segment.

One last positive worth mentioning about the Redmi Note 15 is expandable storage. At a time when most phones have dropped microSD support, and brands usually push users toward purchasing cloud storage, the Redmi Note 15 still includes a dedicated SD card slot. It is shared with the secondary SIM slot, but it allows storage expansion of up to 1TB.

Redmi Note 15: What I don't like

After using the Redmi Note 15 for the past week, the biggest issue for me, and arguably the most important part of a smartphone, is the processor. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3, which is neither the latest nor the most capable chipset, and that clearly shows in day-to-day performance.

This is by no means a gaming smartphone, and some sluggishness is expected at this price point. However, the Snapdragon 6 Gen 3 struggles even with basic daily tasks. There are frequent hiccups when switching between apps or even returning to the home screen after applying a wallpaper, which makes the experience feel unnecessarily slow.

Part of this sluggishness also stems from the software. We are in 2026, yet the Redmi Note 15 ships with Android 15 out of the box, running Xiaomi's HyperOS 2 skin. Xiaomi says Android 16-based HyperOS 3 is coming soon, but launching a new phone with software that is already over a year old feels unacceptable.

And even though Xiaomi is promising four years of OS updates for the Redmi Note 15, starting a year behind effectively means users will realistically get only three meaningful Android updates.

The software itself is heavily customized across almost every interface element. This adds extra strain to an already-average processor and further contributes to performance issues. On top of that, there is still a noticeable amount of pre-installed bloatware out of the box, giving the chipset even more to deal with from day one.

It would help significantly if Xiaomi toned down some of its software features on lower-end devices, but the company continues to miss the mark. Running Geekbench 6 on the Redmi Note 15 only reinforced this, with the phone turning out to be one of the slowest devices in its price range. Spending as little as INR 3,000 (about $30) more can get you noticeably better-performing alternatives.

There are also a few smaller issues worth mentioning, such as the ultrawide camera, which is underwhelming and feels more like a checkbox feature than something genuinely useful. There is also a downgrade in glass protection compared to last year's Note 14, moving from Gorilla Glass 5 to Xiaomi's in-house solution, though I did not encounter any immediate durability issues.

Redmi Note 15: Competition

Nothing Phone 3a remains one of the best budget smartphones available. It offers a more distinctive design than the Redmi Note 15, along with a noticeably more powerful processor and a newer version of Android that stays closer to stock. It also includes a telephoto zoom camera, which can be genuinely useful at times.

OnePlus' Nord CE5 is another strong option, delivering solid performance while retaining the convenience of a microSD card slot. If you prefer Xiaomi phones and MIUI, the year-old Poco X7 Pro is still worth considering, offering a larger battery, better ingress protection, and a more powerful processor overall.

Redmi Note 15: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if...

• You want a budget smartphone with a great display.
• You want a slim, lightweight phone with a big battery and fast charging.
• You are fine running an older version of Android.

You shouldn't buy this if...

• You care about consistently lag-free day-to-day performance.
• You can spend more for a noticeably better smartphone.
• You want a phone that will comfortably last several years.

The Redmi Note 15 shows glimpses of what Xiaomi still gets right. The display, build quality, and battery life are genuinely impressive for the price, and the cameras are fairly decent as well. Unfortunately, inconsistent day-to-day performance and outdated software hold it back from being a true standout in the budget segment.

You can find better-looking, more performant alternatives at this price point, but if you value a sleek design and low weight, the Redmi Note 15 remains a great option. It would be an even better choice if Xiaomi addressed the software experience.

What you need to know

• Global smartphone shipments rose by 2.3% YoY in Q4 2025, totaling 336.3 million units.
• Samsung shot up as one of the strongest performers, shipping 61.2 million units and contributing to 18.2% of the total global market share.
• Apple leads with 24.2% market share, while Chinese brands face new challenges amidst rising competition.

The holiday season seems to have worked in favor of the global smartphone market as shipments climbed by 2.3% YoY in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to preliminary data obtained by International Data Corporation (IDC). Despite the ongoing industry issues, like memory chip shortages, unprecedented tariffs, and other disruptions, the smartphone market seems to have ended the year strong.

In total, 336.3 million smartphones were shipped globally during the quarter, bringing the full-year shipments to roughly 1.26 billion units, which is a 1.9% increase from the same time last year.

Speaking of positive numbers, Samsung shot up as one of the strongest performers, shipping 61.2 million units and contributing to 18.2% of the total global market share. IDC says that Samsung delivered its best in Q4 since way back in 2013, all thanks to "strong sales of its Galaxy Z Fold 7 and affordable AI-enabled Galaxy A-Series devices," the report stated.

Samsung's new foldables basically contributed to Samsung's strongest Q3 in years, and the Galaxy Z Fold 7 sales in the US exceeded the Z Fold 6 by 50% within the same timeframe after launch. It also became the fastest-selling Galaxy Fold in Western Europe, selling more than double the units of the Z Fold 6 in its first four weeks. Giving the Korean OEM a 64% hold on the global foldable market.

Apple continued to hold its place at the top of the board, shipping over 81.3 million units, contributing to 24.2% of the global market share. Which hints at the fact that people are certainly reaching for high-end premium devices, according to Nabila Popal, senior research director for Worldwide Client Devices, IDC.

Chinese brands like Xiaomi held onto their third place with 37.8 million shipments, but the brand faced a YoY decline amid challenges like higher price points and competition from other brands within the country. Vivo and OPPO both held onto 8% of the market, shipping 27 million and 26.9 million units, respectively. IDC noted that Vivo's growth was due to its sales and performance in India, while OPPO's was bolstered by its new launches in China.

Meanwhile, other brands like Google, Motorola, Honor, etc that fall under the "others" category, accounted for 30.4% of the total market, down from 31.9% in the same period the previous year (4Q24).

Chinese phone brands had a good 2026; they delivered meaningful camera innovation and broke new ground in battery tech. Devices like the Vivo X200 Ultra, X300 Pro, and the Find X9 Pro are easily among the best phones you can buy today, and these brands are doing a better job selling their devices outside Asia.

Looking ahead to 2026, I predict a continuation of the dominance around imaging, with even bigger cameras and better tuning. I also see the likes of OPPO and Vivo establishing a solid presence in Western markets, rivaling Xiaomi and Huawei.

Cameras that are even better

If you need the best possible cameras on a phone, you'll need to get the Vivo X200 Ultra, Find X8 Ultra, or the Vivo X300 Pro — there's no question about that. With the X300 Pro delivering noticeable gains over its predecessor, where does Vivo take things in 2026? There's obviously going to be an X300 Ultra, and that should also get a 200MP tele lens.

Where I see Vivo differentiating its Ultra models is with the tuning; this was evident on the X300 Pro, and it's clear that Vivo wants to focus on its tuning algorithms as much as the physical sensors it uses on its phones. That's a good thing, because it allows the brand to meaningfully stand out against its closest rivals.

In a similar vein, I see OPPO and Xiaomi going all-out with their Ultra models, and I'm excited to see what they can deliver. While Xiaomi was the only brand out of the trio to sell its Ultra models outside China, that may change in 2026, with both OPPO and Vivo set to launch their best phones globally.

Increased global presence

What's the point of having a brilliant phone if it's limited to just a few countries? While Vivo and OPPO focused on Asian markets, that narrative is changing, and either brand is keen on building out a presence in the West. OPPO introduced the Find X9 and X9 Pro in the U.K., and Vivo debuted the X300 and X300 Pro in Germany and other markets in the region.

While either brand had a limited presence in these countries, they didn't market their products aggressively — that's going to change in 2026. In conversations with both brands, I got the feeling that they're enthused about expanding outside Asia in earnest.

Better panels

The latest wave of Chinese phones has a meaningful display upgrade: they go down to 1 nit. Chinese manufacturers have closely collaborated with display vendor BOE to deliver this, but the downside is that the resolution is lowered to 1.5K. There's no tangible difference in day-to-day usability between 1.5K and 2K.

That said, we should get phones with 2K panels that go to 1nit in low-light use in 2026. BOE is doing all the right things in this area, and it's clear that the manufacturer is able to work with phone brands to tailor panels to their needs.

Even bigger batteries

My Find X9 Pro has a 7,500mAh battery, and the phone lasts a day and a half with heavy use. Battery sizes are only going to increase in 2026, with brands set to cross 8,000mAh. This is made possible by silicon-carbon tech; the initial wave of phones with these batteries had 10% silicon in the anode, but silicon content is increasing, allowing brands to fit ever-larger batteries into their phones while still retaining a thin-and-light design.

Silicon batteries are just better; the greater density means the phones aren't bulky, and they hold up much better in challenging weather conditions.

Limited DRAM

We got phones with 1TB of RAM and 24GB of RAM, and while these models tend to be limited to China, I don't see this trend lasting. The meteoric rise in DRAM prices means brands will only deliver 12GB of RAM on their phones in 2026, and that will likely be the case even with 512GB and 1TB storage configurations.

Whether that's going to be enough in the AI-everything era needs to be seen. As it stands, I don't see any problems with 12GB of RAM on Android, but as more and more brands start switching to on-device AI models, it may turn into a bottleneck. Regardless, if you need 16GB of RAM, you'll want to buy a phone that's available now instead of waiting for a 2026 device.

I don't see the status quo changing too much with Chinese manufacturers in 2026. OPPO and Vivo will be looking to increase their imaging lead, and while Xiaomi didn't have a strong 2025, I want to see the brand do better next year. Huawei is once again likely to roll out a roster of devices with meaningful innovation (I'm testing its latest products, and they're wild), and Realme is guaranteed to deliver phones with the biggest batteries.

What you need to know

• The Redmi Note 15 Pro and Pro+ double down on durability and battery life, pushing well beyond what the Note 14 Pro series offered.
• Xiaomi jumps to IP66/IP68/IP69/IP69K ratings and SGS drop certification for the latest models.
• Xiaomi Offline Communication allows long-distance voice calls without network coverage.

In the past, buying a mid-range phone often meant settling for less. Xiaomi’s Redmi Note series has changed that, and the new Redmi Note 15 Pro and 15 Pro+ 5G take it further with strong durability and longer-lasting batteries.

On the outside, the Note 15 Pro models look similar to their predecessors. The phones are still big, flat, and clearly Redmi. What’s new is Xiaomi’s focus on durability. Now, both phones have IP66, IP68, IP69, and IP69K ratings, plus SGS-certified drop resistance and Gorilla Glass Victus 2. This is a big step up from the Redmi Note 14 series, which had good protection but not at this level.

So what do all those ratings mean for you? These phones can handle high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. You still get Gorilla Glass Victus 2 like on the Redmi Note 14 Pro series, but the Note 15 Pro’s “Titan Structure” means the phones pack "a high-strength motherboard, a reinforced mid-frame with high thermal conductivity, and shock-absorbing enhancements across seven key components for exceptional structural durability."

Silicon-carbon is the new battery standard

The Redmi Note 14 Pro+ already had a big battery, but the Note 15 Pro+ goes further with a 6,500mAh silicon-carbon battery in a slim body. The standard Note 15 Pro offers even more, with a 6,580mAh battery.

This is a big jump from the 5,110mAh battery in earlier models. The Pro+ supports 100W HyperCharge, and Xiaomi claims the battery will stay usable for six years, but actual results may vary depending on how you use it.

The processing power has also improved. The Note 14 Pro+ used the Snapdragon 7s Gen 3, but the Note 15 Pro+ now uses the Snapdragon 7s Gen 4.

For the standard Pro model, Redmi replaced the Note 14’s Dimensity 7300-Ultra with the newer Dimensity 7400-Ultra. To prevent overheating during gaming, the Pro+ uses a new Xiaomi IceLoop system with a stainless steel loop pump.

Offline calling is a standout feature

There is also a new feature not found on the Note 14 or most other phones in this price range: Xiaomi Offline Communication.

Both Note 15 models have a special chip that lets you make voice calls over long distances without network coverage. If you hike, camp, or worry about losing signal in emergencies, this feature is a strong reason to upgrade. This feature requires a SIM card and a logged-in Xiaomi account to operate.

The Note 15 Pro+ keeps its quad-curved look, now called a Liquid Display, while the standard Pro has a flat screen that many users prefer. Both screens reach up to 3,200 nits of peak brightness.

The main camera is still 200MP, but the Note 15 series now includes more advanced AI features like Google Gemini and AI Erase Pro out of the box.

The Redmi Note 15 Pro will be available in Titanium, Glacier Blue, Mist Purple, and Black at a starting price of €399/£349. The Pro+ will come in Mocha Brown, Glacier Blue, and Black, starting at €499/£429. Preorders for both models will start in January 2026.

Grade: B+

This has been a particularly strong year for phone releases, with Vivo, OPPO, and Huawei shining bright with their devices. The tri-folding Mate XT set things off at the start of the year, and camera-focused devices like the Vivo X200 Ultra and Find X8 Ultra showcased just what's possible when Chinese brands dedicate resources in this area.

It isn't just about cameras either; the latest slate of flagships shows just how powerful these phones have gotten. Battery tech has evolved considerably over the last 12 months as well, with 7,000mAh batteries now considered a mainstay. I got to use all the phones launched by Chinese phone manufacturers this year, and I'm grading the performance of each brand based on the devices it launched over the course of 2025. Let's get started.

Vivo: A+

There's no doubt that Vivo is now my favorite Android brand. It has delivered the best cameras over the last two years, and it overhauled its software efforts in 2025, launching OriginOS globally. The Vivo X300 Pro is my go-to recommendation if you want the best cameras available today, and it is a great all-rounder as well. Vivo is doing all the right things in the mid-range with devices like the V50 and V60, and the foldable X Fold 5 continues to hold its own against the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

OPPO: A

OPPO also had a standout year, and the Find X9 Pro is an outstanding device — it is my daily driver, and I don't see myself switching to another device for another month at least. The brand is once again selling phones in Western markets, and that is a positive move.

I like what OPPO is doing with foldables as well; the Find N5 launched nearly a year ago, but it continues to be great. The only area where the brand needs to do better is wearables; it makes decent smartwatches, but they're somehow still limited to China — I'd like to see these debut in more markets around the world.

Huawei: A

Huawei just isn't letting the trade ban get in the way of delivering outstanding phones. The Mate XT is the most innovative phone I've used, and the tri-folding device is incredible. The Pura 80 Ultra has one of the best zoom lenses around, and the all-new Mate X7 takes foldable cameras to new heights. While Huawei's software efforts are still lagging behind industry standards, it's clearly leading in hardware design.

I also like how Huawei is building a broader ecosystem. The Watch Ultimate 2 is my favorite smartwatch, the 12-inch MatePad Pro is the best Android tablet I've ever used, and the brand rolled out several standout earbuds this year. And with recent devices like the Mate X7 offering the ability to install MicroG during initial setup, it's easier than ever to get Google services installed on Huawei's phones.

POCO: B

Honestly, I can't fault what POCO did this year. The F7 Ultra showcased the brand's imaging efforts, the X7 Pro proved to be a great budget phone, and the F7 held its own against rivals. With the F8 Ultra, the brand has a legitimate rival to what Vivo and other brands offer in the $700 segment.

POCO needs to do better in India, its biggest overseas market. By not bringing the F8 Ultra to India, it is ceding ground to Realme. Outside of that, the software needs an overhaul, but that's more on Xiaomi than POCO.

Realme: B

I started paying more attention to Realme again in 2025, and I like what the brand is doing. As an F1 enthusiast, it's exciting to see the brand partner with the Aston Martin F1 team, and the GT 7 Pro and GT 8 Pro Dream Edition devices are terrific. I'm excited about the Ricoh collaboration as well; as other Chinese brands have demonstrated over the years, there's plenty of benefit to be gained from partnering with a camera giant, and I'm keen to see where that takes Realme.

If anything, it looks like Realme is now the brand that gets all the limited edition models within the BBK umbrella. This used to be OnePlus' specialty, but that's no longer the case in 2025, as evidenced by the Realme 15 Pro Game of Thrones edition.

Honor: C

Honor continues to make good phones, but its software efforts lag behind its rivals. I'm not talking about update policy — Honor is in line with Samsung and Google when it comes to flagship updates — but the state of the UI itself. While Honor has been saying that its software is made entirely in-house, it still has vestiges of EMUI, and it's just not cohesive.

While Honor phones have decent cameras, the inconsistencies are becoming evident, and phones like the Magic 8 Pro aren't as good as the Vivo X300 Pro or the Find X9 Pro. Honor itself says it doesn't want to be highlighted to its Chinese brethren, instead inviting comparisons to Google and Samsung. Given Honor's struggles with its cameras and their inability to measure up to OPPO and Vivo, it's no surprise the company is unwilling to pit itself against the best the industry has to offer.

Xiaomi: C

Xiaomi needs a reset — that much is clear from its product positioning and strategy. The Xiaomi 15 and 15 Ultra were strong launches, and I liked using the 15T and 15T Pro. However, the Redmi Note 14 Pro Plus was underwhelming (yet again), Xiaomi isn't doing anything to address long-standing software issues, and it doesn't have a coherent vision around what it wants to do with its ecosystem globally.

Then there's the delay with the Xiaomi 17. While its immediate rivals debuted their flagships globally — the Vivo X300 Pro and Find X9 Pro are available in India and the U.K. — there's no sign of the Xiaomi 17, Xiaomi 17 Pro, or the Pro Max. Xiaomi isn't bringing these devices outside China, and that lack of consistency is hurting the manufacturer.

ASUS: D

I want to like ASUS's devices, but the Taiwanese brand just doesn't make it easy. This year's phones have been great (as always), but an obstinate stance on software updates — where its phones will only get two platform updates — basically killed any interest in its phones. Combined with the likes of Redmagic getting its act together and delivering better software, and I just don't see the point of ASUS when its devices just don't provide a good value.

OnePlus: F

Where do I even start with OnePlus? There was a time when the company could do no wrong. In 2025, it felt like it got everything wrong. The OnePlus 15 turned out to be a massive letdown, with the phone being a downgrade from the OnePlus 13, and the new OnePlus 15R is even worse — the phone doesn't even have a telephoto lens, and it costs $699. Even its Nord devices have been mid at best this year.

The way I see it, OPPO no longer sees value in OnePlus, and it's entirely possible it is just running out the clock on the brand. All the interesting bits to do with OnePlus — the Hasselblad partnership, unique limited edition devices, and fun software — have been integrated into other brands anyway.

What is CES and when is it?

The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) is an annual gathering of the biggest companies in the technology space. It is known as the largest event that brings together companies from all categories to showcase new releases, concept products, and more. The event is hosted by the Consumer Technology Association. It's where companies show off their latest devices, software, and everything awesome in between. Pretty much anything used to keep you connected to the world around you, you'll find here.

The event happens every year during the first week of January in Las Vegas. This year, it will be held from January 6 to 8.

Will Android Central be there — and what do we expect to see at CES 2026?

Yes, Android Central is going this year! Senior Editor Harish Jonnalagadda will be present at CES and will be looking at all the cool technology companies intend to reveal.

We expect a lot of announcements, including some phone launches and potentially a closer look at the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold.

Here are a few of the companies we expect to be present at the event.

• Major Confirmed Attendees
  • Google
  • Samsung
  • Qualcomm
  • Arm
  • MediaTek
  • Motorola
  • Meta
  • TCL
  • Rokid
  • Magic Leap
  • Pico
  • Viture
  • Xreal
  • LG Innotek
• Very Likely Attendees
  • Xiaomi
  • Honor
• Possibly Attending (but not confirmed publicly yet)
  • Nothing
  • OPPO
  • ZTE / RedMagic
  • Huawei
  • TECNO

Keep checking this page, and check out our home page for all the news coming out of CES 2026.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi's 17 Ultra was involved in another rumor online, with a Weibo post claiming it could debut in China on after Christmas on December 26.
• There are theories that the device could feature a 12/256GB and a 16/1TB variant for consumers.
• Previous rumors claim the 17 Ultra will receive satellite connectivity support for texts and calls, as well as a camera housing with a 200MP lens.

The later months of 2025 have had rumors of an "Ultra" Xiaomi 17 swirling, and those have continued, as new reports claim to have nailed its debut and price.

Quite an avid tipster on Weibo, Smart Pikachu, posted some alleged information regarding what consumers could expect from the Xiaomi 17 Ultra (via Huawei Central). According to the rumor, Xiaomi could debut this Ultra device right after Christmas, on December 26. This debut could bring two varying RAM/storage variants, which, as the publication notes, mirrors what Xiaomi has done previously.

If we're going by that theory, the 17 Ultra could feature a 12/256GB and a 16/1TB variant for roughly 6,499 yuan (~$919) and 7,799 yuan (~$1,103), respectively.

Interestingly, the tipster's rumors continue, claiming that this alleged December 26 debut date could be preceded by a brief pre-order period. Xiaomi could begin this pre-order stage around December 15 through December 25. Typically, OEMs debut and begin their pre-order periods simultaneously, so perhaps we're looking at a December 15 (or rather a December 14 in the U.S.) announcement date from Xiaomi.

Of course, this is speculation, so take these rumors with a grain of salt for now.

An "Ultra" picture

Earlier rumors about the Xiaomi 17 Ultra started shortly after the 17 series originally debuted. Those Ultra theories alleged that the Chinese OEM was preparing a sharp difference for it, by granting it satellite connectivity capabilities. Those rumors, after spotting it passing through a Chinese database, suggest the phone will offer Tiantong-1 and Beidou technology. Multiple Chinese OEMs have used this tech before, likely indicating the 17 Ultra will see text and call support.

Rumors add that the device's satellite connectivity was only spotted for its Chinese variant, potentially leaving out any global users if it reaches more regions.

A rumor to sink our teeth into concerned the phone's photographic capabilities. Reports at the top of December purported that the 17 Ultra could feature Leica-branded lenses and hardware upgrades to reduce chromatic aberration, as well as reflections.

Four lenses could pack its rear panel, consisting of a 200MP lens alongside three 50MP lenses. Up until now, talks have claimed Xiaomi was aiming for a 2026 release of the 17 Ultra. Things have reportedly shifted now that we're further into December, but Xiaomi has yet to confirm anything itself.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi was rumored to have a trifold in the works in 2024, and after a period of silence, it has seemingly appeared in a GSMA database.
• With only a model number to go on, rumors claim the device could be branded the "Mix Trifold" with a late 2026 launch window in mind.
• Earlier rumors clocked a patent in China, which showcased early renders of the phone with the Mix Fold 3's horizontal camera bar.

Eyebrows are raised over a recent report that claims Xiaomi's rumored trifold phone just surfaced in an overseas database.

The rumor was highlighted in a report by Xiaomi Time, which claims that Xiaomi's trifold just arrived for certification in the GSMA database (via GSMArena). The device, which could allegedly debut as the "MIX Trifold," was spotted in the database bearing model number 2608BPX34C.

There's nothing "more interesting," per se, following this database discovery; however, a potential timeframe might've been narrowed down.

The publication claims that there are two other Xiaomi foldables planned for 2026, just earlier in the year. While each of those bears model numbers of its own, this third one could indicate its long-rumored trifold is still coming along. According to the rumors, the first foldables Xiaomi has planned are speculated to be its next book-style and clamshell phones, the MIX Flip 3 and 17 Fold.

This trifold device could eye a late 2026 release, somewhere around Q3, which gives us a July to September timeframe to look out for.

It's been over a year

It's been well over a year since we started hearing about a potential Xiaomi trifold, as some of the earliest surfaced in the summer of 2024. Those rumors claimed that Xiaomi was wasting no time in hopping on the trifold bandwagon after Huawei dropped that trifold surprise, the Mate XT. Of course, Samsung was mentioned due to its prototype at the time.

While those rumors were extremely early, there was speculation about whether or not Xiaomi would improve the crease effect foldables can suffer from with this new form.

Reports continued into the fall in 2024, as the device's patent was supposedly spotted running through a Chinese database. That patent delivered an alleged early design concept for it, with a horizontal camera bar that was reminiscent of the Mix Fold 3. That design iteration also only showed three lenses on that bar, instead of four. We're now (over) 365 days from those rumors, and there's a chance things have changed.

If we are looking at a 2026 debut for the device, as the rumors say, the Mix Trifold or whatever it'll be called might look quite different.

I've been using the F8 Ultra for the last three weeks, and I like what POCO did with the phone. While the brand always did a great job with the hardware, it wasn't until the F7 Ultra that it was able to deliver a phone with a great camera, and the F8 Ultra builds on that foundation. In my F8 Ultra review, I called it one of the best phones in the $800 category, and I stand by that — it really is a great all-rounder.

There's just one problem: POCO isn't bringing the phone to India. At the launch of the F8 Pro and F8 Ultra, POCO indicated that it sold 94 million devices globally in its seven-year history, and that's pretty good. While the brand didn't go into regional figures, India is POCO's biggest market by a considerable amount; its presence in the country and positioning as an affordable brand has allowed it to make significant inroads.

It's this positioning that's hurting the brand now. I asked POCO India and global spokespeople for an on-the-record statement about why its latest device isn't coming to India, but I didn't get one. That said, it isn't hard to understand why POCO is reticent to launch the F8 Ultra in India; the brand is still seen as a budget player, and it just doesn't have the cachet to sell a phone that costs over $700 in the country — there wouldn't be any takers.

Xiaomi — POCO's parent brand — knows this well, as it has tried several times in the past to sell its costliest phones in the country to no avail. That's why we didn't get Mi-branded flagships for a while, and it's only in the last two years that it started selling its Ultra models in India. I see this as a prestige play, where Xiaomi is able to raise its brand profile by marketing devices like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 Ultra in the country, and this is similar to what OPPO and Vivo also do with the Find X9 Pro and X300 Pro.

With POCO, however, the focus is still on the budget category. This is why the brand didn't bring the F7 Ultra to the country earlier in the year, only debuting the budget-focused F7 instead. POCO positions its products at a younger audience, and that ostensibly means catering to the budget segment with devices in the C and M series. I'm positive that these entry-level and budget phones outsell even the likes of the X7 Pro, and in that context, it's easy to see why POCO didn't bring the F8 Ultra to India.

Even then, I think the brand should have taken a gamble this time around. Phone pricing is trending up in India — like all global markets — and this year's flagships highlight that. Vivo sub-brand iQOO's devices are positioned against POCO's products, and the iQOO 15 debuted in India for ₹72,999 ($811), a staggering increase of ₹18,000 ($200) from the iQOO 13's ₹54,999 ($611) pricing last year.

With a significant price increase this year and the likes of Realme and other brands also rolling out phones in this category, this would have been the ideal year for POCO to bring its costlier portfolio of products to the country. The F8 Ultra is positioned well against the iQOO 15 and Realme GT 8 Pro, and given POCO's recognition as a value-focused brand, it would have sold a decent number of phones by undercutting the F8 Ultra against its key rivals.

After all, it was this exact strategy that allowed POCO to rise in prominence with the F1 all those years ago. The F1 was an outlier in the sheer amount of value it delivered, and it's clear that we won't get devices like that again; the F2 Pro was proof of that. But to not bring the F8 Ultra to India feels like a short-sighted move, considering when other brands are willing to take a bet on the country.

If nothing else, this is hurting POCO's image in the country. I get that devices like the F8 Ultra won't sell in anywhere as many numbers as the brand's budget phones, but having marquee phones to market only elevates a brand's profile, and Samsung does this to great effect globally. It positions Galaxy S and Z devices as aspirational products, and sells millions of Galaxy A and FE devices with the clear implication that they're just as good as the flagships — POCO (and Xiaomi in general) doesn't seem to get this strategy.

The way Xiaomi and POCO position their brands in the U.K. is drastically different to India, and I find that puzzling considering both brands are actually recognizable in the country. POCO is doing all the right things when it comes to the actual hardware, and it now needs to get its strategy in order and ensure its best devices are sold in its biggest market.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi 17 Ultra leaks suggest the device could boast Leica-branded lenses with hardware features that prevent annoying issues, like chromatic aberration.
• The rumors add that the device might also take strides to improve its ability to reduce reflections, as well.
• Previous leaks purport the Xiaomi 17 Ultra may also feature four lenses, which could include three 50MP cameras and a 200MP lens.

Xiaomi's been rumored to have some small under-the-hood upgrades for its "Ultra" 17 series model, but now those reports claim there are some hardware changes, too.

The rumors were posted on Weibo by tipster Smart Pikachu (machine-translated), who claims that Xiaomi could bring a huge photographic upgrade to an alleged Xiaomi 17 Ultra (via GSMArena). The tipster suggests the device will feature Leica-branded lenses with a focus on reducing reflections when taking photos. This, of course, is likely for situations with extreme brightness. The Weibo post claims that this change could help improve the 17 Ultra's ability to take "high definition and high fidelity" photos.

On the other hand, the device's alleged Leica-branded lens upgrades could also improve the device's chromatic aberration by "eliminating" it.

This essentially means the device may feature less optical distortion when users are snapping pictures. While there's likely to be some software tricks on the 17 Ultra to help further these changes, the tipster seems adamant that these main points are handled by the lenses themselves—so, it's all hardware strength.

Focusing on photography

There have been a host of rumors for the Xiaomi 17 Ultra in the past couple of months, especially regarding its cameras. Previous rumors from another tipster purport that the device could jump from three lenses to four. There's a supposed chance that the 17 Ultra might feature three 50MP cameras and one 200MP lens. Those rumors from October said that the device could boast a few camera upgrades for its "imaging" features, as well as "optical tech" for its periscope lens.

We're starting to see what the upgraded imaging system could mean for the 17 Ultra, but there's still nothing concrete.

Alongside those camera rumors was a database listing that seems to indicate Xiaomi's efforts to plug satellite connectivity into the phone. It's worth being clear here that this was only spotted for the Chinese variant, meaning there's no guarantee that a global variant, or even one for India, would see the same support.

The Xiaomi 17 series launched in September with its "Dynamic Back Display," which kind of brings that clamshell foldable cover display vibe to its rear panel.

We're all excited to see what Samsung is going to do with the upcoming Galaxy S26 Ultra. Thanks to various leaks and rumors, we have a rough idea of what to expect. What has me most excited, though, is not the new processor or the cameras, but the new design. If all goes well, we should finally get a Galaxy Ultra phone that has proper ergonomics for daily use. Samsung has a strong contender from China in the form of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max.

This is technically the first phone to ship with the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip, but it is not available globally yet. The most interesting thing about it is the giant display on the back of the phone, which opens up new and interesting ways of interacting with your apps and content. We expect the 17 Pro Max to be available in more countries, apart from China, by the time the Galaxy S26 Ultra launches, and this makes it yet another strong competitor.

If you're wondering which is the better phone between the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, we've got you covered.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: Design and display

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra's new design looks very interesting. It's not so much the camera placement that's changing but the ergonomics of the phone. The curvier corners should make it a lot more pocketable and easier to use with one hand. A more recent leak hints that the new weight of the Ultra is expected to be 214 grams. This is four grams lower than the S25 Ultra and five grams less than the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. The thickness is also expected to be 7.9mm, which is just a smidge below the 8mm of the Pro Max.

We don't know if Samsung will increase the size of the display, but it should be at least 6.9 inches like the current model. You can also expect a new Privacy Display feature, which could be the “Flex Magic Pixel” technology we've heard of before. The anti-reflective coating should also make a comeback, making it one of the best flagship displays for 2026.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is a larger sibling of the 17 Pro and, as the name suggests, gets a larger display and bigger battery. The main screen measures 6.9 inches with a 2,608x1,200 resolution and a 120Hz LTPO AMOLED display. Peak brightness is an impressive 3,500 nits, and the screen is protected by Xiaomi's Dragon Crystal Glass 3. What's more impressive is the rear 2.9-inch LTPO AMOLED that carries the same peak brightness and 120Hz refresh rate. It also supports Dolby Vision playback, which is unique.

The 17 Pro Max is a large phone too, weighing 219 grams, and is nearly as slim as the Galaxy. Xiaomi has given it an IP68 rating, which is something we're also expecting for the S26 Ultra (if not better). Apart from having a display on the back of the phone, the design is pretty standard with a metal and glass construction, and flat sides with curved edges.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: Performance and specs

The Galaxy S26 Ultra is only expected to arrive in early 2026, and prices should start at $1,299.99 or be $100 more if the price hike rumor turns out to be true. In any case, this is going to be a much more expensive smartphone than the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. Keep in mind that this is just the base pricing, which means if you want to get 512GB or 1TB of storage, be prepared to pay up to $1,800.

We don't know this for sure yet, but the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra should use a custom version of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC, just like previous generations. Benchmarks should be slightly better than what the 17 Pro Max can put out, but we'll have to wait and see. The phone should also come with at least 12GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage. We should also hopefully get the latest UFS 4.1 storage type for quicker read and write speeds.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max hasn't launched globally yet, but converting the China price of 5,999 Yuan gives us roughly $840. Even with taxes, it should be under $1,000 when it does eventually launch. It comes in Black, White, Purple, and Green. The Pro Max is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip and comes with 12GB or 16GB of RAM. Storage starts at 256GB and goes up to 1TB.

Battery capacity of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max is one area where the Galaxy S26 Ultra can't possibly compete. It has a 7,500mAh battery, which is even larger than that of the OnePlus 15. The Pro Max gets really quick charging of 100W wired and 50W wireless. It can even do 22.5W reverse wireless charging, which is simply bonkers. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to have the same 5,000mAh battery capacity, but we could see a bump in charging speed up to 60W.

There's no mention of Qi2 charging on the 17 Pro Max, but the Galaxy S26 Ultra should definitely support it.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max runs HyperOS 3 based on Android 16. While the Pro Max will ship with it, Xiaomi also began rolling out this update to its other phones, starting with the Xiaomi 15T and 15T Pro in October 2025. Apart from the visual overhaul, HyperOS 3 promises a smoother UI, new animations, and a cleaner homescreen with flexible layouts. We should know more about how many years of OS upgrades it will get once we have a global launch of this phone.

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will most likely run the latest version of One UI with Android 16. You should also expect exclusive features to debut with this phone in terms of tools, AI features, and for S Pen usage. Depending on whether these software features are hardware-dependent or not, older Ultra models should also get some of them.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: Cameras

There haven't been any solid leaks about the Galaxy S26 Ultra's camera system, so expect minor changes, if any. The most recent rumor is that Ultra might feature a larger display cutout for the selfie camera so as to give you a wider field of view. The hardware, on the other hand, is expected to either remain the same or get minor tweaks. The same goes for the rear cameras.

Considering how the Galaxy S25 Ultra already had a pretty solid camera system to begin with, Samsung probably didn't feel the need to make any major changes. Four camera sensors on the back are a given, with two sensors dedicated to zoom.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max has an impressive array of 50MP sensors on the back and on the front. It has one telephoto camera less than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but its 50MP sensor can do 5x optical zoom. It's still early to talk about how good these cameras will be, but based on past trends, they should be more than enough for everyday photography. Xiaomi's current best camera phone is the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, and I believe there should be a Xiaomi 17 Ultra that will soon take its place sometime in 2026.

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra vs. Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: Which one should you buy?

If you're sold on the novelty of having a second display on the back of your smartphone, the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max might be worth a look. Global availability is currently bleak, but that should change soon. It should be cheaper than the Galaxy S26 Ultra, but be sure to double-check 5G compatibility with your carrier, especially if you're in the U.S..

For most buyers, though, the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra makes more sense. It will be much easier to buy globally, which means you'll have better after sales support, something that's crucial and is often overlooked. While it won't have the head-turning feature of the Xiaomi, it will get more years of software updates, and it has the S Pen. Samsung's GalaxyAI features have also gotten pretty good, and we should have some new on-device tools to play with in the new Ultra, making it one of the best Android phones of 2026.

When I reviewed the POCO F7 Ultra, I called it the best bargain of 2025. The combination of hardware, design, and battery life made it a great choice, but where the device truly stood out was the cameras. POCO always struggled in this area, but the F7 Ultra proved that the brand could deliver a phone with terrific cameras.

With the F8 Ultra, POCO is once again changing just about everything. The phone has an all-new design, and the denim texture that the brand is using at the back is unique — and it feels wonderful. There's a much bigger 6,500mAh battery, a bigger AMOLED panel, and new cameras at the back, including a dedicated 5x lens.

Obviously, the phone uses the latest Qualcomm silicon, and intriguingly, you get stereo sound along with a standalone subwoofer driver, with the sound powered by Bose.

While just about everything on the phone has changed from the F7 Ultra, what's still the same is the focus on value — the F8 Ultra costs a lot less than other phones that have the same hardware. Having used the phone for just over two weeks, I don't understand why you need to buy any other phone.

POCO F8 Ultra: Pricing and availability

POCO unveiled the F8 Ultra and F8 Pro at a launch event in Bali, Indonesia on November 26, 2025. Both phones are going on sale globally, and they will be available in India, the U.K., and other key markets where POCO has a presence. The F8 Ultra is available in 12GB/256GB and 16GB/512GB editions, and POCO is selling the device in Denim Blue and Black models.

There's also the F8 Pro, and that device is sold in 12GB/256GB and 12GB/512GB variants, and you get Titanium Silver, Blue, and Black models. POCO is raising the prices this year, but it isn't by much, so that's good to see. This is what the F8 Ultra and F8 Pro cost:

• POCO F8 Ultra (12GB/256GB): $729 / $679 (early bird pricing) / £749 / £599 (early bird pricing)
• POCO F8 Ultra (16GB/512GB): $799 / $729 (early bird pricing) / £799 / £649 (early bird pricing)
• POCO F8 Pro (12GB/256GB): $579 / $529 (early bird pricing) / £549 / £449 (early bird pricing)
• POCO F8 Pro (12GB/512GB): $629 / $579 (early bird pricing) / £599 / £499 (early bird pricing)

As with every launch, POCO has decent incentives if you're buying either device in the initial weeks of availability. Alongside the phones, POCO debuted the POCO Pad X1 at $399, and the tablet has plenty of great new features. There's also the Pad M1 at $329, with this model featuring a huge battery. I'm focusing on the phones this time, but I'll have plenty to talk about regarding the Pad X1 and M1 shortly.

POCO F8 Ultra: Design

POCO caters its products to a younger audience, so it's no wonder that the brand constantly refreshes its design. The F7 Ultra had a familiar yellow aesthetic with bold styling, and the F8 Ultra switches things up in a good way. The design is much more mainstream, and the device itself looks quite elegant.

While the F7 Ultra had a rounded camera island, it's good to see the F8 Ultra once again use a wider island with a rectangular design. It's made out of metal and differentiates the design pretty well, and notably, there's a subwoofer next to the cameras, with Bose branding. The camera island is raised slightly, but even then, it doesn't protrude much from the chassis — at least nowhere as much as the Find X9 Pro or Vivo X300 Pro.

The wider camera bar means there's absolutely no wobble when using the phone on a table, and I like that. Where the design particularly stands out is the denim texture at the back; it just makes holding and using the device that much easier, and the overall feel is much better than the usual frosted glass designs most brands use these days.

Coming in at 220g, the F8 Ultra isn't too heavy, and POCO did a good job with weight distribution. The aluminum mid-frame and rounded edges along with the denim finish at the back ensure the phone has great usability, and even though it has a huge 6.9-inch panel, it isn't unwieldy to hold in the least.

Another thing I like is the addition of an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor this year; it's just better to use than an optical module, and I didn't see any issues in this area — the positioning is good too. Similarly, the phone gets IP68 dust and water resistance, and it handles all weather conditions without any problems.

POCO F8 Ultra: Display

POCO went with a massive 6.9-inch 120Hz AMOLED panel this time around, and the result is that the F8 Ultra is a bit wider than most devices. However, that doesn't affect usability, but the phone has a lower resolution; it gets 2608 x 1200, with its predecessor featuring a QHD+ panel.

This isn't a big issue in daily use as you still get a vibrant panel with good colors and detail, and if anything, POCO's new VisionBoost D8 does a better job with HDR content. The chip is built on a 12nm node, and you'll need to enable the dual-core visual setting to see the difference; think of it as a dedicated module that enables better HDR and smoother motion when viewing content on the phone.

The bezels are thinner, but they're not uniform, with the bottom bezels slightly bigger. I didn't see any problems with brightness levels, and the F8 Ultra did a good job while going out and about in Bali. At the other end of the scale, the phone goes down to 1 nit, making it comfortable to use at night. This is a bigger deal in my use case, and I noticed the difference against the F7 Ultra in this area. I'm just glad that POCO is joining BBK brands in bringing this feature to its devices.

What I also like about the device is that it gets identical stereo channels — similar to Xiaomi phones from several years ago — and the sound quality is pretty great in its own right. Add a dedicated subwoofer, and the F8 Ultra has better onboard sound than any other phone I used.

You're better off with a dedicated speaker as the micro-driver and sound cavity housed within the phone can't produce meaningful bass, but even then, having three channels in total gives you a much better sound than regular phones. POCO says the 2.1-channel sound was "rebalanced through psychoacoustic tuning that retained precision and clarity," and you even get different sound modes.

The phone does a great job when it comes to gaming; it handles demanding games without breaking a sweat, and while you don't necessarily get high-refresh gaming in many titles, I didn't see any issues in visually-demanding titles.

POCO F8 Ultra: Hardware and battery

POCO is really making a name on the back of powerful hardware, and the F8 Ultra is no different; it has the latest Qualcomm silicon and all the other extras you'd want to see in a late 2025 flagship. If anything, the phone feels familiar to the Redmagic 11 Pro that I recently reviewed in that it also has terrific hardware, and doesn't cost anywhere as much as regular flagships.

Anyway, the F8 Ultra is one of the fastest phones you can buy now, and it handles demanding tasks without any hassle whatsoever. I didn't see any slowdowns or lag in the two weeks I used the phone, and in fact, this hasn't proved to be a problem on pretty much any phone I used in 2025 — other than the Galaxy A56.

There's just one issue though: overheating. Now, this isn't something unique to the F8 Ultra, but affecting all phones powered by Qualcomm this year. Given that the chipset runs hotter, it's inevitable that the phone gets hot during extended gaming sessions. It gets uncomfortable to hold in such scenarios, and there is noticeable throttling when you push the phone to your limits, but I see it as a good thing, because otherwise, it would heat up so much that you couldn't even hold it.

On that note, I wasn't able to run any 3DMark stress tests on the device as I got a "Device Overheated" halfway through, and the F8 Ultra basically shut down after that. That said, this was only an issue when tunning synthetic workloads, and it didn't prove to be a problem in regular gaming situations.

Elsewhere, you get the usual connectivity options: Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, a decent selection of 5G bands (that varies by region), eSIM connectivity, NFC (again, in select markets), and a good vibration motor. I didn't see any issues while making calls or connecting to my home network, nor while connecting a host of accessories over Bluetooth.

The F8 Ultra comes with a 6,500mAh battery, and while that's a considerable increase over its predecessor, it isn't quite as large as some of the other phones I used in recent weeks, notably the Find X9 Pro and its monstrous 7,500mAh battery that lasts two days. Even then, the F8 Ultra manages to last a day and a half comfortably, and with heavy use, I still got a day's worth without having to worry about the battery running out.

The phone has 100W charging, but the biggest issue with this is that POCO doesn't include a charger in the box. That's annoying to say the least, but as I had a 120W Xiaomi charger on hand, I used that with the device.

POCO F8 Ultra: Cameras

POCO is using a trio of 50MP cameras on the F8 Ultra, with the main lens once again made by OmniVision, this time the OV50M. The 50MP f/1.7 lens has OIS, and POCO dubs this the Light Fusion 950 module. It's joined by a 50MP OmniVision OVX9500 wide-angle lens, and POCO is once again using the 50MP Samsung JN5 telephoto with OIS, going up to 5x optical zoom.

The zoom lens does a better job this time around, and I like the quality of shots it delivers at 5x. However, I would have preferred a 3x zoom factor, as that is what I got used to on most phones, and not having that proved to be a limitation — particularly when taking portrait shots. You get 4K60 video on all the sensors, but the video quality isn't quite as noteworthy as the Find X9 Pro or Vivo X300 Pro.

The main 50MP camera takes fabulous photos in daylight situations, with vibrant colors along with good dynamic range and white balance. Colors tend to be a little saturated at times, but it isn't anywhere as exaggerated as what you get on Samsung phones, and overall, I like the tuning of the cameras this generation.

The wide-angle lens is pretty good too, even though it has an 18mm focal length instead of the usual 14mm that you get with most other phones. With the main lens at 23mm, the area covered by the wide-angle isn't that much more. Anyway, the lens itself is great in daylight situations, and it held up much better than I imagined in low-light scenarios with little to no artificial light.

Similarly, the tele lens is terrific. It produces detailed shots at 5x and 10x, and my only issue with this sensor is that there's no 3x mode with portrait shots. Having to use the tele lens as a portrait shooter is annoying as a result, but it's a minor inconvenience.

Overall, the F8 Ultra has the best camera system that POCO has delivered by a long way. While it doesn't quite hold its own against the Find X9 Pro or Vivo X300 Pro, it is able to measure up to the Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25, and that's a huge deal.

POCO F8 Ultra: Software

The phone comes with HyperOS 3 based on Android 16 out of the box, and the interface itself will be immediately familiar if you've used a Xiaomi or POCO phone. There isn't a whole lot new with the UI in general, but to POCO's credit, the phone is optimized to take advantage of the hardware.

While other Chinese manufacturers are emulating iOS 26, leading to UI designs with plenty of translucent effects, Xiaomi hasn't seen the need to do so with its software. It's admirable that Xiaomi is continuing to provide a familiar UI, but it has been clear for a while that its software needs an overhaul, but the brand doesn't seem to get the message.

The result is that the software on the F8 Ultra doesn't feel quite as modern as its Chinese rivals. Don't get me wrong, you still get plenty of useful features, and there's a lot I like about Xiaomi's software. It's just that it badly needs a visual overhaul, and Xiaomi continues to drag its feet.

On that note, the F8 Ultra will get four Android OS updates, but given Xiaomi's inability to roll these out on time, you'll have to wait quite a bit to get your hands on future Android releases.

POCO F8 Ultra: The alternatives

The Redmagic 11 Pro follows a similar ethos as the F8 Ultra, delivering the best possible hardware. The 11 Pro isn't billed as an all-rounder, but it is the fastest gaming phone I tested, and it gets liquid cooling as well, which is just plain cool. I like the design of the 11 Pro better, and it lasts longer too. But there's no doubt that the F8 Ultra has much better cameras.

Another alternative is the iQOO 15. I tested the phone alongside the F8 Ultra, and found it to be just as good. I prefer iQOO's software to that of the POCO, and the iQOO 15 has much better battery life. The F8 Ultra has a slender edge with the cameras, and it should undercut the iQOO 15 to a meaningful degree.

POCO F8 Ultra: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

• You want the best phone internals money can buy
• You need a phone with great battery life and fast charging
• You want a gaming phone that will last several years
• You want good cameras

You shouldn't buy this if:

• You need clean software with timely updates

Although the F8 Ultra is launching just eight months after its predecessor, it comes with meaningful upgrades. The cameras take better photos, and the addition of a 5x lens gives the phone greater versatility. The design itself is cleaner this time around, and I really like the denim finish — I'd like to see this make its way to Xiaomi's global phones at some point.

The panel may be seen as a downgrade, but that isn't actually the case in daily use, and it has better color vibrancy and gets brighter. The phone isn't short on power, and if anything, the lack of console-quality games on Android is the limiting factor in this area. I like that there's a bigger battery, and even on travel days, I had no issues getting the phone to last well over a day.

Overall, I think the F8 Ultra is one of the best phones to buy if you want flagship-tier internals but don't want to shell out in excess of $1,000. While cameras have always been the biggest drawback in the past, that is no longer an issue, and the F8 Ultra is an astonishingly good all-rounder. Basically, this is the best phone you can get in the vicinity of $700.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi has begun releasing the stable Android 16 update with its new HyperOS 3 skin, starting with the Xiaomi 15T and 15T Pro.
• The update is live for select users and will expand in waves worldwide, making Xiaomi one of the first major brands — alongside Google and Samsung — to deliver Android 16.
• HyperOS 3 introduces smoother animations, cleaner icons, customizable layouts, and AI-powered wallpapers.

Xiaomi has officially started rolling out the stable version of Android 16, wrapped in its custom HyperOS 3 skin, with the Xiaomi 15T and 15T Pro leading the charge.

The update marks the beginning of a broader global rollout, and while it’s now live for select users, availability will expand in waves depending on region and model, as per Xiaomi's post on X. Xiaomi joins Google and Samsung as one of the first major brands to offer a stable Android 16 update.

HyperOS 3 is more than just a visual update. It offers a smoother interface, new system animations, and a redesigned home screen with cleaner icons and flexible layouts. There are also AI-powered wallpapers and new ways to customize the lock screen.

Performance has improved as well, with faster app launches, better power use, and stronger connections between Xiaomi devices. HyperOS 3 also includes key Android 16 features like better security, privacy, multitasking, and background process management.

More devices coming soon

The rollout begins with the Xiaomi 15T series, but more devices are coming soon. Xiaomi has confirmed that the Xiaomi 15, 15 Pro, 15 Ultra, Redmi Note 14 series, Poco F7 and X7, and Xiaomi Pad 7 will also get the update.

These models should get the update in the next few weeks. Older flagships like the Xiaomi 14 and Poco F6 series are expected to follow around late November. Since the rollout is happening in stages, it may take some time to reach every region.

A full list of eligible devices confirms just how wide the rollout will go. On the Xiaomi side, everything from the 15-series flagships down to the Pad 6 Pro, Pad 6 Max 14, and even the Pad Mini are included. The Redmi lineup covers popular models like the K80 and K70 series, along with the Note 15, Note 14, Turbo 4, and A-series devices.

Poco users aren’t left out either — the F7, F7 Pro, X7 Pro, M7 Plus, and several budget-friendly models will all get the Android 16-based HyperOS 3 update in due time.

With HyperOS 3 now officially out in the wild, it’s clear Xiaomi is stepping up its software game and setting the pace for what Android 16 will look like on non-Pixel phones.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi's president, Lu Weibing, hosted a livestream overnight, announcing that the 17 series has shattered "first-sale" records minutes after going live.
• The true highlight here is the 17 Pro Max, which, like the 17 Pro, features a 2.1-inch Dynamic Back Display, according to Lu Weibing.
• Xiaomi states it plans to continue this design for future flagships due to the positive surge in market performance.

Xiaomi is reportedly pleased with its 17 series performance thus far, and it's making a strong claim about the future of its phones.

The Chinese publication MyDrivers tuned into a livestream by Xiaomi's president, Lu Weibing, where he revealed the early positive performance of the 17 series (via 9to5Google). In a livestream overnight, Lu Weibing revealed that the Xiaomi 17 series "broke the first-sale record" for phones in the Chinese market for 2025 (machine-translated). The series was so popular that records were broken merely five minutes after the devices went live for purchase.

The standout here is the 17 Pro Max, which Lu Weibing reportedly said broke "first-day sales" records and sales records for "domestic phones."

While the 17 series boasts a few improvements over the 15 series, the true showstopper was the "Dynamic Back Display" on the 17 Pro and Pro Max. This is a 2.1-inch display on the back of the phone that wraps around its dual camera array, delivering a unique set of interactions that (in some ways) mirror a foldable experience. According to Lu Weibing's statement during the livestream, it's the rear display that's caused such an influx of consumers migrating toward the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max.

As a result, the publication cites Lu Weibing in saying that Xiaomi will reportedly "continue to use" this Dynamic Back Display on future flagship phones. Additionally, the company is already planning to increase its R&D budget to ensure quality for the next wave that utilizes this extra screen.

Everything's clicking now

The funny thing is that when confirmation was given that the Xiaomi 17 Pro would use a rear display, it brought us back several years to the Mi 11 Ultra. This device launched in 2021, and it had a rear display alongside its camera housing system. However, the display was vertical and small, only offering a glimpse of the time and date—the necessities, one might say.

It kind of feels like Xiaomi was ahead of its time with that device, as the tech that it has available now wasn't like that back then. Now, with it surging ahead with foldables, it can bring those lessons learned and intelligence to the newer 17 series, a slab phone with a foldable touch.

The Chinese publication mentions that Xiaomi is already preparing even more updates for the Dynamic Back Display, as well.

We'll have to wait for now to see what Xiaomi ends up cooking for next year's launch. In the meantime, what we have are rumors that the company might release a Xiaomi 17 Ultra. Early rumors claim the device could support satellite text and calls, as well as an added 200MP camera with the expected 50MP trio.

What you need to know

• Rumors claim Xiaomi is working on a 17 Ultra model, as a new database listing shows it picking up new connectivity support.
• The phone could feature satellite connectivity support; however, rumors state only the Chinese variant has received certification.
• Additional rumors claim the Xiaomi 17 Ultra could launch in 2026 with four cameras, and one of them could arrive at 200MP.

There are more rumors concerning Xiaomi and another flagship-level phone, a device that could sport the "Ultra" tag and keep users connected without a cell signal.

Over the weekend, a rumor surfaced regarding an alleged "Xiaomi 17 Ultra" that's reportedly gone through an important certification hoop, per Gizmochina. This is a Chinese listing, and the publication claims the device has received certification for satellite connectivity capabilities. The post mentions that it's spotted three different model numbers for the alleged Xiaomi 17 Ultra: 2512BPNDAG, 2512BPNDAI, and 25128PNA1C.

The first two concern a version for Global and India. However, the final number is for the Chinese release, and that's the one that's received the satellite support certification.

According to the publication, the phone is approved to utilize Tiantong-1 and Beidou technology, bringing satellite text messaging and calls to consumers. If Tiantong sounds familiar, it's because Huawei's tri-fold, the Mate XT, features that technology for satellite connectivity, as well.

Rumors claim that Xiaomi isn't seeking a "17 Ultra" launch until 2026, but when that happens, we could see UWB (ultra-wideband) support with it.

Xiaomi's going for the quadra

The rumors don't end there, as another spotted by GSMArena from Chinese tipster, Digital Chat Station on Weibo, touches on its cameras. This 17 Ultra could differentiate itself from the other three, opting for an alleged quadruple camera system instead of a triple. The tipster claims the 17 Ultra could receive three 50MP cameras and one 200MP lens. The social media post states the phone could receive a "new optical technology periscope" and "revolutionary imaging features" (machine-translated).

Specifics on these camera strengths weren't given, like those concerning the primary lens and so forth.

The end of September already held the launch of Xiaomi's 17 series, which brought three new phones: the base 17, the 17 Pro, and the 17 Pro Max. While the base model gives us some Apple iPhone vibes, the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max feature the "Dynamic Back Display." This display fully immerses its cameras within a screen, giving a foldable cover display experience, but on a slab phone.

From this screen, users can customize their watch face, find notifications, and much more at a glance. The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max's display comes in at around 6.9 inches, and, per Gizomchina's rumors, the Ultra model could slip in at around 6.8 inches.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi announced its newest 17 series today (Sep 25), which launches first in China for its homeland consumers.
• The base 17 model mirrors the Xiaomi 15 with a squared camera array, rocking a 6.3-inch compact screen design.
• The Xiaomi 17 Pro series (17 Pro and 17 Pro Max) takes things further with the "Dynamic Back Display" featuring dynamic notifications, AI wallpapers, and custom watch faces.
• The 17 Pro starts at 4,999 Yuan (~$700), while the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max starts at 5,999 Yuan (~$840).

Xiaomi's all-new 17 series has launched today (Sep 25) in China, and the device is the first next-gen series to sport Qualcomm's new chip.

The Snapdragon Summit 2025 got underway this week, and the Xiaomi 17 series is wasting no time in saying it's the first to rock it. The Chinese OEM announced its newest series today via a press release, highlighting the new goods consumers will find domestically. Kicking off the series is the company's base Xiaomi 17, which mirrors the design consumers got with the Xiaomi 15. The newer phone sports a 6.3-inch compact design with rounded corners, flat sides, and a flat display.

With LIPO technology, Xiaomi states the base 17 can reach 3,500nits of peak brightness. The camera array—its look and design—almost makes one say it resembles Apple's iPhone a little. Either way, the Xiaomi 17's camera array features a 50MP primary lens with f/1.67 aperture (good for low-light situations).

Giving this device a major power boost is Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.

Its telephoto is reportedly bringing in a Leica 60mm "floating lens" design at f/2.0 aperture and 10cm close-up zoom.

Wrapping things up is a 7,000mAh battery for this compact phone. Xiaomi states this battery should excel with an extended battery lifespan and "excellent low-temperature endurance." Additionally, over the last series, the Xiaomi 17 features 100W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and "compatibility with the 100W PPS universal charging protocol."

The base model features the following RAM/storage configs: 12/256GB, 12/512GB, and 16/512GB. The Xiaomi 17 starts at 4,499 Yuan (~$630).

There are three total devices in this new series, and that's where Xiaomi goes next: the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. The company is touting these two devices as the pinnacle of its recent innovations this year. Just like the base model, the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. The Xiaomi 17 Pro features a 6.3-inch display. This display, just like the base model, utilizes an M10 Display Panel and SuperRED luminous material for efficiency and enhanced brightness.

However, the major advancement for it is the "Dynamic Back Display."

The Xiaomi 17 Pro

Incorporated with the phone's dual camera array on its rear panel is the 2.6-inch Dynamic Back Display. This display, which Xiaomi says will blend a dual-screen design for its smartphone, "enhances lifestyle and efficiency under various scenarios." This secondary display provides users with a customizable watch face, AI-generated wallpapers, "virtual pets," dynamic notifications, notes, and more.

Regarding those AI wallpapers, Xiaomi states users can lean on their photos for this feature. Real-time notifications on the Dynamic Back Display include flight alerts, train ticket alerts, delivery info for food orders, and more. More importantly, just like a foldable, this secondary screen can help users take photos, whether it's of other people or themselves.

Xiaomi draws attention to a special gaming case for the 17 Pro and Pro Max, which turns the models into a retro gaming console when the main display is off.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro features two 50MP lenses within this back display, with the main camera receiving f/1.67 aperture capabilities. Specifically for the 17 Pro, the post states consumers will find an inverted floating lens telephoto that supports up to 20cm macro shots. The Pro is reported to have a 6,300mAh battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging support.

The Pro Max goes a little further

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, on the other hand, features a larger 6.9-inch display with the same M10 Display Panel and SuperRED luminous material. However, the press release notes that the Pro Max goes a bit further with Xiaomi Shield Glass 3.0, making it stronger/more durable. Like the 17 Pro, the 17 Pro Max's back display is 2.6 inches and supports AI wallpapers, customizable watch faces, dynamic notifications, and more.

While the Pro Max's 50MP primary lens mirrors the others, Xiaomi states it offers a powerful 5x periscope lens with hardware-level HDR support. Consumers in China will find a grander 7,500mAh battery in the 17 Pro Max, alongside 100W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.

The Xiaomi 17 Pro features the following RAM/stroage configs: 12/256GB, 12/512GB, 16/512GB, and 16/1TB. The 17 Pro starts at 4,999 Yuan (~$700).

The Xiaomi 17 Pro Max features 12/512GB, 16/512GB, and 16/1TB. This device begins at 5,999 Yuan (~$840). The 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are available in black, white, purple, and green.

I like what Xiaomi is doing with its T series devices; the Chinese brand has consistently delivered performant phones that don't cost as much as its flagship Xiaomi 15. While these phones started out as mid-range devices, that is no longer the case in 2025, with the Xiaomi 15T and 15T Pro inching closer to flagships than traditional mid-range phones.

The upside is that Xiaomi now offers an all-round package; the 15T Pro has a sleek design that I prefer to the Xiaomi 15 and its rivals like the Vivo X200, the phone has cameras that are just as good in most situations, and the large battery ensures it lasts a day without breaking a sweat. It doesn't miss out on ingress protection either, and it even gets Xiaomi's 50W wireless charging tech in addition to regular 90W charging.

Essentially, the 15T Pro is the phone you buy if you don't need the absolute best cameras and want to save a few hundred dollars. The only drawback is that the phone doesn't have Android 16 out of the box, and Xiaomi is obstinate about not changing long-standing issues with the software. Still, if you don't mind the older software and want something that doesn't cost as much as true flagships, the 15T Pro has plenty to like.

Xiaomi 15T Pro: Pricing and availability

Xiaomi unveiled the 15T and 15T Pro globally at a launch event in Munich on September 24, and both phones are going on sale in the coming weeks. The regular Xiaomi 15T costs £549 ($737) for the 12GB/256GB model, and £599 ($804) for the 12GB/512GB edition.

The 15T Pro starts at £649 ($871) for the 12GB/256GB variant, with the 12GB/512GB model at £699 ($938). I'm using the 12GB/1TB model of the 15T Pro, and it comes out to £799 ($1,073) in the U.K.

Xiaomi 15T Pro: A design that (finally) looks good

The Xiaomi 13T Pro was the ugliest phone I used in 2023, so to see Xiaomi evolve the design to such a considerable degree is an achievement in and of itself. The Xiaomi 15T Pro looks sleek and elegant, and it stands out for all the right reasons. The phone has a glass fiber back with a matte texture that feels great to hold, and it prevents any smudging.

The sides have a flat design — like every other phone in 2025 — but the beveled edges ensure the 15T Pro doesn't dig into your palm, and I like the in-hand feel of the device. The mid-frame is aluminum, and build quality is excellent as you'd imagine. The squarish camera island at the back looks good in its own right, and it has a metallic finish that accentuates the design.

Although the 15T Pro is taller and wider than its predecessor, it isn't any heavier in spite of having a bigger battery, and while it's on the bigger end of the scale, you get a 6.83-inch panel. The phone is available in Black, Gray, and Mocha Gold colors, and the gold variant I'm using stands out thanks to its distinctive sheen.

Xiaomi retained a similar design for the regular 15T, but that device has a polycarbonate mid-frame instead of aluminum, and the back doesn't quite feel as nice to hold. Thankfully, both devices get IP68 dust and water resistance, and they're now guaranteed to withstand water ingress in up to three meters, which is good to see.

Xiaomi 15T Pro: Flagship-tier internals

Xiaomi outfitted the 15T Pro with a bigger 6.83-inch AMOLED panel, and it goes up to 144Hz refresh in select use cases. The phone feels fluid in regular use, and the panel has good color vibrancy — similar to every other Xiaomi phone I tested in the last five years.

It does a decent enough job with HDR content as well, and I didn't have any problems using the phone outdoors. Xiaomi touts a maximum brightness of 3,200 nits, but that's in HDR content and not really valid when talking about regular usage. While it doesn't get quite as bright as the Pixel 10 Pro XL, Vivo X200 Pro, or even the Xiaomi 15, there are no issues in this regard.

You also get good onboard sound, and gaming is generally enjoyable on the 15T Pro. The phone gets DC dimming as well, and there's extensive customizability when it comes to adjusting the color balance to your tastes. Xiaomi's reading mode is intact. and it allows you to switch to monochrome when reading text.

Xiaomi went with MediaTek's Dimensity 9400+, and the 15T Pro absolutely flies in regular use. I didn't see any slowdowns or lag in the two weeks I used the phone, and it is just as fluid as other Dimensity 9400-powered devices I used this year. It does a great job while gaming as well; there isn't much in the way of throttling, and it doesn't get as hot as its predecessor.

You get LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage as standard regardless of whatever configuration you choose, and that's the right move (unlike what Google is doing with Pixel 10). There isn't much to talk about with the hardware, as it's largely a known quantity; you get the latest connectivity radios, and there are no issues in daily use.

The 15T Pro gets a bigger 5,500mAh battery, and it easily lasts over a day without any problems. I had no issues getting to the end of the day even with heavy use, and more often than not, I got a day and a half between charges. The only issue is that you don't get a charger in the box; while Samsung and Google don't include one either, their phones don't go up to 90W, and not bundling it with the 15T Pro is an egregious move by Xiaomi.

Xiaomi 15T Pro: Cameras that continue to shine

Xiaomi isn't changing things too much with the cameras; the 15T Pro gets a new 50MP Light Fusion 900 main camera that uses an OmniVision OVX9100 sensor along with OIS, and it retains the same auxiliary modules as last year: a 50MP Samsung JN1 (S5KJN1) tele lens with OIS, and a 12MP wide-angle lens that relies on OmniVision's OV13B sensor. The front contains the same module as last time, a 32MP Samsung KD1 sensor.

There isn't much to talk about when it comes to the interface; Xiaomi cleaned up the viewfinder a little, but it is in line with what you get on most other phones, with shooting modes at the bottom, toggles around the interface, and easily-accessible settings. Xiaomi continues to limit 4K60 video to the main and tele lenses, and the wide-angle misses out. That said, video quality is better than previous years.

The main camera does a terrific job in daylight and low-light situations, delivering photos with good vibrancy, dynamic range, and contrast. Xiaomi's collaboration with Leica is leading to huge gains on the likes of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, but the 15T Pro also benefits.

The auxiliary cameras are great as well, with the tele lens producing detailed images up to 5x. The wide-angle module continues to be the weakest sensor, and while it doesn't measure up in low-light, it's decent in other situations. Overall, this isn't a camera that can take on the Xiaomi 15 or Vivo X200, but it holds its own well against other devices in the same category, and that's all that matters.

Xiaomi 15T Pro: Same old software issues

Xiaomi needs to address its software situation; although the brand embarked on a redesign effort two years ago, the interface continues to be largely unchanged, and there are vestiges of MIUI that make it not as cohesive as other Chinese skins. But what's particularly annoying is that Xiaomi still doesn't offer Android 16 out of the box; both the 15T and 15T Pro run Android 15 as standard, and there's no telling when either device will switch to the latest version of Android.

To put this into context, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7 launched three months ago with Android 16 out of the box. Yes, that is a significantly costlier device, but Android 16 has been available for over a quarter now, and not including it out of the box is nothing short of negligence. While I've largely enjoyed what Xiaomi is doing with the hardware and cameras on its phones, its software is among the worst of any Android brand, and there's a feeling that Xiaomi doesn't want to change that.

As a result, you're once again left with an older version of Android on a brand-new device, and the interface should be familiar if you've used a Xiaomi phone in the past. It is fluid and doesn't have much in the way of issues, but it just isn't exciting to use; Xiaomi has to do a better job in this area, because it's not only behind Google and Samsung, but also OPPO and Vivo.

Xiaomi 15T Pro: The alternatives

The Pixel 10 is a good alternative to the 15T Pro, and while it doesn't quite have versatile cameras, that's about the only major downside. Google did a good job with its phones this year, and the Pixel 10 delivers fantastic software, a great camera, and good internals that aren't as hobbled as previous generations.

The OnePlus 13 gets a recommendation as well now that it's discounted. It is a terrific all-round package, and it doesn't have much in the way of shortcomings. I also like the iQOO 13; that's another device that does a good job with the basics, and you get decent cameras this year.

Xiaomi 15T Pro: Should you buy it?

Overall, Xiaomi did enough with the 15T Pro to merit a recommendation. I like the changes to the design, and the cameras are an upgrade — the phone clearly holds its own in this area. The bigger panel is great to use, the internals are among the best around, and the battery life is solid.

The only problem is around the software; Xiaomi's reluctance to address these issues and continue rolling out phones with older versions of Android is becoming a real issue. In a sense, Xiaomi is like Honor in this regard, with both brands refusing to acknowledge lingering issues with their software. Meanwhile, OPPO and Vivo are doing a great job introducing new features and modernizing their skins, and I can't help but feel that Xiaomi is being left behind.

If you're willing to overlook the fact that the 15T Pro doesn't have the latest version of Android, then you should get it — the hardware is among the best in its category.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi's latest post on Weibo confirms the 17 series with a teaser video showing off its external display.
• The company confirms that its 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will feature the "magic back screen" (machine-translated) with multiple uses.
• Xiaomi's head, Lu Weibing, recently confirmed that the series will feature a 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max for its launch "this month."

Earlier this morning (Sep 16), Xiaomi officially started pushing its next flagship series with a mysterious teaser showing off its design.

Xiaomi's official Weibo account (Chinese) posted the teaser trailer for its upcoming 17 series, which was highlighted by Ice Universe on X. The company teases that the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are equipped with its new "magic back screen" (machine-translated). The teaser opens with the phone on the horizon, showing off its rounded corners and flat sides.

After flipping over, we're presented with its large external display on its back panel, which houses two camera lenses, though one is rumored to sit under that, too.

Xiaomi's video illuminates the "magic back screen," giving us a few examples of future uses. It seems the Chinese OEM intends for the display to be used as a clock, perhaps for music, photography, and more. The end of the clip flashes the "Xiaomi 17 Pro" name, further confirming that the Pro and Pro Max will feature this external display, not just a camera array on its back.

Xiaomi states, officially, that it intends to launch the 17 series "this month" in September.

From leaks to confirmation

We just wrapped up a round of Xiaomi 17 series leaks yesterday (Sep 15), as a tipster on Weibo spotted the company's profile icon change. Xiaomi changed its profile to a model from the upcoming 17 series, proudly showing off its external display. The screen back there resembles what you'd find on a foldable device, especially as it fully encompasses its cameras, like a clamshell phone.

A statement by Xiaomi's head, Lu Weibing, was also highlighted yesterday, as a post by them on Weibo confirmed the new series will rock the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Moreover, we're expecting three devices: a Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max. What's funny is that this external screen idea on a slab phone is something Xiaomi tried years ago with the Mi 11 Ultra.

That device sported an external screen, though it was quite tiny and vertical on the right side of its horizontal camera housing. Now, in 2025, it seems Xiaomi is leveraging some of that foldable tech for a display that's much larger and more immersive, capable of displaying elements from across its mobile OS. Following Xiaomi's assumed September launch confirmation, we have roughly two weeks before the 17 series launches, ideally.

What you need to know

• Samsung is said to be building a next-gen continuous zoom camera, but it’ll launch on Chinese brands’ flagships before hitting any Galaxy phones.
• Rumors point to Xiaomi as the first to show off this tech, backed by multiple industry reports.
• Continuous zoom could replace old telephoto and periscope sensors, keeping photos crisp even at higher magnifications.

Samsung is reportedly working on a next-generation camera with continuous zoom, but it won’t make its first appearance on a Galaxy device.

Industry sources told The Elec that Samsung Electro-Mechanics is creating a continuous zoom camera system for several Chinese phone makers, a move set to significantly improve long-distance zoom performance (via Android Authority).

The report suggests Samsung’s continuous zoom system will debut in upcoming flagship Android phones from Chinese brands and is expected to show up in future Ultra devices, just not in Samsung’s own Ultra lineup.

The exact brand hasn’t been named yet, but previous rumors point to Xiaomi planning a phone with a continuous zoom lens.

A game-changer for zoom

Periscope lenses, which are now standard on many phones, have pushed zoom tech forward. By sitting parallel to the phone’s body, they deliver 3x to 10x optical zoom, a big leap from older digital zoom approaches.

Even with recent progress, smartphone zoom still has a big drawback. Current phone zoom is stuck at fixed steps, like 2x or 10x, forcing digital zoom to fill the gaps and degrading quality.

Samsung’s continuous zoom system fixes this by physically moving the lenses to deliver smooth optical-quality zoom across a full range, just like a standalone camera.

The upcoming continuous zoom camera from the Korean tech giant is set to phase out older telephoto and periscope sensors in future phones, keeping images sharp even at higher zoom levels on upcoming flagship models.

Technically, continuous zoom works by dividing a telephoto module’s lenses into several groups and shifting them precisely to adjust focal length, creating smooth, uninterrupted magnification.

Hopefully, Samsung brings this tech to its own flagships soon, as it’d be a huge leap forward for smartphone photography.

What you need to know

• A report from a Chinese social media post highlights Xiaomi's sudden profile picture change to a suspected upcoming device.
• Rumored to be the Xiaomi 17 series, the rendering leak showcases a device with a huge external display on its real panel around two camera, similar to a foldable.
• A live hands-on image of the device was previously leaked, but a recent post by Xiaomi's head, Lu Weibing, claims the 17 series will launch "this month."

Another report from a Chinese social media website claims to have discovered an alleged look at Xiaomi's next flagship phone.

A post on Weibo by Why Lab highlighted the sudden appearance of the Xiaomi 17 or 17 Pro, courtesy of the company's official account. The company has seemingly changed its profile icon to the suspected upcoming series in preparation for teaser material and its official launch. The device features a rather large external display on its rear panel that fully encompasses its two cameras.

While it's not completely edge-to-edge, the external display still appears to be a generous size, capable of showing a clock, and likely more from within Xiaomi's mobile OS.

Leica camera branding is also spotted right under this external display and camera array. The leaked top-half rendering suggests the device's physical buttons (power, volume rocker) will be placed on its right side. Moreover, the phone seems to have rounded corners, flat sides, and potentially a fully flat display. A report by Android Headlines chimed in, claiming that this rendering is of the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max.

Furthering this suspicion is a post on Weibo from the other day by the company's head, Lu Weibing. Lu Weibing teased that the upcoming series is reportedly the Xiaomi 17, and will consist of the base 17 model, the Xiaomi 17 Pro, and the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. The post states the phone will rock the recently confirmed Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, the successor to the Elite from 2024, when it launches "this month."

Xiaomi's making moves

Xiaomi's head also teases that the 17 Pro will be a "sophisticated compact imaging flagship," while the 17 Pro Max is designed to be "the more powerful" flagship in the industry.

Earlier this month, an alleged live photo of Xiaomi's upcoming flagship series was posted online, showing off this external display. It was previously assumed that this would end up launching on the Xiaomi 16 series, but it seems things have since changed, and we're hoping up to 17, instead. Either way, an external display on a slab phone is something we haven't seen from Xiaomi since the Mi 11 Ultra days.

The device is expected to rock a triple camera setup: two lenses within the camera visor-esque external display, and a final lens right under it in a pill-shaped container. Specifications are still up in the air, but if Xiaomi is planning on a launch later in September, we won't have to wait that long.

What you need to know

• Google became the fastest growing premium smartphone brand with 105% YoY growth in early 2025.
• Apple leads the premium market with 62% share, despite only a 3% YoY growth.
• Foldable smartphones remain niche, while 80% of high-end sales focus on GenAI capabilities.

New data suggests that more people are spending on premium smartphones as their sales have shot up by 8% YoY in the first half of 2025, according to Counterpoint Research's new report.

The research firm says that this high shift was brought in by "strong premiumization,” meaning premium devices have become easily available thanks to increased financing options and expanded trade-in programs.

What's more interesting is that while all the brands showed an uptick in sales, Google outshone as the fasted growing premium smartphone brand seeing 105% YoY growth. The report suggests that its sales basically doubled since last year, as more people are opting to buy the Pixel 9 series.

Google has been pushing into new markets and ramping up marketing for the Pixel phones. The company has been leaning into making these devices stand out by focusing on its AI features and super clean software, rather than just talking about specs, which has really worked in the tech giant's favor.

That said, Apple continued to reign as the largest brand during H1, despite only seeing a 3% YoY growth, it took up 62% of the overall premium smartphone market. While Samsung took the 2nd spot, on the list, seeing a 7% growth, thanks to the AI-powered Galaxy S25 series, which seems to have outdone its predecessor (20% market space).

"Going forward, the Z Fold 7 is also expected to perform better than its predecessor owing to significantly upgraded hardware," Counterpoint added.

Speaking of Huawei that secured third place; the brand is consistently keeping iPhones at bay in China, due to uniquely designed phones like the tri-folding Mate XT , seeing a 24% growth YoY, despite only taking 8% of the share in the market.

Xiaomi also grew in the premium smartphone market in China. The company is pushing its premium strategy not just with its smartphones but with all its products, including electric vehicles (EVs), and smart home devices (IoT), which is keeping the company's spot in the top five.

Additionally the firm adds that foldables still remain a "niche," as few people are reaching for it due to its unique form factor. That said, Counterpoint notes that 80% of high-end smartphone sales were for devices with GenAI.

What you need to know

• A new leak suggests the Xiaomi 16 Pro Max will revive the rear secondary display, a feature last seen on the Mi 11 Ultra.
• The design includes a large rectangular visor housing the triple-camera setup and possibly the extra screen.
• The Xiaomi 16 Pro Max is tipped to launch in China between Sept 24–26, powered by the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip.

Leaked photos of the Xiaomi 16 Pro Max hint at the return of a rear secondary display. Xiaomi last tried this with the Mi 11 Ultra, and it looks like the brand is ready to bring the idea back for its upcoming flagship.

Rumors about a rear secondary display on the Xiaomi 16 series have been floating around for months. Now, live images shared by Weibo user Mobile phone industry giant and later picked up by Notebookcheck back up those early reports.

The leaked photos reveal a large rectangular visor covering the top half of the back. It holds the triple-camera setup and also squeezes in a secondary display.

Case leak hints at rear display

One photo showing the phone in a case reveals a big cutout on the left for two cameras, leaving an empty space on the right. A closer look points to a third camera tucked below the main setup, alongside an LED flash.

While the images stop short of confirming a rear screen, the case design is telling. The open, empty panel on the back strongly hints at space reserved for a secondary display.

Adding weight to the leak, tipster Kartikey Singh hinted back in June that a future Xiaomi flagship would revive the rear screen. The exact purpose of the display is still a mystery, but NotebookCheck notes the person in the photos is a “high-ranking” Xiaomi executive, making it far less likely the images are fake.

Throwback to the Mi 11 Ultra’s rear screen

Xiaomi is no stranger to this idea. The Mi 11 Ultra from 2021 came with a tiny 1.1-inch rear screen that doubled as a selfie viewfinder for the main camera.

For the Mi 11 Ultra, Xiaomi actually reused the Mi Band 5’s screen as its rear display. It worked as an always-on panel for time, date, and notifications.

Earlier reports point to a China launch for the Xiaomi 16 Pro Max between September 24 and 26. It’s also rumored to debut Qualcomm’s yet-to-be-announced Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi’s new smart glasses feature real-time translation and even pay-by-glance via Alipay.
• The 12MP camera onboard lets you shoot photos or POV videos hands-free, plus it can ID stuff and translate text on the fly.
• They start at $280, with fancier tint-shifting versions priced up to $420.

At its Human x Car x Home event in Beijing, Xiaomi pulled back the curtain on its AI-powered smart glasses alongside a new foldable phone, a next-gen smartwatch, and a lineup of smart home gear.

The smart glasses race is heating up with Xiaomi jumping into the mix. That’s more pressure on Meta, as the lineup of serious players in the AI eyewear game keeps growing.

Spec-for-spec, Xiaomi’s new AI glasses seem to leave Ray-Ban Meta in the dust. With its in-house Super XiaoAI assistant doing the heavy lifting, you get real-time translation on the fly and even the option to pay just by looking, thanks to a built-in camera that plays nice with Alipay (via Road to VR).

These glasses can scan a QR code, then double-check with the voice assistant to make sure you’re actually making the purchase, the company said in a Weibo post.

Xiaomi’s AI Glasses include a 12MP ultra-wide camera, letting you snap pictures or shoot first-person video hands-free using voice commands. These glasses are capable of identifying objects in real time and translating text, enhancing their functionality beyond simple point-and-shoot photography.

Battery beast

One big standout with these smart glasses is battery life. They claim up to 8.6 hours of use off a 263mAh cell with USB-C charging. That’s a big leap over Ray-Ban’s Meta pair, which top out at just 4 hours on a smaller 154mAh battery.

At just 40 grams, these smart glasses pull double duty as open-ear headphones. You get stereo sound and five built-in mics. Under the hood, a Qualcomm AR1 chip teams up with a Hengxuan 2700 co-processor to keep everything running.

Designed with Asian facial features in mind, these glasses sport temple arms that pivot 12° outward and tilt 5° forward. That tailored design pretty much hints this version won’t be heading for a global launch anytime soon.

With an IP54 rating, these glasses can handle sweat and splashes. For extra flair, you can swap in electrochromic lenses that adapt to light on the fly when you double-tap the temple, after which they shift shades in 0.2 seconds, as per Xiaomi's press release.

Xiaomi’s standard AI Glasses hit shelves at CNY 1,999 (around $280), landing right in the same ballpark as Meta’s Ray-Bans. If you want auto-tinting lenses, the monochrome electrochromic version goes for CNY 2,699 ($375), while the color version tops out at CNY 2,999 ($420). Style-wise, you’ve got three frame options to choose from: Classic Black, Parrot Green, and Translucent Tortoiseshell Brown.

POCO is clearly being ambitious in 2025; the brand's X7 Pro Iron Man Edition was a strong start to the year, and that was followed by the F7 Ultra, its best device yet. POCO is continuing that momentum with the debut of the standard F7. Although the device doesn't have too many similarities to the F7 Ultra, it is interesting in its own right.

The F7 is powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, which has huge performance gains over the 8s Gen 3. I enjoyed using the chipset in the iQOO Neo 10, and it is just as performant on the F7 — Nothing is also set to use it on the Phone 3. But what makes the F7 that much more enticing is the value; POCO is once again undercutting its immediate rivals, and that makes the device a downright bargain.

I used the F7 for the better part of two weeks, and if you want a mid-ranger, there really isn't anything that gives you quite as much value.

POCO F7: Pricing and availability

POCO unveiled the F7 on June 24, and the phone is set to go on sale starting July 1. The phone is available for ₹31,999 ($372) for the 12GB/256GB model, and ₹33,999 ($395) for the edition with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It's good to see POCO providing 256GB of storage with the base model — just like last year.

Over in the U.K., the POCO F7 retails for £389 ($530) for the 12GB/256GB model, and £429 ($584) for the 12GB/512GB variant. If you're interested in buying the phone before July 7, you can pick up the 12GB/256GB model at £319 ($434) and the 12GB/512GB model at £359 ($488).

It will cost the equivalent of $399 for the 12GB/256GB model in other global markets, with launch pricing at $339. The 12GB/512GB model costs $449, with POCO bringing it down to $399 during the launch window.

POCO F7: What I like

POCO doesn't shy away from bold designs, and the F7 takes this to a new level. The white and black models have a two-tone design with a redesigned camera housing, and the oblong housing is split into. The green accents in the middle of the housing give it plenty of flair, and the dual-tone effect makes the design just that bit more refreshing.

The design is on another level

POCO also sent over the silver variant, and this is the model to get if you're interested in buying the F7. It has futuristic styling with an embossed Snapdragon logo, and it easily attracts attention. POCO went with flat sides, but the bevels on the sides make it comfortable to hold and use the phone, and it isn't unwieldy even though it has a massive battery.

The aluminum mid-frame and glass back make the device look upmarket, and POCO included IP68 dust and water resistance. The only issue I have with the design is that the fingerprint sensor is located a little too low on the panel, making it difficult to access.

This AMOLED panel gets bright

The F7 has a bigger 6.83-inch AMOLED panel, and it gets brighter than its predecessor. I didn't see any issues with color vibrancy or contrast levels, and POCO continues to do a great job calibrating its panels. There's Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and you get dynamic colors in Netflix and YouTube.

Gaming is similarly enjoyable, and the F7 doesn't really have any issues in this regard. The stereo sound is limited as you don't get identical channels, but you can make out two distinct sources of audio, and it is serviceable if you're gaming casually. Interestingly, the phone gets 3,840Hz PWM dimming as standard, and it makes a huge difference if you're sensitive to PWM issues.

Class-leading performance is a guarantee

POCO outfitted the F7 with the latest Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, and it is one of Qualcomm's best mid-range chipsets in a long time. It uses a design that's made up entirely of big cores — with the Cortex X4 leading the way — and the Adreno 825 holds up much better than the Adreno 735 in the 8s Gen 3.

Basically, this is one of the fastest options in this category, and it allows the F7 to shine in demanding games. I didn't see any issues with visually-demanding games, and the F7 delivers the best performance in this category by a long shot. Other niceties include UFS 4.1 storage modules, 256GB of storage even on the base model, Bluetooth 6.0 modem — just like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra and Xiaomi 15 — alongside Wi-Fi 7, AptX Adaptive, and dual-band GPS.

A battery that goes on (and on (and on))

POCO didn't really omit many features on the F7, and that's refreshing to see. On that note, the phone has a huge 6,500mAh battery, and it lasts over a day and a half with medium use. Even if you binge an entire season of a TV show in one go, you'll get a day's worth of use out of the device.

My only annoyance with the battery is that the global model doesn't have the gargantuan 7,550mAh silicon battery that's exclusive to the Indian model. POCO did this in the past as well where it limited the bigger battery to the Indian version, and I want to see that change.

Other than that, the phone gets 90W charging, and it takes just over 44 minutes to charge the device. That's quite decent when you consider the size of the battery, and this is with the 6,500mAh model — I didn't get to use the Indian unit with the 7,550mAh battery.

Highly customizable software

POCO's phones have the same software as their Xiaomi siblings, and the F7 runs Android 15 out of the box. There's good optimization, so you get a fluid interface without any noticeable lag in daily use. I ran into a few issues with notifications, but disabling the memory management sorted those out.

Other than that, there really isn't much to talk about the software. You get the usual AI-backed utilities, but they're limited to Xiaomi's (err, POCO) own services, and I don't really see much usability with these. What I like is that the F7 will get four Android OS updates alongside six years of security patches. That's a positive move from POCO, and it allows the phone to be relevant that much longer.

POCO F7: What I don't like

POCO will admit that cameras aren't the highest priority for the brand, and while the F7 Ultra changed this narrative, the standard F7 doesn't quite deliver the same caliber of photos. The phone uses a 50MP Sony IMX882 as the main camera, and it's joined by an 8MP wide-angle lens and a 20MP front camera that lacks autofocus.

The phone takes decent photos in most conditions, but it isn't going to win any awards. You can get beautiful shots if you're willing to tweak the settings, but it isn't anywhere as effortless to use as the Pixel 9a or even the iQOO Neo 10. The 8MP wide-angle lens is strictly average, and it doesn't measure up in low-light situations. You get 4K60 video, but stabilization isn't great.

Another issue is with the software; while I generally like what POCO is doing in this area, the F7 has way too much bloatware installed out of the box. Yes, you can uninstall or disable most utilities, but most users won't bother doing so.

POCO F7: The alternatives

I like the iQOO Neo 10; it has a lot of the same features, and you get a 7,000mAh battery as standard alongside 90W charging. It holds up just as well in daily use and intensive gaming, and it is a smidgen lighter than the F7. I like iQOO's software better, but the device won't get as many updates.

If you need the best cameras, the Pixel 9a continues to be a solid choice. The phone isn't anywhere as fast as the F7, and it misses out in a lot of other areas. But if you need a mid-ranger to take photos, the cameras are hard to beat, and Google has an extensive suite of AI editing features.

POCO F7: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

• You want a phone that will turn heads
• You need the best battery life
• You're looking for the best performance in this category

You shouldn't buy this if:

• You take a lot of photos and videos

The F7 is an existential threat to the Redmi Note 14 Pro+; POCO somehow managed to deliver better performance, much better battery life, a bigger AMOLED panel with brighter colors, and longer software updates.

This makes me question why Xiaomi even bothers with the Redmi Note series; sure, it takes better photos, but it is inferior in every other way, and the pricing just doesn't justify what you're getting.

If you need a mid-range phone and don't mind average cameras, there really isn't a better choice than the F7 right now.

What you need to know

• The Mix Flip 2 will likely feature the flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite SoC, along with at least 12GB of RAM and Android 15, per the latest benchmark test.
• It is expected to have a 6.85-inch primary folding screen with a 120Hz refresh rate and a 4.01-inch external screen.
• The phone will likely include dual 50MP primary cameras, a 5100mAh or 5600mAh battery, and support for 67W wired and 50W wireless charging.

Xiaomi took its sweet time in announcing the first clamshell phone last year, dubbed the Mix Flip. And, its successor Mix Flip 2 has now been teased, and it seems to have also hit the Geekbench, revealing its chipset and other details.

Tipster Abhishek Yadav on X (formerly Twitter) has shared the first possible teaser image (found via Weibo) of the Flip 2 next to possible Geekbench results of the alleged clamshell phone from the company.

Per the teaser image, the successor is likely to carry a similar design language as the Mix Flip, featuring a prominent cover screen with sizable primary cameras (Leica-powered) overlaying on top of the screen. While the color options showcased in the teaser look conventional, users are likely to experience some kind of texture or pattern, presumably for a better finish.

The alleged device is internally called Xiaomi 2505APX7BC — achieved a 2835 single-core rating alongside an 8550 multi-score rating on the latest Geekbench test conducted on Monday (June 23).

The device can be seen running on Qualcomm's flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, the same SoC that powers some of the best Android phones available today.

It is encouraging to see Xiaomi opting for the octa-core CPU on the second iteration of the clamshell phone, just like its previous flagships, like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra. The upcoming clamshell from Xiaomi is expected to ship with at least 12GB of RAM and Android 15 running out of the box.

Power house in a clamshell

Per the latest information on Weibo, the Mix Flip 2 is expected to launch as early as June 26 and is tipped to launch globally alongside China. The primary folding screen will supposedly measure 6.85 inches, featuring a 120Hz refresh rate. The external screen, on the other hand, will likely measure 4.01 inches and support most of the applications on the handset without the need to open up the clamshell often.

The two primary cameras are expected to be 50MP cameras each, and the device should likely have either a 5100mAh or 5600mAh battery capacity based on the region availability. Lastly, it is tipped to support 67W fast charging, next to 50W wireless charging.

With the tipped launch date, it appears Xiaomi will likely release the Mix Flip 2 right before the Galaxy Z Flip 7 from Samsung, which now officially has a July 9 launch date.

• Phone deals: Best Buy | Walmart | Samsung | Amazon | Verizon | AT&T

What you need to know

• A recent report by CounterPoint Research indicated that Google's latest foldable, the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, seems to be pushing sales for the company in Europe by 265%.
• Samsung still takes first place; however, it saw a 24% dip in sales, while Motorola overtook Honor to become the second-largest smartphone vendor in Europe.
• The overall foldable market in Europe grew by only 4% in Q1, accounting for 1.5% of the total smartphone sales in the region.
• Google, TECNO, and Xiaomi saw growth in this segment following the launch of their new devices.

Google's Pixel 9 Pro Fold has pushed the tech giant to become one of Europe's fastest-growing foldables, according to a new report by CounterPoint Research. The firm released a comprehensive report discussing the region's foldable scene.

It stated that the overall foldable market experienced only a 4% growth this quarter, accounting for 1.5% of total smartphone sales in Europe. CounterPoint Research's associate director, Jan Stryjak, said that this could be a worrying sign, as foldables are still very expensive and may hinder increased adoption.

"Despite all the attention new foldable devices receive, they are still too expensive for mass-market appeal. Further, most consumers are still not sure what a foldable phone is for, and many still have concerns about the durability and longevity of the devices," Stryjak added.

Breaking things down, CounterPoint Research noted that despite Samsung leading the table, it saw a 24% drop in sales in Q1 this year. This decrease in sales can be attributed to waning interest in Samsung's phones, which have failed to compete with other popular models on the market.

Meanwhile, Motorola overtook Honor for second place and saw a 58% increase in sales this quarter, thanks to the Motorola Razr 2024 series.

The firm notes that Google, TECNO, and Xiaomi all "saw robust growth over the year following the launches of some impressive devices, some also at more attractive price points."

TECNO and Google became the fastest-growing foldable OEMs, with 336% and 265% growth, respectively, contributing 8% to the overall foldable market. While Google's growth was attributed to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, TECNO saw a boost thanks to its relatively affordable Phantom V Fold 2.

On the other end, OPPO saw the highest percentage (63%) of decline in sales, and accounted for only 4% of overall sales in the segment.

The firm also suggested that Samsung needs to get more innovative if it wants to appeal to consumers in this specific segment. It states that "Samsung has taken note, teasing the launch of an Ultra variant of its upcoming Galaxy Z Fold 7 series. This will hopefully give the segment the shot in the arm it needs," Stryjak added.

Samsung is expected to launch the next line of foldables sometime in July this year, and recent rumors indicate that the next Unpacked event will be held in New York.

For more news and information on Samsung’s upcoming foldables, check out our Ultimate Guide.

It's not often that we see a new entrant in the mobile chipset industry; that's why it's exciting to see Xiaomi roll out its Xring O1 platform. Qualcomm and MediaTek effectively have a duopoly in this regard, and although Samsung is still chugging along with its Exynos designs, it isn't anywhere close to what the other two chip vendors manage to deliver on a consistent basis.

Google is doing a decent job with its Tensor portfolio, but these products are customized to focus on AI and not necessarily deliver the best power. That isn't the case with the Xring O1; Xiaomi is clearly positioning it as a rival to the best that Qualcomm and MediaTek have to offer; the chipset built on a second-gen TSMC 3nm node, and comes with a 10-core CPU and 16-core Arm Immortalis-G925 GPU.

Xiaomi is using Arm's v9.2 cores, and the 10-core design gives it a distinct edge over its rivals, which have stuck to an octa-core configuration for a while now. The Xring O1 uses two Cortex X925 cores clocked at 3.9GHz, a quartet of Cortex A725 cores at 3.4GHz, two additional A725 cores at 1.9GHz, and two Cortex A520 cores at 1.8GHz. The manufacturer is leveraging Arm's CoreLink Interconnect system to make the most of the tri-core architecture.

Similarly, thanks to 16 shader cores in the Immortalis-G925, Xiaomi is able to claim a definite win over MediaTek — which uses 12 cores in its Dimensity 9400. That's not all; it gets Xiaomi's own ISP (now in its fourth generation), and a 6-core NPU with 44 TOPS — similar to what Qualcomm is offering on the 8 Elite. Xiaomi notes that this is just the start in a decade-long investment that's set to exceed 6.9 billion USD, with 2,500 engineers working in its chip division.

Xiaomi dabbled in custom chip design with the Surge S1 back in 2017, but that was aimed at the budget category, and it isn't anything as ambitious as what the manufacturing is doing now. In fact, Xiaomi is so confident about what it has achieved that it slotted in the Xring O1 in its latest products: the Xiaomi 15S Pro and Pad 7 Ultra tablet.

The 15S Pro is identical to the 15 Pro that debuted at the end of last year, with the only key difference being the switch to the Xring O1 silicon. The phone has a new design and comes with 512GB of UFS 4.1 storage as standard (instead of 256GB), and Xiaomi is limiting it to China.

The Pad 7 Ultra is of greater interest to me, as the tablet gets an oversized 14-inch OLED panel — a considerable upgrade from the 11.2-inch LCD-toting Pad 7 and Pad 7 Pro. It also has a massive 12,000mAh battery, and I'm excited to get my hands on it to see what the Xring O1 is able to deliver in a device of this size.

I'm interested in testing two things with the Xring O1: how the modem holds up, and battery efficiency. Xiaomi doesn't have an integrated modem, and is instead using an external MediaTek T800 modem that's built on a 4nm node. The use of an external modem usually affects battery efficiency, and it will be interesting to see how it runs in real-world scenarios against Qualcomm and MediaTek rivals.

I haven't gotten my hands on the 15S Pro yet, but Chinese YouTuber Geekerwan did extensive testing of the Xring O1 (the video is in Mandarin, but it has English subtitles) and found that it does better than the Dimensity 9400. Interestingly, the CPU has energy efficiency in line with what Qualcomm and MediaTek are delivering, and that's an achievement in and of itself.

However, testing the battery efficiency showed that the use of an external modem affected battery life, with the Qualcomm-based model lasting 40 minutes longer in the same test. Ultimately, Xiaomi needs to make its own 5G modem, and given how difficult that has proven to be for anyone other than Qualcomm, MediaTek, and Samsung, we'll just have to wait and see how the Chinese manufacturer does in this area.

In addition to the Xring O1, Xiaomi unveiled the Xring T1, a smartwatch platform that will see a decent amount of use on the brand's wearables. The timing of this announcement is interesting as it comes just a week after Xiaomi and Qualcomm released a joint statement extending their 15-year partnership, and confirming that upcoming Xiaomi flagships will continue to use Qualcomm silicon.

While it's entirely possible that Xiaomi uses Qualcomm for phones it releases globally, it's clear that the brand is positioning its own designs for devices that are exclusive to its home market. That's a significant shift in strategy, and at least based on the hardware the brand has detailed thus far, it's clear that the Xring O1 is able to hold its own against the Dimensity 9400 and Qualcomm's flagship silicon.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi and Qualcomm will continue to collaborate, building on their 15 long years of partnership.
• This means Xiaomi will continue to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 series in its flagship smartphones.
• The collaboration extends beyond smartphones, as it also comprises a wider range of Xiaomi's product ecosystem, such as AR/VR glasses, wearables, tablets, smart home devices, and electric vehicles.

Xiaomi has always been at the forefront when it comes to adopting Qualcomm’s latest and greatest chips across its products. The partnership is further expanding as both companies have announced a multi-year agreement.

Similar to every year, Xiaomi will again be one of the first to adopt the next-generation flagship Snapdragon 8 series for its premium smartphones later this year, both for China and global markets, as both brands announced in a shared press release.

It is important to note that these companies plan to collaborate with each other like they have been for the past 15 years, and Xiaomi will be launching premium smartphones powered by the Snapdragon 8 series for multiple generations, with “volume increasing each year of the agreement.”

"Qualcomm Technologies has always been one of Xiaomi’s most trusted and vital partners, supporting our journey from a startup to a global technology leader. We look forward to continuing the next 15 years of our collaboration and leveraging Qualcomm Technologies’ cutting-edge Snapdragon® platforms and technologies to deliver even more innovative and high-quality products to our customers worldwide,” said Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi.

Going forward, Xiaomi and the chipset maker will work in collaboration to launch not just smartphones but also AR/VR glasses, wearables, tablets, and several others.

“We value the relationship we have built resulting from 15 years of close collaboration and are excited to continue this journey for many years to come, with Snapdragon platforms powering Xiaomi’s premium smartphones. We look forward to expanding our work together in automotive, smart home products, wearables, AR/VR glasses, tablets, and more, ” said Cristiano Amon, president and CEO of Qualcomm.

For the unaware, Xiaomi first partnered with Qualcomm back in 2011, almost 15 years ago, with the launch of its Mi 1. And for the past decade, every flagship from Xiaomi has been comprising the premium Qualcomm chipset, including the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which was one of the first handsets to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset. And this trend is set to continue in the future according to the company's presser.

Xiaomi has incorporated Qualcomm platforms like the Snapdragon Cockpit platform for its SU7 — the first vehicle launched by the company in 2023. The vehicle also includes Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Auto 5G Modem-RF solution for better processing and precise positioning.

Furthermore, Xiaomi’s smart home products have been incorporating the chipset maker’s Wi-Fi solutions, including the latest Wi-Fi standards. Wearables from the company, like the Xiaomi Buds 5 Pro, are also powered by Snapdragon S7 and S7 Plus Gen 1 sound platforms, while the Watch 2 Pro is equipped with the Snapdragon W5 Plus Gen 1 wearable platform.

Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Qualcomm and Xiaomi had extended their partnership for the next 15 years. Qualcomm did not specify a timeline for the agreement, and the article has been updated to reflect the same.

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When it comes to affordable smartphones, Motorola and Xiaomi are easily among the most popular brands out there. However, the product portfolios of these companies comprise some truly premium devices as well, with the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 and the Xiaomi Mix Flip being two such products.

Both are flip-style foldables that come with just about everything you could possibly want in a top-tier smartphone, including powerhouse hardware, feature-laden software with lots of AI-based tools, and much more. While the Razr Ultra 2025 is Motorola's latest and most expensive product of its kind, the Mix Flip is Xiaomi's first offering in the clamshell foldable segment and is nearly a year old at this point. The former is also much easier to get your hands on, whereas the latter remains limited in terms of availability. So, the question is, which of these two foldables is overall a better option?

Let's take a comparative look at the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 vs. Xiaomi Mix Flip and find out.

Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 vs. Xiaomi Mix Flip: Design, displays, and hardware

Motorola has been making foldables for a while now, and the Razr Ultra 2025 is its finest offering yet. The smartphone's back panel comes in three different finishes (vegan leather, Alcantara, and wood) and there are four colors to choose from. You also get a titanium-reinforced hinge for improved durability, as well as an IP48 certification for better ingress protection.

The cover display is a 4.0-inch LTPO pOLED panel that comes with a refresh rate of up to 165Hz and is secured with a layer of Corning's Gorilla Glass Ceramic. The inner folding display is a 7.0-inch LTPO AMOLED screen that also has a 165Hz refresh rate and can hit a peak brightness of up to 4,500 nits.

Xiaomi has done a fabulous job with the Mix Flip, which doesn't look and feel like a first-generation product at all. You get an aluminum frame and a dual-link hinge that can hold the device open at multiple angles for capturing photos. The smartphone is available in two colors (Black and Purple), but there's no ingress protection rating.

The 4.01-inch AMOLED cover display features a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and is protected by Xiaomi's Shield Glass. As for the inner folding screen, it's a 6.86-inch LTPO AMOLED screen that also comes with a refresh rate of 120Hz and can achieve up to 3000 nits of peak brightness.

Now let's talk about the internals. Being the newer product, the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is powered by Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, working in tandem with 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage. Conversely, the Xiaomi Mix Flip features a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC under the hood, along with 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of UFS 4.0 storage.

Although the Razr Ultra 2025 does have a slight edge over the Mix Flip due to its better innards, both devices have hardware specifications comparable to the best Android phones out there. Consequently, they can handle even the most resource-intensive of tasks with little to no effort.

The two foldables are matched pretty evenly in terms of connectivity and I/O, with both offering features like Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4, multi-band 5G support, and NFC. However, since the Xiaomi Mix Flip isn't officially available in the United States (and many other regions around the world), the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 is going to have better carrier compatibility.

Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 vs. Xiaomi Mix Flip: Software, cameras, and battery

The Razr Ultra 2025 runs Android 15 out of the box, with Motorola's Hello UI overlay. Even though the software experience is still fairly minimal, there are several thoughtful additions that take it to the next level, with 'Moto AI' being the most notable of them. As the name suggests, Moto AI is the company's own suite of AI-powered tools that work alongside Google's Gemini. These include Image Studio and Playlist Studio, which can be used to generate images and create contextual music playlists.

The cover screen functionality has also gotten a bit better. You can not only use apps natively on the cover display but also set up shortcuts for in-app functions, configure widgets, and more.

Running Android 14 with Xiaomi's HyperOS overlay, the Mix Flip comes with its own collection of AI-based features that are aimed at enhancing the overall user experience. Some of these tools include an AI Interpreter (for real-time translation of calls), AI Notes (for automatic formatting and summarization of notes), AI Film (for creating short cinematic videos). Of course, Google's AI features (e.g., Circle to Search) are also bundled. HyperOS comes with extensive customization options, including pet lock screens, dynamic widgets, and more.

While the Razr Ultra 2025 is set to receive three years of OS and four years of security updates, the Mix Flip will get four years of OS and five years of security updates. This update policy isn't really bad, but it doesn't match up to what you get with foldable phones from companies like Samsung and Google.

Coming to cameras, the Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 has a dual-lens primary camera system with a 50MP primary sensor and a 50MP ultrawide unit. Thanks to Motorola's collaboration with Pantone, you can expect fabulous photos with good dynamic range and vibrant colors, even in dimly lit environments.

The Xiaomi Mi Flip features a dual-lens primary camera setup as well, with a 50MP primary sensor and a 50MP telephoto module with 2x optical zoom. While the lack of an ultrawide lens is a bit of a bummer, Xiaomi's association with Leica means that the photos are packed with detail and you have a lot of fun image styles to play with.

The Razr Ultra 2025 features a 4,700mAh battery that supports 68W fast charging support. As for the Mix Flip, it has a slightly bigger 4,780mAh battery with 67W wired charging support. While these specs are almost identical, the Razr Ultra 2025 also comes with wireless charging (30W) support, whereas the Mix Flip doesn't.

Motorola Razr Ultra 2025 vs. Xiaomi Mix Flip: Which should you buy?

There's no denying that the Razr Ultra 2025 and the Mix Flip are among the best foldable phones out there. Both these devices not only represent the best that Motorola and Xiaomi have to offer, but also prove that foldable smartphones are here to stay. They come with a similar set of features, and at the same time, have their own share of pros and cons too.

With a starting price of $1,299, the Razr Ultra 2025 packs top-of-the-line hardware, a laundry list of AI-based tools, an all-day battery life, and incredible cameras. It's fairly expensive, but buying one is simple and network compatibility (with both mainstream and MVNO carriers) is almost guaranteed. On the other hand, the Mix Flip can be had for a starting price as low as $899, but you'll most likely have to import it. And even if you do, you'll have to do some research to ensure whether it'll work with your wireless carrier or not. Nonetheless, it's an amazing product that comes with a great design, thoughtful software additions, and versatile cameras. So, which one should you ultimately go for?

Here's what we recommend! If you simply need a flagship foldable that ticks almost all the right boxes and don't mind paying a premium for it, go ahead and get the Razr Ultra 2025. However, if you're willing to go the import route and know how to check for things such as carrier compatibility, you can go for the Mix Flip and save at least $400, if not more.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi will announce its in-house XRing 01 chipset on May 22nd, initially exclusive to China.
• Leaked Geekbench tests suggest the XRing 01 bringing scores comparable to the Snapdragon 8 Elite.
• It is likely a deca-core chipset and is expected to power the upcoming Xiaomi 15S Pro, running Android 15.

Xiaomi is all set to announce its new in-house-developed silicon chipset dubbed XRing 01. New information and a couple of leaked benchmark tests reveal what the upcoming chipset will have to offer.

The XRing 01 is believed to be exclusive to the China region for now, and it will be unveiled on May 22 through a product launch event. The teased posters on Weibo also indicate that it is an advanced 3nm-based silicon (2nd gen), and leaked benchmarks indicate that it is likely a strong contender to Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite that powers most of the Android flagship phones this year.

According to tipster Jukanlosreve on X (via Tom’s Hardware), the XRing 01 has been spotted on Geekbench tests, and the chipset scored a notable 2709 single-core score and 8125 multi-core score. On the other hand, another tipster Ice Universe has also shared another Geekbench test of the same chipset that revealed even better 3017 single-core and 9264 multi-core readings, which sounds promising for a new unreleased SoC.

The benchmark also implies that the XRing 01 is being run on an Android 15-based phone, likely the Xiaomi 15S Pro, which is also believed to be announced at the same event alongside the Xiaomi Pad 7 Ultra.

Interestingly, the Geekbench test also reveals the unique deca-core setup featuring two cores with 1.80GHz clock speeds, another two with 1.89GHz, four 3.40GHz speed cores, and two other cores with 3.90GHz.

The latter are expected to be the two Cortex-X925 cores, and the four are believed to be Cortex A725/X4 cores. The cores with 1.89GHz are likely the Cortex A720/A725 ones, and the first two are expected to be the Cortex A520 cores.

With the expected configuration and benchmark tests, the chipset alongside the Snapdragon 8 Elite is likely to take on Dimensity 9400 and Exynos 2400 SoCs as well. The chipset ahead of the release already sounds promising, which is understandable since the company has invested four years in research and development in making the SoC. It also makes Xiaomi join the list with its counterparts like Huawei, Apple, and Google, who all already develop their in-house chipsets for their flagships.

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What you need to know

• Xiaomi is stepping up big with its own chip, the XRING 01, aiming to build more phone tech in-house and stay ahead of the pack.
• CEO Lei Jun revealed the chip’s name on Weibo, with a launch expected before May wraps up.
• The XRING 01 is said to be built on TSMC’s 4nm tech, the same as the top dogs Qualcomm and MediaTek use.

Xiaomi is rolling out its own smartphone chip called the XRING 01, signaling the company's growing intention to build more of its phone tech from the ground up and pushing hard to stay ahead of the race.

The company's co-founder, Lei Jun, took to Weibo to drop the name of Xiaomi's first in-house smartphone chip. According to Reuters, he also confirmed the chip will make its debut in a device before the end of May.

Breaking from the usual playbook, Xiaomi’s XRING 01 chip is reportedly built on TSMC’s 4nm tech, the same stuff powering today’s top-tier chips from Qualcomm and MediaTek.

Beastly CPU setup

Under the hood, it’s said to rock an octa-core setup in a 1+3+4 layout: a Cortex-X925 core at 3.2GHz, three Cortex-A725s running at 2.6GHz, and four Cortex-A520s cruising at 2.0GHz.

As per industry tipster Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi’s in-house chip is blowing past expectations. Early benchmarks are looking solid, and if the hype holds up, it might even edge out the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in raw performance.

Wary of possible U.S. sanctions, Xiaomi has set up a 1,000-strong task force led by ex-Qualcomm exec Qin Muyun, who came on board back in 2021. The team’s mission is to build out the XRING 01, Xiaomi’s custom application processor, which first popped up as a prototype earlier this year.

Xiaomi has an in-house team that’s been quietly grinding away on custom chips for a while now. The team works to make sure the processors and other key parts are dialed in for Xiaomi’s phones.

Xiaomi 15S Pro likely first to get it

Rumor has it that the Xiaomi 15S Pro will be the first to pack the new XRING 01 chip under the hood. Since the 15 and 15 Ultra are already out in the wild, the 15S lineup looks like Xiaomi’s clever move to spice up the lineup halfway through the cycle.

It is worth mentioning that the XRING 01 isn’t Xiaomi’s first shot at custom chips. Back in 2017, it rolled out the Surge S1 for the Mi 5C. The company even started cooking up the Surge S2 after that but decided to hit pause on its in-house chip plans—until now.

What you need to know

• Reports allege Xiaomi has "internally" notified its members about the creation of a "chip platform department" to facilitate its custom chip ambitions.
• The Chinese OEM has reportedly tapped Qin Muyun, who has a history as Qualcomm's former senior director of product marketing to lead the charge.
• Xiaomi was reportedly looking to invest 30 billion yuan (~$4.1 billion) in 2025 for its in-house chip creation dreams last November.

New reports pile on the in-house chip rumors for Xiaomi as the company allegedly makes a big move to secure that future.

The report from ITHome (Chinese) cites supposed sources that claim Xiaomi has "internally" announced the start of a "chip platform department"(via Gizmochina). The OEM is looking to reduce its reliance on outside sources for chips for its future devices. As such, Xiaomi allegedly tapped Qin Muyun, with history as Qualcomm's former senior director of product marketing to lead the department.

There isn't much left to chew through as Xiaomi hasn't announced the existence of its chip platform department officially to the public.

Reports add Qin Muyun will report to Xiaomi's Li Jun, the general manager of its product department.

The post by Gizmochina reiterates recent leaks about Xiaomi's first alleged in-house chip, which could pack flagship specs — at least in one area. The publication claims the chip could feature a Cortex X925 core at 3.2GHz, which is the same one found in the Dimensity 9400 SoC. The other cores are rumored to come from a past-generation, leading some to believe Xiaomi may skip its flagships with its first chip.

Long-standing Ambitions

Reports about Xiaomi's growing interest in manufacturing in-house chips surfaced in November. The Chinese OEM's close relationship with Qualcomm was highlighted; however, Xiaomi is more interested in becoming "self-sufficient" instead. MediaTek is another company Xiaomi would like to cut back from. While the company has actively worked with Qualcomm for SoCs, it states it's implemented additions atop the brand's chips for its consumers.

One such addition involved upgrades to improve power management capabilities and "graphic enhancements."

This was a long-time aspiration for Xiaomi's Chairman and CEO Lei Jun, who stated in October the company would invest roughly 30 billion yuan (~$4.1 billion) in 2025 for in-house chips. Rumors state could enter mass production sometime this year.

Xiaomi also faces the possibility of leaning on TSMC, like Google's did when it broke away from Samsung. The true power of Xiaomi's future custom chip is unknown. Moreover, where we could see it first appear is unclear, though it may happen in late 2025 if not 2026.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi announces its Android 16 Developer Preview Program for those creating apps for its upcoming upgrade.
• The preview will provide developers with the tools needed to develop their apps to sort of issues, but it's only accepting the Xiaomi 15 and 14T Pro models.
• Google recently achieved "Platform Stability" with Android 16, meaning its on track to deliver the next major OS in Q2.

Xiaomi is in the early stages of Android 16 development, and those creating apps can get a head start, too.

The Chinese OEM announced the start of its Android 16 Developer Preview Program for early app development (via Location Tracking Hub). Similar to Google, Xiaomi is encouraging interested developers to take part in its preview program, which provides all the tools they will need to "improve the compatibility" and develop their Android 16-supported apps. Interested parties are restricted to a pair of phones to start.

Xiaomi states its developer preview is accepting the Xiaomi 15 and the 14T Pro.

The announcement post states developers can get started in one of two ways: a local update or a fastboot update. For the former, devs must ensure their Xiaomi 15 is running OS2.0.109.0.VOCMIXM or higher. Owners of a 14T Pro need to have installed OS2.0.103.0.VNNMIXM or higher. The company has provided a complete guide on "how to" get started with the developer preview.

Xiaomi's post didn't tease any new features, so it's unclear if developers can expect to see anything new before a more public beta for users drops.

An Early Android 16

We're nearing the full release of a much earlier Android OS upgrade from Google as Android 16 reached "Platform Stability." The update in late March marked a major milestone for the next software update as Google progresses with a rapid timeline for the future of Android. Platform Stability means all in-app behaviors have been finalized, and developers are given one last call for final changes to their apps.

April will hold any last-minute adjustments from Google and developers before it drops in users' hands. Google said, "We’re putting additional energy into working with our device partners to bring the Q2 release to as many devices as possible." Android 16 is expected to launch by the end of June.

So, it's no surprise that Xiaomi is getting started on a developer preview of its own while it toils away at its HyperOS Android 16-skin.

Other OEMs have also started working on their Android 16 versions, like OnePlus and its flagship 13 model. Consumers with that device are getting their first glimpse of Android 16 as the company prepares for a rapid launch.

POCO managed to carve out a niche in the budget and mid-range categories by delivering value-focused phones, and devices like the X7 Pro exemplify this trait. If anything, POCO is doing a better job in this area than its Redmi sister brand, and this is clearly evident in the mid-range, where last year's F6 Pro is still a fantastic choice.

The brand is doing things a little differently in 2025; while it's still launching the F7 Pro, the focus this year is the F7 Ultra — its most powerful phone yet. The F7 Ultra is a definite statement from POCO that it can produce a phone that can hold its own against the best that OPPO, Vivo, Google, and Honor have to offer.

With the latest Qualcomm silicon, a QHD panel, 5300mAh silicon battery, and 120W charging, the F7 Ultra has a solid foundation, but its the cameras where the device truly stands out. POCO admitted in the past that cameras aren't the biggest priority for the brand, and while its phones took decent photos, they didn't measure up to their immediate rivals.

That's changing with the F7 Ultra; the phone has a 50MP main camera with a Light Fusion 800 imaging module, and it's joined by a 50MP telephoto with 2.5x optical zoom, and 32MP wide-angle lens. The best part is the price, with the phone debuting at $649, undercutting its rivals by a sizeable amount.

I used the F7 Ultra for just over two weeks, and here's why I think it is the best value-focused flagship you can buy in 2025.

POCO F7 Ultra: Pricing and availability

POCO unveiled the F7 Pro and F7 Ultra on March 27, 2025, and both devices will go on sale in select regions in Southeast Asia, the U.K., and other global markets in the coming weeks. The F7 Ultra is sold in yellow and black color variants, and POCO is selling it in two models: the base edition has 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and it costs $649. There's also a 16GB/512GB model that costs $699.

To incentivize the launch, POCO is selling the 12GB/256GB F7 Ultra at $599, and the 16GB/512GB edition at $649. Considering there's just a $50 difference between the two, I'd suggest getting the 512GB model — that's the one I'm using.

The F7 Pro has the same design, same panel, same 50MP main camera, and a bigger 6000mAh battery. It misses out on the auxiliary cameras and isn't quite as fast, but otherwise, there isn't much in the way of difference between the two devices. The F7 Pro is debuting in black, silver, and blue, and the blue variant is the one to get.

It's available with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, retailing for $499. The 12GB/512GB edition costs $549, and just like the F7 Ultra, POCO is discounting either model of the F7 Pro by $50 during the launch window.

POCO F7 Ultra: Design

While Xiaomi's phones now have a semblance of design consistency between generations, that hasn't trickled down to POCO's devices. As such, the F7 Ultra has a brand-new design aesthetic that has no resemblance to the POCO F6 or F6 Pro. Thankfully, POCO is using the same design on the F7 Pro as well, so at least both models have similarities — which wasn't the case last year on the standard POCO F6.

The F7 Ultra has flat sides, but the beveled edges make it comfortable to hold and use the device, and the back curves slightly where it meets the mid-frame. There's a new design for the camera housing at the back, and it doesn't quite stand out as much; it's just a circular design that houses the three imaging modules, with the flash sitting on the right.

There is a steel ring encircling the camera island, and a yellow accent around the housing that gives it a little flair, but overall, it doesn't have the same bold characteristics that defined POCO's previous phones in this series. Talking about bold, the yellow color definitely stands out, and the matte texture at the back has a great in-hand feel, and doesn't pick up any smudges.

I like the yellow color scheme in general — it makes the device that much more distinctive — and while the back looks great, the sides are rather plain, and I think POCO should have color-matched the sides to deliver a more cohesive design. POCO did that with the F7 Pro, which has a silver back and sides, so I'm not really sure why it didn't on the Ultra variant.

That said, POCO did the right thing by using matte sides, and it makes holding the phone a little easier. The mid-frame is aluminum, and coming in at 212g, the phone has a nice heft to it. There's good weight distribution as well, and it never once felt unwieldy. The rest of the features are standard; you get a dual-SIM tray, power and volume buttons on the right, and stereo sound.

Interestingly, POCO is using an ultrasonic module on the F7 Ultra, and it is located at just the right position. The module is fast and doesn't have any issues, and it holds up just as well with wet or oily fingers. Rounding out the design, the F7 Ultra gets IP68 dust and water resistance, and it can be easily submerged in up to 2.5 meters of water — higher than the 1.5-meter restriction that's on most phones.

The F7 Ultra isn't quite as flamboyant as a few POCO phones I used in the past, but it has a good in-hand feel, and it's clearly built to last, and that's what ultimately matters.

POCO F7 Ultra: Display

POCO has used 6.67-inch displays for a while now, and that isn't changing with the F7 Ultra; the phone has the same size and 3200 x 1440 resolution. There's Dolby Vision and HDR10+, and the panel is noticeably brighter this time — I didn't see any issues using it outdoors.

Colors are vibrant out of the box, and POCO knows how to calibrate these panels at the factory. That has always been a plus point on the brand's devices, and that hasn't changed. You get good customizability with the colors as well; the Original colour Pro is set out of the box, and the device has Vivid and Saturated modes alongside color-accurate P3 and Adobe sRGB. Of course, you can also adjust the color balance according to your tastes.

The phone is set to FHD+ and auto refresh out of the box, so you will need to dive into the settings to change these two to QHD+ and 120Hz to make the most out of the device. A new feature that's debuting this time is circular polarization technology, which delivers a more natural light. It is similar to what Honor did on the Magic 7 Pro, and it is noticeable when using the device next to the F6 Pro.

The F7 Ultra also gets 3840Hz PWM dimming, and this is a welcome move. Xiaomi and other Chinese brands are doing all the right things when it comes to eye care on their devices, and it's good to see the F7 Ultra get the full suite of features. Xiaomi's always-on styles aren't quite as extensive as what you get with ColorOS or Funtouch OS, but you get a decent selection, and you can choose to have the mode enabled throughout the day or set up a custom schedule.

Interestingly, the F7 Ultra gets a dedicated VisionBoost D7 chip that optimizes video playback and delivers smoother visuals while gaming, with POCO positioning 120fps gaming as a clear differentiator. On that subject, gaming is a delight on the device, with the phone able to handle demanding titles without any hassle whatsoever.

It holds up just as well with multimedia content; HDR rendering is handled well, and there's a noticeable difference to last year when it comes to brightness levels and color fidelity. POCO is using a custom Shield Glass solution — similar to what Xiaomi does on its own devices — and in my use, the phone didn't have any issues even after several tumbles.

POCO F7 Ultra: Hardware and battery

I've always enjoyed using POCO's devices because of the powerful hardware, and the F7 Ultra is in a league of its own. Thanks to the latest Qualcomm silicon, the phone holds its own against the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, Honor Magic 7 Pro, Zenfone 12 Ultra, and OnePlus 13. Similar to those devices, I didn't see any issues with the F7 Ultra in regular use; the phone handled mundane tasks without breaking a sweat, and even visually-intensive titles didn't tax the hardware to any noticeable degree.

The hardware tends to run hotter — this is the case with all Qualcomm-powered phones this year — and there is overheating during extended gaming sessions. That said, it doesn't get so hot as to become uncomfortable to hold. It's clear that Qualcomm increased power limits this year, and that is evident when using the phone next to previous iterations. The plus side is that you get better gaming performance, with rock-solid framerates.

POCO is using the Surge T1S chip to deliver better connectivity, and although I didn't see any difference when using the F7 Ultra on my home network, it had a stronger signal over cellular data. The phone has Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 — just like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra — NFC, AptX Adaptive, AptX Lossless, and LHDC codecs. In short, you don't miss out on anything on the connectivity side of things.

The vibration motor is quite good too, and while it isn't as detailed as the one on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, it has good feedback when using the keyboard — certainly much better than previous POCO phones.

There is a lot to like with the battery as well. The 5300mAh battery easily manages to last a day with relative ease, and even with heavy use, I didn't have to worry about battery running out before the end of the day. POCO is also using silicon battery tech this time, and it allows the brand to deliver a bigger battery in a smaller size — always a good thing.

The phone gets 120W charging, and it takes 38 minutes to charge the battery. You'll need to enable the Boost charging mode to unlock 120W charging, with the phone using 90W in regular use. Overall, this is the best hardware package in the sub-$800 category, and like previous years, POCO absolutely dominates the value.

POCO F7 Ultra: Cameras

POCO was always upfront about the cameras on its phones; while its devices did a decent enough job, imaging just wasn't a priority for the brand. That's thankfully changing with the F7 Ultra; the phone has the same 50MP Light Fusion camera as last year, and it's using the same OmniVision OVX8000 module with OIS. What's different is the auxiliary lenses; there's now a 50MP Samsung JN5 tele lens with 2.5x optical zoom and OIS, and a 32MP wide-angle lens.

Just with the addition of the auxiliary lenses, the F7 Ultra has the best camera package of any POCO device by a considerable margin. Video shooting is much better too; you get 8K24 in addition to 4K60, and video quality is leagues better than earlier POCO phones. The camera interface hasn't changed much, so if you've used a Xiaomi or POCO phone in the past, you'll know your way around the viewfinder.

Daylight photos taken with the F7 Ultra have good detail and color rendition, and there are absolutely no issues in this regard. While it is using the same module as last year, changes to the tuning mean you get much better shots, and this is evident in low-light and challenging scenarios. In short, the phone doesn't have any shortcomings when it comes to the main camera, and it does a brilliant job in this regard.

While the auxiliary lenses aren't as good, they're much better than any other POCO phone I used until now. The phone delivers clean photos at 2.5x and usable shots up to 5x, and wide-angle shots have good colors. The wide-angle lens has its drawbacks in low-light situations, but on the whole, this is a vastly better showing than previous years.

Ultimately, the F7 Ultra doesn't quite measure up to the OnePlus 13, Find X8, Vivo X200, and Xiaomi 15, but the cameras don't feel like a limitation any longer — that in itself is a huge deal.

POCO F7 Ultra: Software

There isn't much to talk about on the software front; the device features HyperOS 2.0.4.0 out of the box, and it uses Android 15 as the foundation. As I used the Xiaomi 15 Ultra before switching over, the software is pretty much identical; POCO does a few things differently when it comes to icons, but other than that, it is the same software as every other Xiaomi phone.

Although the interface itself hasn't changed too much over the last two years, it has better fluidity, and that is immediately noticeable when using the F7 Ultra against older POCO phones. I still don't like the split notification pane, but I'm used to it by now, and it is easily customizable. The software itself has plenty of customizability in general, and that's thankfully something that hasn't changed on POCO's phones.

There is still some bloatware, but nowhere as much as years past, and it can be easily uninstalled. POCO says it will deliver four Android OS updates alongside six years of security updates to the F7 Ultra and F7 Pro, and that is good to see. While it isn't quite as much as what Google, Samsung, and Honor deliver, it is still a decent move. That said, the device isn't likely to get Android 16 well after its release; POCO takes its time to roll out software updates, and it needs to change that.

POCO F7 Ultra: The alternatives

The best alternative to the F7 Ultra is the F7 Pro; the phone has the same design, same panel, same main camera at the back, and same software. The auxiliary cameras aren't anywhere as good, and while it isn't quite as fast, you don't notice any difference even while gaming. As a bonus, the F7 Pro has a bigger 6000mAh battery, and even though it gets 90W charging instead of 120W, you're not actually missing out much. All things considered, the F7 Pro is a fabulous value at $499.

I like the OnePlus 13 a lot; it has one of the best camera packages in this category, and the design is stunning. Coming in at $899, it is $250 costlier than the F7 Ultra, and I'd suggest getting it if you need better cameras; otherwise, the F7 Ultra is a better choice in most areas.

POCO F7 Ultra: Should you buy it?

You should buy this if:

• You need a phone with the latest hardware
• You want decent cameras at the back
• You need a high-end phone with the best value
• You need reliable battery life

You shouldn't buy this if:

• You need timely software updates
• You want the best cameras

POCO did it once again — the F7 Ultra is proof that you don't need to shell out a ridiculous amount of money to get a great phone. The phone loses some of the flamboyance that characterized POCO devices in the past, but that's ultimately a good thing; it looks much more like a mainstream phone now.

The hardware is a clear differentiator; this is the most affordable way to get your hands on the latest Qualcomm silicon, and that in itself is highly alluring. Combine that with a high-quality OLED panel and all-day battery life with 120W charging, and the F7 Ultra nails the basics.

It also has the best cameras of any POCO phone yet. I know that doesn't mean much as the brand didn't prioritize imaging in the past, but it definitely makes a difference, and it gives the F7 Ultra a sizeable lead over its predecessors. POCO still has a way to go before it can measure up to OPPO, Vivo, Honor, and OnePlus, but this is a big step in the right direction.

Ultimately, there isn't much to criticize with the device. POCO did all the right things with the hardware and cameras, and while the software isn't quite as good, there's no denying that the F7 Ultra is a definite bargain. If you need the best value while still getting flagship internals, the F7 Ultra is the phone to buy in 2025.

Xiaomi is onto a winner with the 15 Ultra; I used the phone for well over a month, and it is absolutely fantastic. There's a new design that makes it easier to hold and use, a bigger battery, the same great 1-inch main camera as last year but with a new 200MP tele lens that takes outstanding portraits alongside 4.3x zoom, and the latest available hardware.

Xiaomi debuted the device globally at Mobile World Congress, and the 15 Ultra is now making its way to India, where it is sold in a single 16GB/512GB model that costs ₹109,999 ($1,259). As always, Xiaomi India is incentivizing the launch by providing freebies — including the excellent photography kit that's bundled with all pre-orders. The phone is ₹10,000 costlier than the 14 Ultra in India, and that's understandable when you look at all the upgrades.

Even then, it is a considerable bargain when you consider the same phone is sold in the U.K. for £1,499 ($1,932), and other countries in the region for €1,499 ($1,627). Xiaomi has always been aggressive when it comes to India, and that's the case with the 15 Ultra as well, and if you're interested in the phone, India is the best country to pick it up. I'd argue that it's better to buy the 15 Ultra in India than China — even though it's more affordable in Xiaomi's home market — because the Indian model comes with the Play Store and all Google services out of the box.

Best of all, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra undercuts the Galaxy S25 Ultra and Pixel 9 Pro XL in India. The Galaxy S25 Ultra costs ₹141,999 ($1,626) in the country for the 16GB/512GB edition, and the Pixel 9 Pro XL is ₹139,999 ($1,603) for the 512GB option. Although the 15 Ultra costs more than last year, it is still the best value (as it were) if you want a high-end phone in India, and there's also the fact that it has the absolute best camera package of any device today.

As I noted in my Xiaomi 15 Ultra vs. Galaxy S25 Ultra post, Xiaomi managed to deliver a better overall product than Samsung this year, and the icing on the cake is that the phone costs less in India. In every other region, the 15 Ultra is being sold at a premium over the S25 Ultra, so it's clear that Xiaomi is intent on gaining a foothold in the premium segment in India.

Xiaomi also debuted the regular Xiaomi 15 in India, and like last year, it does a good job going up against the likes of the OnePlus 13. Although Xiaomi does really well in the budget and now mid-range categories, it hasn't really made a dent in the high-end, and it will be aiming to change that with the 15 Ultra and Xiaomi 15.