Apple's foldable iPhone Ultra is expected to launch this week, but Xiaomi is stealing a bit of its thunder by announcing its own mid-size foldable phone first. The Xiaomi 18 Fold was shown off at IFA 2026, but it was secured behind glass, so the general public could only see it (but not touch it).

I was fortunate enough to get some hands-on time with the Xiaomi 18 Fold behind closed doors, and after coming from the high of reviewing the Galaxy Z Fold 8, I was quite impressed with what's on offer here. However, limited availability will hinder its success, and Xiaomi will have to prove that its new in-house XRING 03 chip can keep up with other flagships

The Xiaomi 18 Fold is a wider foldable, similar to the popular Galaxy Z Fold 8, though it has notable design differences. It's shorter and wider than the Z Fold 8, and its corners are much rounder, with a design that looks a lot like the iPhone Ultra leaks.

In my hand, it feels just as compelling as the Galaxy Z Fold 8, with a passport-like size when folded, making the 5.4-inch screen very easy to reach. Unfolded, the Xiaomi 18 Fold looks and feels like a small tablet, with a 7.5-inch display. Both displays have a √2:1 aspect ratio similar to A4 paper, which Xiaomi says is ideal for viewing content in both 16:9 and 4:3, meaning videos and photos, respectively.

The crease is fairly visible, as the display is fairly reflective, but I can hardly feel it when running my fingers across it. Xiaomi says it uses a dual-layer Ultra Thin Glass (UTG) structure for enhanced protection.

The Xiaomi 18 Fold is slightly heavier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, but when I held them side by side, I couldn't really tell the difference. It's also a bit thicker, but that's due to the 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery Xiaomi stuffed into this phone. Compared to the 4,800mAh unit in the Z Fold 8, Xiaomi already has the upper hand, especially when you account for the faster 67W wired charging and 50W wireless charging.

Turn the phone around, and you'll see where else Xiaomi comes ahead. The phone comes with a triple camera system, with the highlight being the primary 200MP sensor. There is also a 50MP periscope telephoto camera, something that's missing from the Z Fold 8.

I didn't get to capture any camera samples, but I expect good things from the Leica-powered camera system, as we've seen from other recent Xiaomi phones, which produce very natural-looking bokeh and great color reproduction.

The phone is powered by Xiaomi's all-new XRING 03 chipset, an in-house 3nm chip that promises high performance and powerful on-device AI capabilities. According to Xiaomi, the 10-core CPU comprises two Ultra cores, four Premium cores, and four Pro cores for 60% higher performance and 25% lower power consumption compared to the XRING 01.

I could not run any benchmark tests during my time with the phone, so we'll have to take Xiaomi's word for it, at least until we can thoroughly test it ourselves. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is already a powerhouse thanks to the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and we can expect the chip in the iPhone Ultra to be quite powerful as well, which puts Xiaomi in a bit of the spotlight, since this is its first flagship with the XRING chip.

Meanwhile, the 16-core GPU "sets a new standard for graphics performance on a smartphone," while the NPU promises "200 TOPS of tensor performance" for "45% faster on-device decoding performance."

Paired with 12 or 16GB of LPDDR6 RAM and HyperOS, the Xiaomi 18 Fold is primed to showcase the best that Xiaomi has to offer within its Human x Car x Home smart ecosystem, which promises to seamlessly connect its various smart devices.

Unfortunately, not everyone will have the opportunity to experience what the XRING 03 is like on the Xiaomi 18 Fold, and that's where my excitement fizzles out a bit. The phone is only launching in China for now, with no word on a global release. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 from 2024 was China-exclusive, which isn't very promising, but Xiaomi has also been focusing on expanding its product line in Europe, so there's some hope.

Pricing starts at 10999 yuan (~$1,638.88), which is definitely on the pricier side, especially compared to other foldables. I got to handle the red model, which I really like, although it also comes in black and white. There's also a ceramic version of the phone, which comes in a single configuration (16GB + 1TB) and costs 15999 yuan (~$2,383).

IFA 2026 is back, and as expected, there's a lot to see on the show floor at Messe Berlin. IFA is traditionally more focused on consumer electronics, such as smart home devices, more than mobile products like smartphones.

However, there were a few mobile devices scattered about the show, including phones and wearables, as well as a bevy of accessories that managed to catch my eye. Here are some of the coolest things I've seen while exploring IFA 2026.

Xiaomi's whole thing

Xiaomi's IFA debut was a big one, with the company showcasing its family of products across a massive space spanning 3,300 square meters. The company showed off how its family of products can work together using HyperOS and AI, allowing you to seamlessly move across devices as you navigate your home and even your car.

But beyond that, the company also showed off a cool humanoid robot that walked around its space for photo ops. The company says it's exploring the use of humanoid robots to enhance its manufacturing, stating that it has already seen a massive improvement with tasks like nut tightening in its Auto Factory.

But the thing I was most interested in was the one item attendees couldn't get their hands on: the Xiaomi 18 Fold. The device was secured behind glass in a striking red color, showing the device both closed and open. It has a wider foldable design, similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, although with rounder corners, which is a design cue we're expecting on the rumored iPhone Ultra.

The Xiaomi 18 Fold has a triple-camera system and is powered by the company's in-house XRING 03 chip, enhanced for on-device AI. The full launch is just days away, on September 7, so we'll learn more about this exciting phone soon.

Move over, Robot Phone

I often ignore ruggedized phones because they serve a particular market segment I'm just not very interested in. However, the RugOne Xsnap 7 Pro from Ulefone does something unique that caught my eye.

Unlike the Robot Phone, which has a very cool robotic gimbal camera, the Xsnap 7 Pro has a detachable camera that can be used as a remote action cam. Ulefone had a number of accessories on display that the camera could be attached to, including a tripod, a selfie stick, a clamp, and more. And when you're done being adventurous, you can easily snap the camera back into place, where it's paired with a 50MP and 64MP camera system.

The phone is powered by a respectable MediaTek Dimensity 8400 and is IP69K-, IP68-, and MIL-STD-810H-certified for high-grade durability. It's clear this is for a certain type of consumer, which I am not, but I can't help but want this phone.

Smart rings that vibrate and much more

I'm a big fan of smart rings, but the small form factor brings some limitations. Fortunately, some of the latest smart rings from Circular seem to be addressing some of them, with both rings featuring vibration alerts.

This is actually something Circular has featured in previous versions of its smart ring, but it was unfortunately omitted from the Circular Ring 2. Now it's back with the Circular 3 series, which can vibrate for wake-up alarms, health alerts, bringing exercises, and more, all while being nearly as slim as the Oura Ring 5. They also feature NFC payments, which is a feature I would love to see on more smart rings.

The Circular Ring 3 Slim is the thinner of the two and, as a result, misses out on some advanced health-tracking features found in the Circular Ring 3 Pro, such as blood pressure trends. However, it still gets haptic feedback, which is impressive on such a small form factor.

The Circular Ring 3 series is bound to give the Oura Ring 5 a run for its money when it arrives in 2027.

Your next AI running glasses

I checked out BleeqUp's first smart AI glasses at last year's MWC, and this year the company has a new pair with welcome enhancements that make it an even more enticing alternative to the Oakley Meta Vanguard.

Compared to the BleeqUp Ranger, the new Rover glasses feature an updated 3K60 resolution with HDR and improved low-light performance. Interestingly, the camera can tilt up or down, offering greater versatility in your sports shots.

There's also more AI integration for things like emergency recording, proactive safety alerts, and for sports monitoring to track things like your breathing rhythm and provide activity summaries.

Finally, there's better waterproofing, double the internal storage, and support for BleeqUp's accessories like the remote control and battery extender.

Tecno bezel-less concept

Tecno is no stranger to showing off cool concept at trade shows such as this (remember that cool modular phone?), but the bezel-less concept phone feels like a product I could actually see it bringing to market. At first glance, it looks and feels just like a regular phone, but turn it on, and you'll notice just how immersive the viewing experience is.

It's really just display and frame, and while my hands-on time was short, it feels like a phone made for a not-too-distant future.

The back is also really interesting, sporting a unique design with a 3D-like effect that thoroughly impressed myself and other onlookers almost as much as the bezel-less display.

The only portable projector you'll need

The Aurzen Zip Pro took what I loved about the original Aurzen Zip and supersized it. It's still one of the coolest portable projectors I've seen, and it's not much larger than the original, while still remaining easy to fold up and carry. It also weighs as much as two flagship smartphones.

It has better picture quality with a higher 1080p resolution, enhanced color, and 4-point keystone correction, so the picture should look great no matter where you throw it from. Plus, it features a small top display you can use to control the device.

It also has longer battery life, although at 2.5 hours, you'll wanna keep it plugged in for any "Lord of the Rings" marathons. But if you do need a charge, it now supports 65W charging speeds, which is pretty nice for on-the-go charging.

This is the droid you're looking for

There's always someone showing off some cool robot thing, and PrimeBot Q1 managed to steal my heart. It's a cute toddler-sized robot that you can talk to or control using your Android smartphone, and thanks to high-torque QDD joints, it moves very quickly for things like dancing (which it does surprisingly well).

I also watched as someone grabbed the Q1's hand and guided it around the show floor, as if it were an actual child you didn't want to lose in the hustle and bustle of a grocery store. My heart immediately melted at the sight of this.

The PrimeBot Q1 is also customizable, so you can either take it as is or dress it up to look like a Gundam, Power Ranger, and so much more.

For now, availability is limited to China, but it's set to come to Europe in 2027. Here's hoping it also makes it way to the U.S.!

What you need to know

• Xiaomi is making its debut at IFA, with its first major presence at the trade show and the largest event space it's held overseas.
• Xiaomi is highlighting its Human x Car x Home portfolio, which includes more than 300 devices, from smart home appliances to cars.
• The company also showcased the upcoming Xiaomi 18 Fold, a wide foldable that will rival the Galaxy Z Fold 8.

Xiaomi is making its debut at IFA with an exhibition space that is its largest overseas space to date. The company is using up a whopping 3,300 square meters to showcase hundreds of products in its Human x Car x Home portfolio, from concepts to devices available today, with a focus on how these devices will connect with you throughout your life, both at home and in your car.

Curiously, the upcoming Xiaomi 18 Fold is among those devices showcased at IFA, with the official launch already set for September 7.

"This year's IFA marks a significant milestone in Xiaomi's global journey," says Xiaomi CMO Xu Fei in a statement.

"Over the years, we have expanded from smartphones into smart home and smart vehicles, while investing deeply in foundational technologies including AI, operating systems, chips and smart manufacturing.

Today, these businesses and capabilities are coming together through our 'Human × Car × Home' smart ecosystem, which we are presenting at scale to a global audience at IFA."

If you're familiar with Xiaomi and its smartphones, you may already know that the company also produces a line of home appliances and smart home devices, including TVs, smart lights, cameras, and more. What you may not know is that Xiaomi also builds cars, like the SU7 Max and YU7, and the groundwork for a wholly interconnected smart home ecosystem lies behind many of these products.

The Human x Car x Home ecosystem is powered by HyperOS, the backbone of Xiaomi's product portfolio, which lets Xiaomi lay the foundation for a seamless AI experience across devices, which it is showing off at IFA through future concepts and today's use cases.

For example, while you're driving home, AI can gather contextual weather information to ensure your home's lighting and air conditioning are set before you arrive. And this interconnectivity doesn't stop there, with Xiaomi showcasing many ways its ecosystem can work across devices for whatever you need.

This includes its Android smartphones, such as the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the upcoming Xiaomi 18 Fold, a wide foldable that closely follows in the footsteps of the popular Galaxy Z Fold 8 and is powered by the company's in-house XRING 03 chipset, enhanced for on-device AI.

Xiaomi hasn't revealed much about this new phone (yet), though it has a triple-camera system on the back and a striking deep red color. It also promises to be very performant, thanks to Xiaomi's new chip, which could rival the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and Apple's latest silicon.

Still, we don't have to wait too long for answers, with the launch just days away.

Android Central's take

I'm on the ground at IFA 2026, and Xiaomi's event space is truly a sight to behold. There's a lot to do and see, but perhaps the thing I'm most interested in is the Xiaomi 18 Fold. For one, it looks like Xiaomi is simplifying its foldable naming convention. However, the Fold is coming at a time when Samsung is reinvigorating the foldable space with its own wide foldable.

Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 appears to be incredibly popular, and I understand why. I was shocked by how much I liked it during my hands-on time, and that feeling remained throughout my review, where I've even begun to question my allegiance to flip phones.

The Xiaomi 18 Fold already appears to have a leg up over Samsung, sporting three rear cameras instead of two, although it will be important to see how Xiaomi prices it. We also don't know if or when it will be available globally.

Last year's POCO F8 Ultra was one of my favorite phones. It had a delightful denim-based design, powerful internals, great cameras, standout battery, and didn't cost anywhere as much as its rivals. Basically, POCO delivered one of the best value flagships of the year with the device.

In 2026, the brand is continuing that trend with the F9 Ultra and F9 Pro. The F9 Ultra isn't too different to its predecessor, and that is unquestionably a good thing. There is a bigger 8,050mAh battery that lasts two days with ease, a new 200MP main camera, and a model with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, which is what I'm using.

The F9 Ultra is coming to 25 countries globally, including the U.K., Germany, Spain, Italy, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Mexico, and the UAE. Annoyingly, it isn't launching in India, and I don't quite understand why that's the case — POCO has a strong userbase in the country, and the device should do well considering its intended audience.

Let's start with what it costs. The F9 Ultra comes with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and it costs the equivalent of $799, with an early-bird deal of $729. It is costlier in the west, retailing for €1,099 ($1,273), but the launch price of €829 ($961) makes it that much more accessible. Then there's the 16GB/512GB model that costs $949 ($799 at launch), and €1,199 ($1,389) (€899 ($1,042) at launch). The 16GB/1TB model is $1,199 in Asian markets with a deal price of $1,059, and it comes out to €1,399 ($1,621) in the west, with the deal lowering it to €1,199 ($1,389).

The F9 Pro, on the other hand, costs $699 for the 12GB/256GB edition, and $769 for the 12GB/512GB model. Obviously, you're still paying a lot of cash towards either phone, but it isn't anywhere as much as a regular flagship.

Having used the F9 Ultra for a week, it's evident that POCO once again managed to deliver a standout phone. I'm a little annoyed that it didn't retain the denim finish — it made the phone so distinctive — but the Dark Cherry model is equally good-looking this year, and the design is eerily similar to what the iPhone 18 Pro is touted to look like based on the leaks. I'm guessing that's intentional, and whatever the reason, the F9 Ultra looks great.

It is on the heavier side at 235g, but weight distribution is ideal, and the matte texture makes the phone a delight to use. The camera island is wide — similar to the iPhone 17 Pro — and it doesn't lead to any wobble when using on a desk, which is a definite positive. You get IP68 dust and water resistance, an ultrasonic sensor that's fast to authenticate and is located in the right position (thankfully), and Xiaomi's interesting offline mode that lets you make calls with another Xiaomi phone without a cell signal (up to two kilometers).

There's a dedicated Bose woofer (like last year), and onboard audio is the best of any phone today. It gets loud and detailed, and honestly, POCO deserves a lot of credit for nailing the 2.1 audio configuration on a phone. Oh, and there's a ring encircling the Bose woofer, and it lights up — similar to HiLight on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold — and it is handy if you want to view notifications while the phone is face-down.

The 6.9-inch AMOLED panel is unchanged to last year, and you get the same WildBoost engine that makes gaming a little smoother. The difference isn't big enough that I'd suggest getting this over something like the Redmagic 11 Pro, but it is better than most mainstream phones. The panel itself is bright and has good colors, and it does a good job with HDR content.

Because of the accelerated launch window (the phone is launching 10 months after its predecessor), there isn't a change of silicon, and that's absolutely fine by me — the 8 Elite Gen 5 is still the best that Qualcomm has to offer. It tends to overheat while gaming, but not quite to the same extent as the F8 Ultra, so that is good to see.

Another positive is the silicon-carbon battery tech. The phone gets a huge 8,050mAh battery with a decent 16% silicon-carbon content in the anode, and it easily lasts two days even with heavy use. There's 100W charging as well, and the phone takes less than an hour to fully charge the battery.

I also like the camera on the F9 Ultra; there's a new 200MP main camera that takes great photos in just about any situation. The wide-angle lens is average, and the phone in general doesn't do that good a job with videos. That said, the 5x tele lens is pretty decent.

The biggest annoyance with the F9 Ultra is the software. The phone runs Android 16 out of the box, and I don't understand why it doesn't have Android 17. POCO has to do better in this area, and the software in general is in need of an overhaul. Of course, that's reliant on Xiaomi, and with the brand dragging its heels, it may be a while before you see any positive momentum on the software front. On that subject, the phone will get four Android updates, which is on the lower end of the scale.

All things considered, POCO has another winner in the F9 Ultra — the phone has reliable internals and cameras, standout battery life, and looks great. The software is annoying, but that's the case with every Xiaomi phone until the brand rolls out its long-overdue redesign, and for what it's worth, I prefer using POCO phones to Xiaomi or Redmi models in this category now. If you need a value flagship in 2026, the F9 Ultra is now one of the best choices.

The memory crisis is affecting the mid-range phone category to a noticeable extent in 2026, and that is evident with the launch of the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max. Previous models in the series stood out for delivering the best hardware and value, but that hasn't been the case for the last two years at least.

While the Redmi Note 14 Pro+ had a great design and 200MP camera, it debuted with outdated software and shortsighted moves like missing 4K60 video. The Redmi Note 15 Pro+ had similar issues, and it cost even more while offering less in the way of features.

Annoyingly, the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max is even worse. Xiaomi is distracting buyers by adding a huge 9,210mAh silicon-carbon battery that ostensibly lasts up to three days, but there's no getting around the fact that this phone is slower, doesn't have as much memory, and isn't as good in daily use as its predecessor. The Note 17 Pro Max costs $499 at launch, and honestly, your money is better spent on just about any other phone.

Look, there are areas where the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max is better than other phones, particularly with battery life. Thanks to a 9,210mAh silicon-carbon battery, the phone lasts two and a half days with medium use, and even with heavy usage, you can get it to last two entire days. And when you need to charge it, there's 100W USB PD 3.0, so it takes just an hour to get to a full charge. Battery life is unquestionably the best feature on this phone, and Xiaomi even sells a model with a 10,000mAh battery (if the 9,210mAh unit isn't adequate).

I like that the phone doesn't feel like a brick; it has a flat design and is good to hold and use, and it has similar dimensions as the Galaxy S26 Ultra, if a bit chunkier and 14g heavier. That said, it isn't unwieldy to use in the least, and Xiaomi deserves credit for the design. Also, the Note 17 Pro Max has better durability thanks to a new polycarbonate mid-frame, and it gets IP68 and IP69K ingress protection — like the best Android phones. But in classic Xiaomi fashion, IP69K isn't available on all global models.

The Cloud Blush color looks good too. It has an iridescent pattern that subtly shifts as light reflects the body, and it adds a bit of elegance to the phone. The 6.83-inch OLED has good colors out of the box, and it gets bright in daily use. While a few Xiaomi phones had issues with HDR content, that thankfully isn't an issue here, and the 120Hz panel on the Note 17 Pro Max is pretty good overall. It doesn't get quite as bright as the 15 Pro+ when using both phones side-by-side, but I didn't notice any issues in outdoor use.

Okay, that's it for the positives. Xiaomi made a lot of changes to the hardware this time around, starting with the use of silicon. Last year's model came with a Snapdragon 7s Gen 4, so it is annoying to see Xiaomi move to the Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 with the Note 17 Pro Max. What's particularly insidious is that this chipset still uses the A78 and A55 cores, which are positively ancient at this point.

To give you some context, last year's model has the newish A720 and A520 cores, so the Note 17 Pro Max is a clear downgrade — and it shows in everyday use. There is noticeable lag when you're multitasking, and high-end gaming is an exercise in futility. Device manufacturers have made plenty of positive strides in bringing decent hardware to mid-range phones, but Xiaomi reversed all of that with the Note 17 Pro Max.

The Note 17 Pro Max starts with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of UFS 2.2 storage, and that is just not good enough in 2026. It is yet another area where this year's phone is a downgrade. On that subject, the 50MP main camera is decent if you take photos, but it once again misses out on 4K60 video — at this point, it's clear that Xiaomi doesn't want to offer this feature. It isn't quite as good in low-light situations, and the cameras overall don't hold a candle to the Pixel 10a.

Then there's the software. The Note 17 Pro Max runs Android 16 out of the box, and I just don't get it. Google released the stable Android 17 build 74 days before Xiaomi introduced the Note 17 Pro Max, so it isn't like the brand had enough time to pre-install the latest version of Android. This is once again a choice, as it means Xiaomi doesn't need to deliver quite as many platform updates.

Yes, the Redmi Note 17 Pro Max has the best battery life of any phone I used in 2026, and it looks and feels good to hold and use. The OLED panel is vibrant, and the main camera is decent enough in this category. However, the downgraded hardware combined with 8GB of RAM and annoying bloat-ridden software means there isn't much of a reason to buy this phone — the Note 15 Pro+ is still a better choice in every area other than battery life. If you're looking to get a mid-ranger in 2026 and need something made by Xiaomi, my recommendation is the POCO X8 Pro.

What you need to know

• Leaks on social media suggest that Xiaomi is working on a "smart privacy display" feature, similar to Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra.
• This feature would stop prying eyes from viewing your screen from angles; however, it could also alert the user about another person's gaze.
• An automatic function, dubbed "page privacy display" in the leak, states Xiaomi's version would automatically protect your payments, texts, logins, and more.

Following Samsung's Privacy Display for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, rumors said Xiaomi was looking to do the same. A glimpse at how this could work surfaced on social media, claiming Xiaomi is going the "smart" privacy display route.

To end the week, Polish tipster Kacper posted what's been alleged as Xiaomi's upcoming "smart privacy display" on X (via GSMArena). This page is likely tucked into the software's settings page with the following description: "screen visibility is reduced. Your device will alert you when another person's gaze is detected." The "reduced" visibility concerns others peeking at your screen from the side. However, Xiaomi is preparing a little more.

The tipster claims Xiaomi is working on a group or "scenario" feature for its smart privacy display. With this, users can group multiple apps or notifications under the privacy display's protection. If users don't go this route, the tipster suggests Xiaomi will automatically turn on its protections for "specific sensitive pages." A screenshot highlights "page privacy display."

This would turn the feature on in a case-by-case situation. If you're texting, digitally paying, or logging into an account, the privacy display would activate. It appears that users would need to enable this feature.

Taking inspiration

Rumors that Xiaomi might pursue a privacy display like Samsung's started in February. Funnily enough, these rumors surfaced just before Galaxy Unpacked, where the Galaxy S26 Ultra and co. were revealed. A tipster alleged a privacy display similar to Samsung's was being "tested domestically." Xiaomi and Honor were two major companies that might've started chasing this new tech. A few months later, in May, Xiaomi's interest came to the forefront.

It was stated that HyperOS 4.0, Xiaomi's software skin for Android 17, could introduce its privacy display. This could be revealed in October, which might also coincide with its next phone series: the Xiaomi 18, as GSMArena also notes. These phones (18 Pro, 18 Pro Max) are expected to continue that magic back display that was clearly popular for the company.

Android Central's Take

Early rumors said Xiaomi was going to make its version "like" Samsung's, and the rumors now clearly show the angle it's trying to take. Imagine using your phone and seeing a notification that someone is trying to peek at your screen. It's already weird as it is, but if Xiaomi's version goes off without a hitch, it could help. I'm eager to see how this works. What I really need is Xiaomi's live demo, which probably won't happen until October, unless we get teasers beforehand.

Xiaomi is now rolling out the stable Android 17 update to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Xiaomi 17. I just got the update on both phones today, and there's no telling when other Xiaomi phones will make the switch — my Xiaomi 17T Pro is still on Android 16.

Xiaomi has struggled to deliver platform updates on time in the last two years, so this is a refreshing change of pace. It's almost as if someone at Xiaomi read my post on Android 17 updates and decided to take action. As it stands, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and Xiaomi 17 are the only phones outside of Google Pixels to have made the switch to Android 17.

There's just one problem: I don't see anything new with the update. Although the phones are now on Android 17, they're still based on HyperOS 3.0.332, so I don't see any changes to the interface or new feature additions. It's possible we will get those with HyperOS 4.0, so if you're looking to delve into all the new stuff that Google introduced with Android 17 on your Xiaomi phone, you will have to wait until Xiaomi updates its skin.

Interestingly, Android 17 isn't mentioned in the 9.6GB update changelog; it just lists the usual stability tweaks and June 2026 security update. While I didn't see any changes in the UI or features, the only difference is that the interface has slightly better fluidity.

Outside of that, it's virtually identical to the Android 16-based version of the interface. That's by design; Xiaomi largely ignores Google's platform-related changes, instead focusing on its own interface and features as a point of differentiation. While that was a positive in the past, Xiaomi's interface is in need of an overhaul, and I was counting on the brand to do so with Android 17 and HyperOS 4.0 — leaks pointed to an iOS-esque Liquid Glass design that looks much more modern. It looks like I'll just have to wait a little longer.

What you need to know

• The Xiaomi 18 Pro is shaping up to be a major flagship upgrade, with a next-gen Snapdragon chip, revamped cameras, and a massive battery.
• Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 could power the phone, giving Xiaomi another early lead in adopting the latest flagship silicon.
• A new 6.4-inch flat OLED display may bring slimmer bezels, rounded corners, and a privacy mode that limits off-angle viewing.

Xiaomi’s next flagship is starting to come into focus, and if the latest leak is accurate, the Xiaomi 18 Pro could sport a new flagship Snapdragon chip, an overhauled camera system, and one of the biggest batteries we’ve seen in a premium Android phone yet.

The latest details come from reliable leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo, who claims Xiaomi is testing an engineering prototype powered by Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (via Android Authority). The chipset, built on a 2nm process, should make its debut shortly before Xiaomi’s 18 series officially launches, maintaining the company’s record of being one of the first Android OEMs to ship Qualcomm’s newest flagship silicon.

But Xiaomi could be making some significant hardware changes, too, beyond raw performance. Earlier, the same source had tipped a custom flat OLED display of ~6.4 inches with ultra-slim symmetrical bezels and larger rounded corners. Previous reports have suggested that the panel may also feature a Samsung-style Privacy Display mode that reduces the viewing angles to help shield on-screen content from prying eyes.

It looks like photography is getting an even bigger upgrade. According to DCS, Xiaomi is experimenting with dual 200MP sensors, one serving as the main camera and the other as a periscope telephoto lens, instead of relying on a conventional flagship camera configuration.

The primary sensor is rumored to use LOFIC tech that aims to improve dynamic range and reduce shutter lag, giving Xiaomi another advantage in the highly competitive flagship camera market.

Another headline feature could be battery life. The Xiaomi 18 Pro is said to have a 7,000mAh battery but still supports 100W wired fast charging and wireless charging. That’s a lot of capacity for a flagship phone, especially if Xiaomi manages to keep the device somewhat compact.

Android Central's Take

This is the kind of flagship I'd want to carry on paper. I love seeing bigger batteries and meaningful camera upgrades instead of another round of AI gimmicks dressed up as “innovation.” That said, leaks always tend to make phones sound too good to be true. Xiaomi still needs to demonstrate it can transform these specs into a polished real-world experience — and ideally resist the urge to slap a flagship price tag on it that makes all those upgrades a lot less exciting for the people who actually have to buy it.

What you need to know

• The Redmi Note 17 Pro comes with a promise of free battery replacement if battery health drops below 80% within four years.
• Durability gets a boost too, with an IP69K rating for strong dust and high-pressure water resistance.
• The Pro model also gets a refreshed look, featuring a more prominent dual-camera island than the standard Redmi Note 17.

Smartphone makers love to talk about bigger batteries, but Xiaomi is taking a different approach with the Redmi Note 17 Pro. The company promises to keep that battery healthy for years, and it's willing to replace it for free if it doesn't.

Xiaomi has confirmed a new battery guarantee for the Redmi Note 17 Pro ahead of the phone's July 14 debut in China. The battery is designed to retain at least 80 percent of its original capacity after four years of use. If it falls below that threshold during the coverage period, eligible users can receive a free replacement, Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing revealed on Weibo (via Android Authority).

As people keep their phones longer, the health of the battery becomes a bigger concern. Most lithium-ion batteries lose capacity over time, after a number of charges, so Xiaomi’s promise is to ease one of the biggest long-term ownership concerns.

Xiaomi revealed much more than just the battery guarantee before its launch. The Redmi Note 17 Pro will pack a large 9,000mAh battery, per Xiaomi's separate Weibo post.

Leaks and official teasers are also starting to paint a clearer picture of the hardware. The Redmi Note 17 Pro is rumored to feature a Snapdragon 6 Gen 5 processor. Camera upgrades seem to be another major focus, with the Pro model tipped to carry a 200MP primary sensor, while the standard Redmi Note 17 is expected to stick with a 50MP main camera.

The design also keeps the two phones apart. Official images show the standard model with a less complicated rear camera arrangement, while the Pro sports a more pronounced dual-camera island.

Android Central's Take

Hopefully this is an indication of a wider change and not a one-off marketing stunt. Phone brands keep pushing for bigger batteries and faster charging, but none of that matters much if the battery dies long before I'm ready to replace the device. If Xiaomi is serious about this free replacement promise, it could save users some cash and make upgrading less of a necessity. Now the rest of the industry has to decide if they are going to follow suit or continue to pretend battery longevity isn’t a problem worth solving.

What you need to know

• Xiaomi 18 Pro Max rumors suggest the phone could sport key upgrades over the 17 Pro Max, such as 200MP main and telephoto lenses.
• The device might also feature a battery upgrade of ~500mAh or more, potentially sitting at ~8,000mAh.
• Recent rumors claim the 18 Pro and Pro Max could see a 4-inch Dynamic Back Display after the 17 series shattered rre

Another round of Xiaomi 18 leaks talks about the series' top version, the 18 Pro Max, and the upgrades it could deliver.

The rumors that have surfaced early this week arrive days after the series' base model was highlighted. Frequent tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS) posted several upgrades the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max could feature once it debuts later this year (via Gizmochina). The tipster alleges the Chinese brand will equip the phone with a 200MP LOFIC sensor camera, alongside a 200MP telephoto macro lens.

On the flip side, rumors suggest Xiaomi is working on some screen changes. It's unclear how these differ from what we've received with the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max. DCS claims the phone will sport "thinner" bezels and "large, rounded corners." The 17 Pro Max was already a phone with rounded corners. This could mean Xiaomi is trying to make those corners feel more comfortable to hold with one hand.

We'll have to wait for more on that one. Elsewhere, the 18 Pro Max is rumored to feature a battery upgrade. The device could offer a battery of ~8,000mAh or higher. Xiaomi might also pair this with 100W wired charging and wireless charging of an unspecified strength. The 17 Pro Max offered similar wired charging capabilities with 50W wireless charging, so we might see this once again.

Show up and show out

If we take a step back, the 17 Pro Max offered a 50MP main camera and a 5x periscope lens. While the device features the Dynamic Back Display, which was so popular for Xiaomi that it said it would "do it again," it looks like photography is a sector it wants to make better. Additionally, the phone offered a 7,500mAh battery. Given the rumors, that might jump by ~500mAh or more with this new version.

That Dynamic Back Display found its way into recent online rumors. Some say Xiaomi is looking to increase its size to 4 inches over the 2.1-inch display on the 17 Pro and Pro Max. More importantly, the screen could rock "higher brightness" and potentially "privacy protection," which sounds like what Samsung did for the Galaxy S26 Ultra (though there's nothing for certain).

The base Xiaomi 18 could get some TLC this year, too. The company might increase its battery by ~200mAh to ~7,200mAh. Overseas consumers should take these battery numbers with a grain of salt. Not because they're rumors, but because Xiaomi tweaks these numbers for global markets. We might see numbers lower than what's been proposed for the 18 Pro Max, just like we did for the 17 Pro Max.

Android Central's Take

I feel like Xiaomi wants to make the title "Pro Max" mean something. These upgrades also sound like a company that's trying to go all-in and make sure it's next iteration makes waves, not a splash. We're still early, and while the series is expected to rock Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, there's still a lot that's unknown. I'm expecting the series to debut later this year, so maybe we'll know more once (if) the company ramps up its teasers.

What you need to know

• Recently, the World Power Consortium held a Qi Off-Cycle meeting at Xiaomi's HQ in Beijing, China.
• Xiaomi and several more companies were there to discuss a new Qi2 charging standard: 50W.
• The major talks have concluded, but there's more work to be done, and it's been reported that Qi2 50W might not debut until 2028.

Times are changing, and it looks like the World Power Consortium (WPC) wants to upgrade Qi2 to match what consumers are looking for.

It was reported by ITHome (Chinese) that the WPC's Qi Off-Cycle meeting at Xiaomi's HQ in Beijing, China, was to discuss the future of the wireless charging standard (via 9to5Google). Specifically, Xiaomi is spearheading the future of Qi2 by chasing a 50W charging standard. The publication reports that Xiaomi is focused primarily on "small inductance, low voltage, high power solutions" (machine-translated). Each of these is said to directly influence safety/charging efficiency, coil module loss, and more.

In short, what this new 50W direction wants to solve is "high-powered wireless charging."

The publication states that the meeting featured Xiaomi, as well as "over 20 companies" that have been working alongside it and the WPC to advance the Qi2 wireless standard. The companies met in Beijing to talk about Qi2's 50W "interoperability verification" and to highlight the prototype testing stage. These companies have been encouraged to continue working together to push 50W through, so the market (and consumers) can see it in their future phones.

However, there's nothing official just yet. Right now, what Xiaomi and its partners have been working on is just the groundwork. It's been reported that following Xiaomi's partnerships with domestic companies, Qi2 50W could be a reality by 2028.

25W was almost a year ago

Let's not forget that in July 2025, the WPC announced Qi2 v2.2.1. The version numbers equates to the wireless charging we have today: 25W. The WPC highlighted this new version as being "more powerful" than the original Qi2. A primary critique from consumers about wireless charging is its speeds. They're slow. The latest 25W version aimed to solve that, but it hasn't quite nailed that yet.

Charging speeds were previously stuck at 15W, and now they're 25W. However, if Xiaomi has anything to say about it, things won't stay there for long. It's not satisfied with 25W charging, and consumers aren't either. At the time, iPhones were among the first to bring this to its consumers, with Android makers adopting it soon after. There's a chance we'll see a similar occurrence whenever Qi2 50W arrives.

The WPC was also confident that even more Android phones would see Qi2, and that's thanks to Google and Samsung.

What you need to know

• Rumors suggest the Xiaomi 18 could receive a modest ~200mAh battery boost over the previous model.
• If true, that would place its Chinese version at ~7,200mAh, but it's unclear if this same boost or more could hit the global version.
• Xiaomi's president, Lu Weibing, stated in a livestream last year that the Dynamic Back Display was popular, pushing the series to shatter records, and that the company would seek to do it again.

Xiaomi's next flagships (at least the top two versions) have been rumored for a while now. However, what's entering the fray is a rumor about an upgrade that its base version could bring to extend your usage.

Late this weekend, tipster Digital Chat Station (DCS) posted on Weibo about an upgrade Xiaomi is supposedly bringing to the base Xiaomi 18 (via GSMArena). The tipster suggests the Xiaomi 18 could receive a 7,200mAh battery when it debuts. Nothing's certain yet, but the 18 series could appear in the second half of 2026 if we're looking back to the 17 series' September 2025 arrival.

DCS adds that the device in question is a "prototype," so perhaps this battery total will change. As it stands, the Xiaomi 18 is only preparing for a modest 200mAh upgrade over the 7,000mAh cell in the 17. However, the publication notes an important fact: this 7,000mAh total was only present for the Chinese version of the Xiaomi 17. When it hit global audiences, that total dropped to ~6,330mAh. Maybe Xiaomi will increase totals a little more than 200mAh, or perhaps they'll keep it the same.

What's more, in the comments, Chinese users were discussing the phone's alleged specifications, to which DCS claims, "if you want both good image quality and a large battery, just buy a large-screen phone" (machine-translated). GSMArena expands on this, adding that the Xiaomi 18 is rumored to feature a 6.4-inch display and a 200MP telephoto lens. Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is rumored, which isn't so surprising.

The Pro, Pro Max are cooking

Xiaomi's next flagship Pro and Pro Max have been talked about, but that's because the company's "magic" display, or "Dynamic Back Display," was so popular with consumers. Xiaomi's president, Lu Weibing, held a livestream shortly after the series debuted, stating the devices shattered pre-order records "minutes after" going live. While the 17 Pro performed well, it was the 17 Pro Max that was the shining star. Both devices offer a 2.1-inch Dynamic Back Display with unique interactions.

The company states it has already increased the budget for its R&D department to continue this design on future phones. More recently, rumors about the phones followed what Xiaomi's president said late last year. However, these rumors say the back display could increase to 4 inches with "higher brightness" and "privacy protection."

Android Central's Take

I'm hoping Xiaomi boosts its global version's battery a little more than 200mAh. Sure, it's already a good cell. 6,330mAh is great for keeping you engaged, playing, and scrolling all day long. But there's a pretty wide gap in battery capacity between the global and Chinese versions. Do the numbers have to match one-to-one? Not really. I wouldn't say I'm that picky. But boosting it by maybe 400, 500mAh would be nice.

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.