Xiaomi has decided not to release the Xiaomi 18 Ultra in its latest smartphone series, despite the details of its expected features having already been revealed. According to Digital Chat Station, a well-known Chinese leaker specializing in Xiaomi smartphone rumors, the 18 Ultra would have featured three 200-megapixel camera sensors, 12 GB of RAM, and 256 GB of storage, with a price of 9,999 yuan (around 1,330 euros). However, the leaker suggested that Xiaomi may have decided not to proceed with the model due to concerns about its potential sales at that price. In contrast, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, which has become the flagship model in the series since its launch on September 23, starts at 6,999 yuan, which is 3,000 yuan (about 400 euros) less. The 18 Ultra had been in development since mid-August, and early leaks indicated rising costs for memory components, both RAM and storage. The overall price of the 18 series has also increased compared to the previous generation, with the 18 Pro Max costing 1,000 yuan more than the 17 Pro Max at its launch. Xiaomi has not officially commented on the 18 Ultra's cancellation. If released, the 18 Ultra would have significantly outperformed the 18 Pro Max in photography capabilities. Its main 200-megapixel sensor would have been larger, measuring 1/1.12 inch, compared to the 1/1.28 inch on the Pro Max. It would have also used LOFIC technology, which involves adding a small capacitor to each pixel to store excess light, helping to prevent overexposure in bright areas of highly contrasted scenes. The ultra-wide-angle lens would have increased from 50 to 200 megapixels. The periscope telephoto lens, also in 200 megapixels, would have used a 1/1.28 inch sensor and would have retained continuous optical zoom, similar to the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, while the 18 Pro Max only offers a fixed 3.2x zoom. Digital Chat Station also mentioned that the 18 Ultra was planned to include a multispectral sensor for analyzing ambient light to improve white balance, as well as an external magnetic lens that could be attached to the back of the phone. Additional features included a flat screen with about 1 mm of border on all sides, two symmetrical speakers, and an improved vibration motor. While the specific chip was not named, it is likely that Xiaomi would have used the latest Qualcomm chip, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, which is already in the 18 Pro Max. In Europe, the Xiaomi 17 Ultra was priced at 1,499 euros, while in China it cost 6,999 yuan. If the same price difference applied, the 18 Ultra would have been estimated at around 1,899 euros in Europe. That would have made it 100 euros cheaper than the Leica Leitzphone, a special edition of the 17 Ultra signed by Leica, which was priced at 1,999 euros. It would have also been more expensive than the Oppo Find X9 Ultra, which launched this year for 1,699 euros. However, the Ultra name will not disappear entirely, as a Xiaomi 19 Ultra is reportedly being planned for the end of 2027 or the beginning of 2028, when component prices may have stabilized. In the meantime, the 17 Ultra remains Xiaomi's top-tier smartphone for photography in France. Xiaomi has not yet announced European prices for the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. The decision to cancel the 18 Ultra highlights the challenges smartphone manufacturers face when balancing high-end features with market demand and pricing. While the 18 Ultra would have been a powerful device with advanced photography capabilities, its higher price point may have limited its appeal to a broader audience. This decision also reflects the ongoing trend in the smartphone industry to adjust product lines based on market conditions and consumer preferences. Xiaomi's focus on the 18 Pro Max and other models suggests a strategy to offer a range of devices that cater to different price points and needs.