The Xiaomi 18 Ultra isn’t coming—at least not in the form many had expected: According to several leaks, Xiaomi has completely scrapped its flagship camera phone. Oppo and vivo also apparently plan to sell their upcoming Ultra models only in China. The reason is the same in both cases: the current RAM and storage crisis, which is eating into margins in the premium segment. In the end, there’s really only one manufacturer left that continues to offer its Ultra flagship worldwide: Samsung, as Android Authority first reported.
TL;DR: According to leakers, Xiaomi is completely scrapping the 18 Ultra; the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max will become the top model instead. The Oppo Find X10 Ultra and vivo X500 Ultra are still set to launch, but apparently only in China. The reason is the global RAM crisis: DRAM and NAND prices have nearly doubled since the end of 2025. Samsung is sticking with the Galaxy S26 Ultra as its globally available model.
What happened? Xiaomi scraps the 18 Ultra
Tipster Kartikey Singh and the equally well-connected leaker Yogesh Brar have independently reported that Xiaomi has scrapped the Ultra version of its 18 series. Instead of the camera-focused flagship, which was expected in December 2026, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is set to become the new top model in the series. According to reports, the series will be complemented by a “Mix” model featuring Xiaomi’s own Xring-O3 chip, though this model will likely remain exclusive to China, as reported by GSMArena, among others.
It remains to be seen whether Xiaomi is completely discontinuing the Ultra line or simply skipping one generation. A comeback in 2027 is considered possible. Until then, the only part of the current lineup remaining will be the standard Xiaomi 18 series, which is significantly more streamlined than the vivo X100 Ultra or other camera flagships of recent years, which touted periscope zoom and partnerships with camera manufacturers such as Leica or Zeiss.
Oppo and vivo are following suit: “Pro Max” instead of “Ultra”
A similar trend is emerging at Oppo and vivo as well. The Oppo Find X10 Ultra and the vivo X500 Ultra are set to be released, but according to reports, they will remain exclusively on the Chinese domestic market. This comes as a surprise, as both manufacturers had only just made the leap into international markets with their predecessors, the Find X9 Ultra and the X300 Ultra.
This marks a reversal of a trend that had been building over the past few years. Instead, Chinese manufacturers are adopting the “Pro Max” naming convention, as seen with Apple, among others (and the naming controversy isn’t exactly new, even with Apple’s own iPhone Ultra ). According to Kartikey Singh, despite the name downgrade, the technical specifications of the Pro Max models are actually expected to surpass those of Samsung’s Ultra series.
| Manufacturer | Current Ultra Model (available globally) | Status of 2026 successor |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi | Xiaomi 17 Ultra | Cancelled; the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max takes the top spot |
| Oppo | Find X9 Ultra | Find X10 Ultra is coming, but will remain exclusive to China |
| vivo | X300 Ultra | X500 Ultra is coming, but will remain exclusive to China |
| Samsung | Galaxy S25 Ultra | The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to launch globally as usual |
The real reason: the global RAM crisis
The delay isn’t due to a lack of demand, but rather to skyrocketing memory prices. According to ComputerBase, the cost of DRAM and NAND memory nearly doubled between the third quarter of 2025 and the first quarter of 2026. For LPDDR memory, which is used in smartphones, the increase could be even greater. Prices had already risen by over 90 percent in the first quarter of 2026, and market observers report that another 50 to 60 percent was added in the second quarter.
Analysts expect that supply will still fail to meet demand in 2027. One of the driving factors is the memory requirements of large AI data centers, which are buying up the entire market for RAM and NAND. For smartphone manufacturers, this means that for entry-level and mid-range devices, memory now accounts for up to 60 percent of material costs; for particularly budget-friendly models priced under $100, the figure is even over 64 percent.
For ultra-flagship models, which already feature generous RAM and storage configurations (typically 16 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of storage), the price increase is having a particularly severe impact. Developing a completely new camera system with periscope zoom and a partnership with Hasselblad or Zeiss, while simultaneously shouldering skyrocketing storage costs, apparently no longer makes financial sense for some manufacturers in every market.
Samsung Remains the Only Player in the Field for Now
If this trend continues, Samsung would currently be the only manufacturer to continue offering its Ultra flagship model worldwide. The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to launch as usual, which is a solid competitive advantage for Samsung, especially in Europe and the U.S., where buyers have previously been able to choose between several Ultra models.
It’s striking how differently manufacturers are reacting to the same cost crisis. Samsung appears to be sticking to its strategy, while Xiaomi, Oppo, and vivo are either pulling out of international markets or scrapping their top models altogether.
What This Means for Buyers
Anyone outside of China who had been hoping for a new camera flagship from Xiaomi, Oppo, or vivo is likely to come up empty-handed in 2026 and 2027—at least for now—or will have to settle for the “Pro Max” variants. These models are often just as well-equipped technically, but lack the “Ultra” name and the full camera suite. Anyone who absolutely wants a Chinese Ultra model will have to rely on imports or gray-market dealers, with the well-known drawbacks regarding warranty, software localization, and Google services.
For Samsung fans, nothing is changing for now: The Galaxy S26 Ultra is expected to launch worldwide in early 2027 as usual.
Conclusion
Xiaomi, Oppo, and vivo are pulling the plug for the same reason: memory has become so expensive that, for some manufacturers, the most expensive niche model is barely profitable outside their home market. What looked like a mere marketing and rebranding move a year ago has now become a concrete business decision. Whether this truly marks the end of the global “Ultra” era or merely a one-generation hiatus will become clear by 2027 at the latest, when the next models are set to launch.
