Leaked Xiaomi 15 Ultra Images Surface: A Look at New Features of 2024's Top-Tier Chinese Imaging Flagships

Leaked Xiaomi 15 Ultra Images Surface: A Look at New Features of 2024's Top-Tier Chinese Imaging FlagshipsI. Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Ready for LaunchIt's worth noting that compared to its predecessor, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's camera module design appears less symmetrical

Leaked Xiaomi 15 Ultra Images Surface: A Look at New Features of 2024's Top-Tier Chinese Imaging Flagships

The post-holiday rush of new phones featuring the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Dimensity 9400 has begun to subside. Flagship imaging devices from Xiaomi, OPPO, and vivo, often referred to as "Ultra" models, are expected to launch later in the year. Xiaomi's 15 Ultra has been the first to emerge, with real-world images surfacing on January 24th from an overseas blogger. This article will delve into the new features expected in 2024's top-tier Chinese imaging flagships, including the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, vivo X200 Ultra, and OPPO Find X8 Ultra.

I. Xiaomi 15 Ultra: Ready for Launch

On January 24th, images believed to be of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra appeared on social media. The images show a quad-camera setup with a revised arrangement. The periscope telephoto lens is positioned at the top of a circular module, with a Leica co-branded logo to its left. The other three lenses are arranged horizontally below. A red decorative ring surrounds the camera module, and the rear logo has been changed to "Xiaomi," abandoning the earlier alphanumeric placeholder used on engineering units.

It's worth noting that compared to its predecessor, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's camera module design appears less symmetrical. Earlier leaks showed a significantly large periscope telephoto module, aligning with rumors of a 200MP telephoto lens.

Previous leaks suggest the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will feature a 1-inch 50MP main camera, a 200MP periscope telephoto lens (potentially using the Samsung ISOCELL HP9 sensor), a 50MP ultrawide lens, and a newly designed custom portrait telephoto lens. IT Home notes that the Xiaomi 15 Ultra's launch preparations are nearing completion; "everything is ready, just waiting for the wind." Even the accompanying professional photography grip has received wireless radio approval from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT), mirroring the setup of the Xiaomi 14 Ultra's professional grip.

Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing has confirmed a global simultaneous launch for the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, with further details to be announced later in the year. Following vivo and Honor, Xiaomi is entering the high-megapixel periscope telephoto competition. Whether Xiaomi's camera team's efforts will yield satisfying results remains to be seen.

II. vivo X200 Ultra: A New Approach to Focal Lengths

After introducing a 200MP periscope telephoto lens on the X100 Ultra, vivo is making even bigger changes this year. Leaks suggest the vivo X200 Ultra will adopt a 13-35-85mm three-camera focal length combination, differing from the 23mm or 24mm main cameras prevalent in current flagship phones:

• Ultrawide: 50MP LYP-8181/1.28" equivalent 13mm

• Main: 50MP LYP-8181/1.28" equivalent 35mm

• Telephoto: 200MP HP91/1.4" equivalent 85mm

This multi-camera approach has previously only appeared in Nubia/ZTE flagship phones. There are rumors that 50mm is equivalent to monocular vision and 35mm to binocular vision, which, while not entirely accurate, provides a reference point for understanding equivalent focal lengths. Many phone cameras offer default lens focal length selection, aiding composition. Switching the vivo X200 Ultra's main camera to 35mm explains the use of a larger ultrawide sensor to compensate for potential wide-angle image quality loss.

Nubia previously showcased a prototype with a 1-inch 35mm main camera, but its thickness exceeded 19mm, making mass production impractical. Therefore, using the LYP-818 sensor for the 35mm main camera in the vivo X200 Ultra is understandable. This isn't sensor "downgrading," but a readjustment of product strategy. The effectiveness of vivo's bold attempt remains to be seen.

III. OPPO Find X8 Ultra: Different in Every Way

Unlike the significant changes made by Xiaomi and vivo, the OPPO Find X8 Ultra largely maintains the camera hardware approach of its predecessor, the Find X7 Ultraa 1-inch main camera and dual periscope telephoto lenses. While the core hardware remains similar, several details have been refined.

OPPO's Find series product manager, Zhou Yi Bao, has confirmed that the Find X8 Ultra will support physical telephoto macro capabilities and retain the new photography button from the Find X8 Pro, further enhancing user experience. Crucially, the Find X8 Ultra will abandon the curved screen design in favor of a flat screen, the impact of which on grip remains to be seen.

For the Find X8 Ultra, software advancements are more noteworthy. Features like the 50MP RAWMAX mode and 25MP high-resolution mode from the Find X7 Ultra were not included in the Find X8 Pro. How these features evolve in the Find X8 Ultra is a key area of interest.

IV. 2024 Flagship Imaging: Exploring New Software Features

Beyond hardware competition, software calibration is arguably a more crucial battleground for imaging flagships.

• Ultra HDR: With the standardization of ISO 21496-1, Android 15 and iOS 18 now support a unified HDR photo standard, theoretically allowing interoperability between devices. However, due to varying release and launch times, the commitment to HDR photo functionality differs, with variations in Gainmap HDR availability and effects across different shooting modes.

• Live Photo: Following WeChat's support for Live Photos, this feature has regained attention. Many Android manufacturers have attempted dynamic photo functionality, but most have only achieved basic implementation without thorough tuning and optimization. With increasing app support for uploading dynamic photos, prioritizing and refining this feature to better capture moments for users is critical.

• 25MP Mode: Apple's iPhone 15 Pro introduced a new 24MP shooting mode, retaining all features from the previous 12MP mode. Due to the processing demands of 48MP on the ISP, the new 24MP mode offers a balanced approach to improving resolution. However, Apple's "stinginess" in camera hardware limits this feature to the main camera. Huawei pioneered a 25MP "high-quality mode" across all three cameras. Along with professional features like Log recording, we anticipate seeing these new software features in more phones this year, shifting the imaging competition from hardware specifications to overall capabilities.

In conclusion, 2024's top-tier Chinese imaging flagships will undergo comprehensive hardware and software upgrades and innovations, delivering an enhanced photographic experience. The Xiaomi 15 Ultra, vivo X200 Ultra, and OPPO Find X8 Ultra each offer unique features, making their final performance highly anticipated.