Update: New leaked renderings show that the standard Xiaomi 12 looks more modest than the Ultra. [The Xiaomi 12 Ultra could be the first Android super flagship smartphone of 2022, and the latest information about the device certainly seems to have the camera gear to back up such a claim.

Shown on this page are renderings released by LetsGoDigital and art provided by Technizo Concept. They are based on leaked information by RODENT950, which released two images on Twitter purportedly of cases for the 12 Ultra. [These images were provided by Technizo Concept.

The Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra is the current top dog of Xiaomi's flagship smartphones (excluding the alternative spec Xiaomi 11T Pro). Not only does it have the largest area camera of any current smartphone, but it also has a second mini-display on the back camera bump to mirror notifications and the camera app viewfinder.

The 12 Ultra does not appear to have this display. Instead, based on the hypothetical case shown off by RODENT 950, there are a whopping eight openings on the back. Not all of these will be cameras, but they still indicate that it is well equipped; the Mi 11 Ultra only had three cameras on the back: a 50MP main camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a 48MP 5x optical zoom camera, so if this is the case If true, this would be a significant upgrade.

Assuming that the smallest hole is for the microphone and the elongated sensor in the lower center is for the flash, six sensors remain a possibility; LGD and RODENT 950 believe that the center opening could be the main camera, a 50MP GN5 sensor from Samsung. It is reasonable to assume that it will probably have an ultra-wide angle lens and a telephoto lens, for a total of three camera slots. What about the other slots?

The fourth camera (at the 12 o'clock position on the bump) will probably be a second telephoto camera like the one on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra and Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra. Having two optical zoom cameras would increase versatility when trying to capture a mid-range subject in a full frame, such as when shooting portraits.

While adding this low-magnification telephoto camera to the Xiaomi 12 Ultra would be useful, it still leaves two cameras. One of them will presumably be a time-of-flight sensor or depth sensor for more effective AR or portrait photo mode shooting. As for the other, we imagine it will be some other kind of specialized sensor, perhaps for macro or video; LGD also suggests that a color temperature sensor could be an option.

In the LGD rendering, a red Leica logo is also visible on the camera bump. This is due to rumors that Xiaomi and Leica are the latest phone maker and camera maker partnership in the smartphone world. Such a partnership could have a fantastic effect on photo quality, much like Hasselblad's participation in the OnePlus 9 series. Before we get too excited about the possibilities, we will need to determine exactly what Leica's involvement will be.

Aside from the camera, Xiaomi is expected to include a 6.8-inch QHD display with 120Hz refresh rate support in the 12 series, including the 12 Ultra, as it has done in the past few generations of flagships. 12 Ultra power-ups, could be the work of the included 120W charger, the same one used in the Xiaomi 11T Pro. The standard Xiaomi 12 charging system is rumored to be the 67W system used in the Mi 11 Ultra and basic Xiaomi 11T instead

What is known for sure is that the Xiaomi 12 will be powered by the new Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 chipset This has already been announced. Since this has already been announced, we can expect the best performance from this device, at least when compared to other Android phones.

Xiaomi plans to release the 12 series by the end of December. But that is likely to be a China-only release. It will probably be released globally in March 2022, but that will not include the US, where the brand does not yet sell phones.