A water-resistant flagship with a rear screen

Xiaomi launched the Mi 11 globally this month, and it’s looking like a pretty solid flagship phone for the 750 to 799 price tag. But what if you want something more impressive from the Chinese brand? Fortunately, it looks like the Mi 11 Ultra is on the way to tick every box.

YouTuber Tech Buff PH uploaded a 10 minute-long hands-on video (h/t: XDA-Developers) showing off what he calls the Mi 11 Ultra (model number M2102K1G). The video, which has since been deleted but can still be found here, confirms a ton of specs and paints a picture of one of the most feature-packed flagship phones of 2021.

Probably the most interesting Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra feature is the huge rear camera housing, which not only hosts a triple rear camera layout but also a tiny screen. This display seems way too small for regular touch interactions, bringing to mind the Meizu Pro 7 series. But we have to assume that it will be used for taking selfies with the main camera instead.

Speaking of photography, it looks like the Ultra model will also offer an impressive upgrade over the Mi 11. It’s said to offer a 50MP primary camera, 48MP ultra-wide snapper, and a 48MP periscope camera with 120x digital zoom. There’s no word if this is a 5X or 10X optical lens though. Meanwhile, a 20MP sensor in a punch-hole cutout is on selfie duty.

It’s also claimed that the phone will offer fast charging speeds for its 5,000mAh battery, featuring 67W wired charging, 67W wireless charging, and 10W reverse wireless topups. The Mi 11’s 55W wired and 50W wireless charging speeds delivered charging times of under 55 minutes, so expect the Mi 11 Ultra to shave off a few more minutes.

Another notable feature listed by Tech Buff PH is IP68 water resistance, which might be the first time we see a Xiaomi phone with a significant (and official) water resistance rating. We’ve seen Xiaomi devices with splash-proof coatings before, but these never had official IP ratings and weren’t meant to survive a dunk in water. So this marks a major move for the company.

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Otherwise, the device will apparently be equipped with a Snapdragon 888 processor, a 6.67-inch WQHD+ OLED screen with 120Hz refresh rate, and Harman Kardon-tuned speakers. 

Between the flagship silicon, sharp 120Hz screen, high resolution rear cameras, fast charging, and IP68 rating, we’re expecting this phone to have a premium price tag (~$1,000 or higher) when it launches. Presumably this phone won’t be limited to the Chinese market if a Filipino YouTuber has their hands on it either.

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