The question of when exactly Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra came out is often raised by those looking for a powerful smartphone with advanced photography capabilities at an affordable price. This device has become a landmark for the industry, as it was the first in the world to receive support for ultrafast wired charging with a capacity of 120 watts. The presentation of the device is timed to an important date – the 10th anniversary of Xiaomi, which left an imprint on its exceptional characteristics.
Many users confuse the date of the global announcement and the actual start of sales, and also wonder whether this model will go beyond China. Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra was originally positioned as exclusive to the home market of China, which created a certain stir among techno enthusiasts around the world. Understanding the release chronology will help you correctly assess the relevance of the device and its cost in the secondary market.
In this article, we will take a closer look at the timeline of the release, the technical features that made this smartphone a legend, and answer the most frequent questions of potential buyers. The official presentation of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra took place on August 11, 2020, which is considered the starting point for the appearance of the first smartphone with 120-watt charging and 120-x zoom.
Chronology of release: from the announcement to sales
The history of the flagship is inextricably linked to the brand’s anniversary, and founder Lei Jun personally unveiled the new product during a special event dedicated to Xiaomi’s 10th anniversary, which was not just another upgrade, but a demonstration of the brand’s technological leadership in the face of fierce competition with Samsung and Huawei.
Sales in China started almost immediately after the presentation, which is standard practice for the domestic market. However, for international buyers, the situation was different. The global version, known as the Xiaomi Mi 10T Pro or simply Mi 10 Pro in some regions, had different characteristics and did not receive the same 120 watt charge.
It is important to understand the difference between the announcement date and the start of actual shipments, which can take days to weeks before distributors receive their first shipments, and in the case of the Ultra version, this gap was minimal because demand was projected to be high.
⚠️ Warning: The official global version, called "Mi 10 Ultra," has never been released outside of China. When you buy a device on international platforms, you get a Chinese version that requires language and frequency support checks.
It's worth noting that in some regions, the device did appear in official retail, but in extremely limited quantities, making it a collectible for fans of the brand, and today finding a new sealed copy is not an easy task, and the price can be higher than the original.
Technical characteristics and innovations
When the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra was released, it had a pre-emptive spec that ran on the Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 processor, which was the top-end solution for Android devices at the time, providing maximum performance in games and heavy applications.
The power system is particularly noteworthy, as engineers have implemented 120W HyperCharge charging technology that allows a 4,500 mAh battery to be fully charged in just 23 minutes, thanks to the use of two battery cells and a special charging architecture.
The screen of the device also became a reference. AMOLED-matrix with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and support HDR10+ It was a great interface, and it was a great color brightness, and for those who valued multimedia content, it was a big advantage over the competition.
- 📱 Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 865 with clock speeds up to 2.84 GHz
- 🔋 Battery: 4500 mAh with 120W charging and 50W wireless
- 📷 Camera: 48 MP Basic Module (Sony) IMX586) telephotophotophoto
- 🖥️ Display: 6.67 inch, AMOLED, 120 Hz, permission. 2340×1080
RAM in the top versions reached up to 16 GB of the standard LPDDR5, which at that time was an absolute record for smartphones, so much RAM allowed you to store dozens of running applications without having to restart them.
The secret to fast charging
Camera: the world's first 120x zoom
The main "chip", for which many were willing to forgive the lack of global firmware, was the camera. OEM-And the periscope telephoto lens provided 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid and 120x digital zoom.
The main sensor, although it had a resolution of 48 MP, was significantly larger and better than standard modules, supported dual native ISO and allowed video capture at 8K resolution. Image stabilization worked at the highest level, compensating for hand tremors even at maximum zoom.
The wide-angle lens was also not deprived of attention, with a matrix of 20 MP, which allowed you to take detailed pictures of landscapes and architecture without losing quality at the edges of the frame. For video bloggers, it is important to support 8K video recording at 30 frames per second.
| Parameter | Main camera. | Telephoto lens | Wide angle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Permission | 48 MP | 48 MP | 20 MP |
| Diaphragm | f/1.8 | f/4.1 | f/2.2 |
| zoom | 1x | 5x (optical), 10x (hybrid) | 0.5x |
| Stabilization | OIS + EIS | OIS + EIS | No. |
⚠️ Attention: When using 120x zoom, image quality is heavily influenced by lighting. In the dark, digital zoom produces significant noise, so it is recommended to use a tripod.
Software has also changed, AI algorithms have learned to better recognize scenes and adjust white balance, and nighttime has become one of the best on the market, allowing for light images even in extremely low light conditions.
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For maximum zoom shooting, use a timer or voice shutter control to minimize the vibration of the body at the time of descent.
Design and ergonomics of the device
The appearance of the Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra was polarized, on the one hand, the device looked futuristic due to the camera module, occupying almost a third of the back, and on the other hand, some criticized the lack of water protection according to the IP68 standard, which is strange for a flagship of this level.
The body materials are high-end, with Gorilla Glass 5 glass on the front and back, and an aluminum frame, but the device weighs 226 grams, making it palpably heavy in the hand, and prolonged use with one hand can be uncomfortable.
The color scheme was presented in three versions: Obsidian Black, Mercury Silver and Transparent Edition, which was in particular demand, as it allowed to see the internal components and the coil of wireless charging.
- 🎨 Materials: Glass and metal premium
- ⚖️ Weight: 226 grams (pretty heavy)
- 💧 Protection: No official water protection rating IP
- 🔌 Connectors: USB Type-C 3.1, no 3.5mm connector
The control layout also has its own features: the volume and power buttons are on the right side, they have a clear stroke, and on the top is the IR port, which is a nice bonus for managing household appliances.
Software and relevance
At the time of its release, the smartphone was running a MIUI 12 shell based on Android 10. Over the years, the device has received several major updates. At the moment, the current version is MIUI 14 based on Android 13, although in some regions HyperOS is already being tested.
The Chinese version of firmware has its own features, such as the presence of built-in advertising in system applications and the absence of some Google services by default (although they can be installed).
The system is highly stable, and the Snapdragon 865 processor optimization is perfect, so random drop-offs of apps or interface lags are rare, but it is worth considering that with the release of new versions of Android, older devices may work less quickly.
☑️ Check before buying a used Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra
⚠️ Warning: When buying the Chinese version, make sure the seller unlocks the bootloader or installs global firmware if you need Russian and Google services out of the box.
Cost and feasibility of buying today
In 2026-2026, buying a Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra makes sense only in a few cases: first, if you are a fan of the brand and collector; second, if you found the device in perfect condition at a very attractive price, well below the cost of modern analogues.
In the secondary market, the price varies depending on the condition and configuration. The original 120W charger and the battery charger (which costs a lot separately) significantly increase the liquidity of the smartphone. Without the original charging unit, the point of purchase is lost, since conventional charging will not unlock the potential of the battery.
Modern competitors offer similar performance, but with better energy efficiency and longer support for upgrades. However, the build and materials quality in the Mi 10 Ultra often outperforms the newer mid- and even upper-segment models.
- 💰 Price on the used market: Depends on the state, on average 30-40% starting-off
- 📉 Liquidity: High among enthusiasts, low among mass buyers
- 🛠️ Repair: Parts are hard to find, screens are expensive and rare
If you're looking at this phone as a major workhorse for a few years to come, it's worth weighing the risks of not having further security updates, but as a second phone or media device, it's still a great choice.
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Xiaomi Mi 10 Ultra remains a legendary device thanks to the world’s first 120-watt charging, but it is only worth buying it in 2026 for collectors or at a very good offer.