Rising memory prices may reshape the premium Android market, potentially clearing the field of rivals to the upcoming Galaxy S27 Ultra. When Samsung introduced the Galaxy S26 Ultra, it competed not only with the iPhone 17 Pro Max but also with devices such as the Xiaomi 17 Ultra and the Vivo X300 Ultra. That scenario could change significantly with the next generation, according to fresh reports suggesting the flagship smartphone segment is heading for dramatic upheaval.
High-end Ultra Android phones may vanish
The next wave of ultra-tier Android smartphones may never reach global markets, with some models possibly cancelled entirely. Several Chinese brands are said to be rethinking the release strategy for their forthcoming flagship devices.
Xiaomi has reportedly taken the most drastic step by scrapping the Xiaomi 18 Ultra altogether. The company appears to have decided against launching the handset even in China, a move that hints at a deeper problem than the one facing rival manufacturers.
Oppo and Vivo, meanwhile, may still produce new “Ultra” flagships later this year. However, unlike the current models, the successors to the Oppo Find X9 Ultra and Vivo X300 Ultra are reportedly not slated for global launches and could appear only in China.
Samsung could stand largely alone
Should these reports prove accurate, Samsung may become the only manufacturer offering its Ultra model worldwide. The Galaxy S27 series is expected early in the year, and there is no indication that the S27 Ultra will be cancelled.
Even so, Samsung will not have the premium Android market entirely to itself. While the ongoing memory price crunch and supply chain difficulties may make Ultra models too costly to manufacture, Chinese companies are still expected to release Pro Max flagships.
These could amount to a modest upgrade over models such as the Vivo X300 Pro and Oppo Find X9 Pro, or a more direct challenge to Apple’s forthcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max and the current iPhone 17 Pro Max. Xiaomi has already shifted its approach with the Xiaomi 17 range, which includes a Xiaomi 17 Pro Max model, and others may follow suit.
The camera question remains open
A move away from Ultra devices would leave the camera experience in question, an area where differences between tiers have been notable. Reviews of the Vivo X300 Ultra highlighted how much stronger its camera performance was compared with the X300 Pro. Whether a future X400 Pro would match the current Pro or Ultra models, and how buyers would respond, remains to be seen.
Chinese ultra-flagships have never commanded a large following in global markets, in part because of their high prices, and the worsening memory situation raises the prospect of even steeper costs for future models. For now, Pro Max devices are still expected to reach markets outside China.
Source
Image: phonearena.com
