Redmi’s gaming phone line is getting a new flagship. The Redmi K90 Ultra is coming, and the early signals point to a serious upgrade over last year’s model. Xiaomi hasn’t dropped the full spec sheet yet. But pre-orders are already live in China, and leaks have filled in most of the gaps. Here’s everything we know so far.
When does the Redmi K90 Ultra launch
Xiaomi has confirmed the phone arrives later this month in China. No exact date yet. Pre-orders are already open through Xiaomi Mall, JD.com, Tmall, and a few other Chinese retailers. That’s usually a sign the launch is close. For reference, the Redmi K80 Ultra launched on June 26 last year. If Xiaomi follows the same pattern, expect the K90 Ultra around the same window this year.
There’s no word yet on an India or global release. Redmi phones in this series typically stay China-exclusive for a few months before any international rollout gets announced.
Redmi K90 Ultra price (expected)
Pricing details are still under wraps officially. But Xiaomi President Lu Weibing dropped a hint on social media. He confirmed the K90 Ultra will sit below the Redmi K90 Max in the lineup, with a starting price around CNY 3,000. That’s roughly Rs. 41,000 at current conversion rates.
For context on where that lands:
The Redmi K90 Max starts at CNY 2,999 (around Rs. 40,000) for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. The Redmi K80 Ultra launched last year at CNY 2,599 (around Rs. 31,000) for its base 12GB and 256GB model. So the K90 Ultra looks like it’s coming in at a noticeable premium over its predecessor. That tracks with the rumored chipset and cooling upgrades.
Keep in mind, these are China prices and don’t reflect any future India pricing. Import duties and local taxes usually push the number up significantly whenever Xiaomi launches a phone like this in India.
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Redmi K90 Ultra specifications: what’s leaked
Display and design
Leaks point to a 6.89-inch LTPS OLED panel with 1.5K resolution. The refresh rate could go up to 165Hz, which is a real bump from the 144Hz on the K80 Ultra’s 6.83-inch screen. A custom dual-speaker setup is also rumored. Gaming phones live and die by audio feedback, so this matters more than it sounds.
The phone is tipped to use an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, which reads faster and more reliably than the optical kind most budget phones use. A metal frame is also expected, giving it a more premium in-hand feel than typical plastic-backed gaming phones.
Performance and software
This is where the K90 Ultra is expected to really separate itself. Rumors point to the Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset powering the show. For comparison, the outgoing Redmi K80 Ultra runs on a MediaTek Dimensity 9400+. A jump to Snapdragon 8 Elite would put the K90 Ultra in direct competition with current flagship-tier gaming phones.
Thermal management looks like a major focus too. Reports mention an integrated active cooling system, plus a dedicated cooling fan. That’s a serious commitment for a phone in this price bracket. It’s also tipped to carry an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, which isn’t always guaranteed on gaming-focused phones. Software-wise, expect Android 16 running on HyperOS 3 out of the box.
You can check Xiaomi’s official HyperOS updates page for more on what the latest software version brings.
Camera setup
Camera details are thin right now. The most likely scenario is that Xiaomi carries over the dual rear camera setup from the K80 Ultra: a 50-megapixel primary sensor paired with an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens. Up front, a 20-megapixel selfie camera is expected, matching the previous generation.
Gaming phones rarely lead with camera innovation, so this isn’t surprising. The K90 Ultra’s selling point is clearly performance and battery, not photography.
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Battery and charging
This might be the headline feature. Leaks suggest the K90 Ultra ships with an 8,000mAh battery or larger. A recent 3C certification listing (China’s regulatory body for electronics) confirmed 100W fast charging support. You can check listings like this directly on China’s 3C certification database when new Xiaomi devices show up.
For comparison, the Redmi K80 Ultra packs a 7,410mAh battery with the same 100W charging speed. If the 8,000mAh figure holds up, that’s nearly a 600mAh jump while keeping the same charging speed. For a gaming phone that needs to survive long sessions with the display cranked to 165Hz, that extra capacity will matter.
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How it compares to the Redmi K80 Ultra
| Feature | Redmi K80 Ultra | Redmi K90 Ultra (expected) |
|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.83-inch, 144Hz | 6.89-inch, up to 165Hz |
| Chipset | Dimensity 9400+ | Snapdragon 8 Elite |
| Battery | 7,410mAh | 8,000mAh+ |
| Charging | 100W | 100W |
| Water resistance | Not confirmed | IP68 (rumored) |
| Price (China, base) | CNY 2,599 | ~CNY 3,000 |
On paper, this looks less like an incremental update and more like a genuine generational leap. The chipset switch alone, from MediaTek to Snapdragon, is the kind of change that usually shows up across benchmarks and real-world gaming performance.
Should you wait for the Redmi K90 Ultra
If you’re shopping for a gaming phone right now and don’t mind waiting two to three weeks, it’s probably worth holding off. The Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset alone makes this a meaningfully different phone from its predecessor. Combine that with the bigger battery and improved cooling, and the K90 Ultra could be one of the strongest value-for-money gaming phones this year, assuming the price holds near that CNY 3,000 mark.
That said, none of this is official yet. Specs can shift right up until the actual launch event, and Xiaomi has a habit of revealing surprise features at the last minute. We’ll update this post the moment Xiaomi confirms the official launch date and full specification sheet.
Also read : Samsung Galaxy S27 Pro Leaks: The “Ultra” Killer Samsung Hid From Us.
FAQs
When will the Redmi K90 Ultra launch ?
Xiaomi has confirmed a launch later this month in China, though the exact date isn’t out yet. Going by last year’s pattern, expect it around June 26.
What is the expected price of the Redmi K90 Ultra ?
Around CNY 3,000, roughly Rs. 41,000, based on comments from Xiaomi’s president. This is the China price and may not reflect India pricing.
What chipset does the Redmi K90 Ultra use ?
Leaks point to the Snapdragon 8 Elite, a major upgrade from the Dimensity 9400+ in the Redmi K80 Ultra.
What is the battery capacity of the Redmi K90 Ultra ?
Reports suggest 8,000mAh or larger, with 100W fast charging support confirmed through a 3C certification listing.
Will the Redmi K90 Ultra launch in India ?
There’s no confirmation yet on an India launch. Xiaomi typically launches this series in China first, with international availability decided later.
Disclaimer: This article is based on leaks and unofficial sources. Xiaomi hasn’t officially confirmed the Redmi K90 Ultra’s specifications or price yet. Final details may change at launch.
