Xiaomi has officially confirmed that the REDMI K90 Ultra will launch in China on June 30 at 19:00, positioning the device as a new performance-focused flagship for the competitive 3K yuan price segment. Since this is a REDMI K-series Ultra model, it is a China-only device.
Active cooling meets flagship gaming hardware
The main highlight of the REDMI K90 Ultra is its active air-cooling system, a feature usually seen on dedicated gaming smartphones. Xiaomi describes the phone as a “next-generation performance king,” with a clear focus on long gaming sessions, stable frame rates, and better thermal control.
According to official teasers and Lu Weibing’s statements, the REDMI K90 Ultra inherits the most important gaming features of the REDMI K90 Max. These include an independent D2 gaming display chip, e-sports-grade touch response, game-focused audio tuning, horizontal-screen network optimization, and the same super active air-cooling structure used on the Max model.
Xiaomi says the cooling system can reduce temperature by up to 10°C in 100 seconds, helping the phone maintain higher performance under heavy gaming loads. The fan system is also said to operate at around 32dB, which suggests Xiaomi is trying to balance aggressive cooling with acceptable noise levels.
REDMI K90 Ultra brings the full set of gaming genes from the REDMI K90 Max. This includes the independent D2 gaming display chip, e-sports-grade touch response, game-focused sound effects, horizontal-screen network optimization, and the same active air-cooling architecture. In other words, Xiaomi is not positioning the REDMI K90 Ultra as a simple performance refresh, but as a gaming-focused flagship that carries many of the Max model’s core technologies into the 3K yuan price segment.
Affected Devices / Software Versions
This announcement currently applies to:
- Device: REDMI K90 Ultra
- Market: China only
- Launch date: June 30, 19:00 China time
- Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite
- Gaming chip: Independent D2 display chip
- Cooling system: Built-in active air-cooling fan
- Battery: 8K+ class battery, based on current leaks
- Display: 6.83-inch flat ultra-narrow screen
- Build: Aluminum alloy CNC middle frame
- Color shown: Space Silver
- Target segment: 3K yuan range, roughly around $415+ before final pricing
Gaming performance and real-world impact
Xiaomi is targeting users who want flagship-level gaming performance without paying full premium flagship prices. The company’s internal testing claims show the REDMI K90 Ultra running a major MOBA title at 144fps with ultimate picture quality for a 180-minute test in a harsh 30°C environment, reportedly without frequency reduction or frame drops.
This is important because thermal throttling is one of the biggest problems in high-performance smartphones. A powerful chipset alone is not enough if the device cannot control heat during extended gameplay. By using active air cooling, Xiaomi can push the Snapdragon 8 Elite harder and keep performance more stable over time.
The phone also appears to carry over several hardware-level gaming improvements from the REDMI K90 Max, making it more than a standard performance phone. Features like touch optimization, display-chip assistance, improved network behavior in landscape mode, and enhanced audio all point to a device built specifically for competitive mobile gaming.
China exclusivity and market positioning
The REDMI K90 Ultra is being introduced only China, and Xiaomi’s messaging clearly focuses on defending the 3K yuan price range. This price class is one of the most aggressive parts of the Chinese smartphone market, where brands compete to offer flagship chips, large batteries, advanced cooling systems, and gaming-grade displays at lower prices.
The 3K yuan range roughly starts around $415, depending on the final configuration and exchange rate. Xiaomi has not yet confirmed the final retail price, but the company’s marketing strongly suggests that the REDMI K90 Ultra will be priced as a high-performance value flagship rather than a full ultra-premium device.
Hmm… the design seems quite similar when compared to the previous K90 Max tho, but I assume it has crazier specs for the Ultra one here 👀