Here at XiaomiTime, we are constantly monitoring the deepest layers of Xiaomi’s firmware. A while ago, during our retrospective database queries, we noticed the silent addition of the P12U and P12A China variants to the source code. At the time, we simply couldn’t make sense of it. Why would REDMI develop three separate, yet seemingly similar, flagship variants amidst a global chip crisis and rising storage costs? We kept this mystery under our radar. But today, as REDMI officially kicked off the pre-heating campaign for the REDMI K90 Max, everything finally clicked.
Validating our past database discoveries, Lu Weibing, General Manager of the Xiaomi brand, officially announced a historic restructuring of the lineup’s hierarchy. The traditional “Ultra” tier is no longer the ceiling. The new positioning is strictly Max > Ultra. Our confusing database finds were actually the blueprint for a massive surprise: REDMI is launching 3 different REDMI K90 smartphones.
How the Leaks Align with Today’s Reality
Today’s official pre-heating materials heavily emphasize the REDMI K90 Max as the “Performance Demon King,” focusing on extreme e-sports optimizations. Initially, the tech industry assumed the Dimensity 9500-powered prototype detailed by leakers was the standard REDMI K90 Ultra. However, our past discovery of the P12A and P12U variants proves that REDMI was quietly constructing a three-pronged attack to conquer different performance segments:
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The “Performance Demon King” (Max): Built specifically for hardcore gamers, this tier features a physical 1.8mm active air-cooling fan, a dedicated secondary graphics chip, and a 1.5K 165Hz LTPS display.
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The Premium Standard (Ultra): This model drops the physical fan but retains top-tier flagship performance, acting as the premium daily driver.
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The Entry Flagship (e/A variants): Designed to capture the budget-performance sector.
New K90 Devices Devices
Now that the puzzle pieces have come together, here is the confirmed structure of the upcoming China-exclusive lineup based on our initial codebase queries:
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REDMI K90 Max (Codename: P12 – Prague): The ultimate gaming beast powered by the Dimensity 9500. It is the only model confirmed to feature an active cooling fan.
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REDMI K90 Ultra (Codename: P12U – Warhol): Powered by the Dimensity 9500 (No physical fan). This is global Xiaomi 17T Pro.
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REDMI K90e / Standard (Codename: P12e/P12A – Chagal): Expected to be powered by the Dimensity 8500+. This is Xiaomi 17T. Xiaomi keeps this device global-only since Xiaomi 11T.
Market Impact
The strategy that confused us weeks ago is actually a masterstroke. By splitting the flagship tier, Xiaomi ensures that every price segment is covered. They are effectively phasing out older generations to re-establish a highly segmented pricing ladder. The REDMI K90 Max is estimated to launch with a starting price of around 3,500 CNY (approximately $485 USD) for the 12GB+256GB configuration. Please note that the REDMI K90 series, along with this pricing, is introduced exclusively in China for now. Global users will have to wait for the Xiaomi 17T Pro to experience this power.
