- Xiaomi 18 could feature 200MP periscope telephoto across all models, not just the ultra.
- This would be a step up from the 50MP seen currently on the Xiaomi 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max.
- However, it could skip the more expensive Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 “Pro” chipset.
The earlier-than-usual launch of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 last year set a new cadence for Android flagship refresh cycles. This resulted in brands like Xiaomi and OnePlus unveiling their flagship phones, at least in China, months ahead of their usual launch timeline. And while Samsung has resisted this change — it’s launching the Galaxy S26 later compared to last year, it isn’t stopping other brands from already preparing for their next launches due later in 2026. In line with this, we’ve started hearing reports about phones from brands including Xiaomi and the upcoming Xiaomi 18 series, which could bring some exciting new changes.
Most recently, we learned about a major camera upgrade coming to the Xiaomi 18 phones. According to the leaker Digital Chat Station, an upcoming phone series is expected to feature 200MP periscope telephoto cameras across all the phones in the series. While the leaker does not specifically mention the brand, the language and the absence of the characterizing emoji they typically use with leaks for other brands suggest they are referring to the next Xiaomi flagship, most likely the Xiaomi 18.