Key feature of Xiaomi 16 smartphone revealed almost a year before announcement

Xiaomi's next flagship smartphone, which will be released in late 2025, will receive a periscopic telephoto lens for improved zoom and image detail.

New information about the Xiaomi 16 came from a popular Chinese insider under the nickname Smart Pikachu. Initially, it was assumed that such an innovation would be in the Xiaomi 15, which was introduced in October, but the base model was released without a periscopic lens. Only the “proshka” received such a camera.

If the information is confirmed, then thanks to the periscopic lens, the Xiaomi 16 will be able to provide a powerful optical zoom, which fans of the series are so waiting for. The insider also reported that the Xiaomi 16 will retain a small, compared to other Android flagships, 6.36-inch screen, which has become a favorite among users since the release of the Xiaomi 13.

Otherwise, the Xiaomi 16 is expected to copy the characteristics of the Xiaomi 15. Among them – the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon processor, a 1.5K AMOLED display, a 5400 mAh battery with 90-watt wired charging and a triple 50-megapixel camera with Leica optics.

The Chinese manufacturer is also working on the launch of another flagship – the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which will compete with the iPhone 16 Pro Max and the upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra. The smartphone is expected to be officially unveiled in February 2025 along with the global release of the Xiaomi 15.