Xiaomi 16 Leak Hints at Big Camera Upgrade

By Mehtab Ansari • Updated On 30 Dec 2024

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TL; DR

Xiaomi 15 didn’t get any camera upgrades, sticking to a 2.6x telephoto lens.
Early leaks suggest Xiaomi 16 will feature a periscope camera, enabling longer focal lengths and superior zoom.
Xiaomi 16 is expected to stay compact (6.3-6.5 inches).

The Xiaomi 15 recently debuted in China, but it left many unimpressed with its lack of significant camera upgrades. Sticking to the same 2.6x telephoto lens, Xiaomi’s latest flagship falls behind competitors like the vivo X200 and OPPO Find X8, which already feature advanced periscope lenses.

For those unfamiliar, periscope lenses use a prism to bend light, enabling longer focal lengths for superior zoom capabilities. Now, fresh leaks from Smart Pikachu on Weibo suggest that Xiaomi is finally stepping up.

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The Xiaomi 16, expected to launch next year, will reportedly include a periscope camera. Oh, and it’s expected to remain compact with a screen size between 6.3 and 6.5 inches.

Currently, only Xiaomi’s premium models like the 15 Pro and 14 Ultra offer periscope cameras, each supporting 5x optical zoom. Meanwhile, the upcoming Xiaomi 15 Ultra is rumored to feature a 200 MP sensor with 4.3x zoom.

ALSO READ: Xiaomi Pad 7 Confirmed to arrive in India on January 10: Microsite Goes Live

The Xiaomi 15 hasn’t even launched in India yet; it’s expected to arrive next year. There’s nothing we can do about the Xiaomi 15 but a periscope camera on Xiaomi 16 could allow Xiaomi to move from its current 2.6x zoom to at least 3x or 5x.

ALSO READ: Xiaomi’s announced 1+3+8 update policy for China, but what about India?

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Mehtab Ansari

Mehtab Ansari is the Assistant Editor – Features & Reviews at Smartprix, where he writes about smartphones, laptops, audio gear, and everything in between. A computer science student by degree but a tech nerd by heart, he’s been into consumer tech for years and started reviewing products professionally in February 2024. He’s especially into photography and audio, often spending more time testing a smartphone’s camera than he probably should. For him, tech isn’t just work, it’s what he’s always thinking about.

Expertise

Smartphones, laptops, tablets, monitors, smartwatches, photography, and audio gear. I’ve reviewed over 60 products across these categories on Smartprix in the past year and a half.

Education - Bachelor of Computer Applications – Nizam College, Hyderabad (2022–2025) | Joined Smartprix -February 2024 | Published Reviews & Stories - 723

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