Smartphone cameras have reached a fascinating turning point. While most brands keep adding more lenses, Xiaomi seems ready to take a completely different path with its upcoming Xiaomi 18.
Recent leaks suggest the company is preparing something genuinely unexpected. Instead of chasing the quadruple camera trend, Xiaomi might launch a compact flagship featuring just two rear cameras – but one of them is a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens.
Yes, you read that correctly. A 200MP periscope zoom camera on a phone with a 6.4-inch display. Here is everything we know so far about this intriguing device.
Xiaomi 18: Why Smaller Might Actually Be Smarter
For years, smartphone displays have steadily grown larger. Six inches became 6.5, then 6.7, and now even 6.8-inch screens are common. But not everyone wants a tablet-sized phone.
The Xiaomi 18 appears designed for users who have been asking for a premium compact smartphone that does not compromise on camera capabilities.
Display: Comfort Meets Clarity
According to early leaks, the Xiaomi 18 will feature a 6.4-inch AMOLED display. This is noticeably smaller than the current Xiaomi 14 series and most competing flagships.
Expected display specifications:
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Size: 6.4 inches
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Type: LTPO AMOLED
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Refresh rate: 120Hz
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Resolution: 1.5K (likely 1220 x 2700 pixels)
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Peak brightness: 3000 nits
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Protection: Gorilla Glass Victus 3
This size hits a sweet spot. It remains fully usable with one hand while still offering enough screen real estate for videos, gaming, and reading. For users tired of stretching their thumbs across 6.7-inch slabs, this alone is a compelling reason to wait.
The Camera Story: Quality Over Quantity
Here is where things get genuinely interesting.
200MP Periscope Telephoto – Not What You Expect
Most flagship phones place their highest resolution sensor on the main wide camera. Xiaomi appears ready to flip this formula.
The Xiaomi 18 is tipped to feature a 200MP periscope telephoto camera as its hero shooter. This is unprecedented in the smartphone industry.
What this means for photography:
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Insane optical zoom range – Likely 5x or even 10x optical zoom
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Sensor cropping without quality loss – 200MP allows 2x, 4x, and 8x lossless in-sensor zoom
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Better portrait photography – Telephoto lenses naturally create pleasing background blur
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Low-light zoom shots – Higher resolution means better pixel binning for brighter night zoom photos
The second rear camera is expected to be a 50MP ultra-wide lens. Xiaomi might skip the dedicated macro or depth sensors entirely – and that is perfectly fine. Software handles depth information well now, and the main camera can handle close-ups.
What About the Selfie Camera?
Early indications suggest a 32MP front camera with 4K video recording support. Nothing revolutionary here, but completely adequate for social media users and video calls.
Performance: Snapdragon Power Under the Hood
The Xiaomi 18 will almost certainly launch with the Snapdragon 8 Elite (Gen 4) chipset. Qualcomm’s next-generation flagship processor is expected to bring significant gains in both CPU and GPU performance while improving power efficiency.
Performance highlights:
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3nm architecture for better battery life
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Ray tracing support for console-like mobile gaming
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AI engine improvements for camera processing
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UFS 4.1 storage for lightning-fast app loading
Paired with up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM, this phone will handle anything from 4K video editing to heavy gaming without breaking a sweat.
Battery and Charging: Small Phone, Big Endurance
A common concern with compact phones is battery life. Xiaomi seems aware of this.
The Xiaomi 18 is rumored to pack a 4,800mAh to 5,000mAh battery. That is impressive for a 6.4-inch device. To put this in perspective, many 6.7-inch phones still use 5,000mAh batteries.
Charging expectations:
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90W wired fast charging – 0 to 100% in approximately 30 minutes
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50W wireless charging – Full charge in about 45 minutes
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Reverse wireless charging – For earbuds or smartwatches
This combination ensures you never feel anxious about battery life, even with heavy camera usage.
Software and User Experience
The Xiaomi 18 will launch with HyperOS 2.0 based on Android 15. Xiaomi’s custom skin has matured significantly. It is cleaner, less cluttered, and more resource-efficient than older MIUI versions.
Software promises:
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4 years of Android updates
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5 years of security patches
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Seamless integration with Xiaomi tablets and laptops
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AI-powered photo editing tools
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Smart battery optimization
Xiaomi 18 Specifications at a Glance
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.4-inch LTPO AMOLED, 1.5K, 120Hz, 3000 nits |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite (4nm/3nm) |
| RAM | 12GB / 16GB LPDDR5X |
| Storage | 256GB / 512GB UFS 4.1 |
| Main Camera | 200MP Periscope Telephoto (f/2.2, OIS) |
| Secondary Camera | 50MP Ultra-wide (f/1.8) |
| Selfie Camera | 32MP (f/2.0) |
| Battery | 4,800-5,000mAh |
| Charging | 90W wired, 50W wireless |
| Software | HyperOS 2.0 (Android 15) |
| Colors | Black, White, Green, Pearl Pink (rumored) |
| Security | In-display fingerprint, Face unlock |
Expected Price and Release Date
Launch timeline:
The Xiaomi 18 series is expected to debut in December 2025 or January 2026 in China, followed by a global launch in February-March 2026.
Expected pricing:
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Base model (12GB+256GB): Approximately $699 / ₹58,999 / €649
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Top model (16GB+512GB): Approximately $799 / ₹66,999 / €749
This pricing would position the Xiaomi 18 as a premium mid-range to flagship device – significantly more affordable than the Galaxy S25 or iPhone 17, while offering unique camera hardware.
Xiaomi 18: Pros and Cons
✅ Pros
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Compact 6.4-inch display – Rare in the flagship space
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200MP periscope zoom – Industry-first innovation
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Excellent battery for a small phone
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Fast charging with both wired and wireless
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Competitive pricing against other flagships
❌ Cons
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No dedicated macro camera – May disappoint some users
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Limited color options if leaks are accurate
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Availability delays – Global launch months after China
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HyperOS updates – Xiaomi’s update track record needs improvement
How It Compares to Rivals
| Feature | Xiaomi 18 | Samsung Galaxy S25 | iPhone 17 | Google Pixel 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display | 6.4-inch | 6.2-inch | 6.3-inch | 6.3-inch |
| Telephoto | 200MP (5-10x) | 10MP (3x) | 12MP (3x) | 12MP (5x) |
| Battery | 5000mAh | 4000mAh | ~3500mAh | 4600mAh |
| Charging | 90W | 25W | 20W | 30W |
| Price | ~$699 | ~$799 | ~$899 | ~$699 |
The Xiaomi 18 clearly wins on camera innovation, battery, and charging speed.
FAQs
1. Is Xiaomi 18 officially confirmed?
No, Xiaomi has not officially announced the Xiaomi 18. All information is based on leaks, tips, and industry speculation. We recommend waiting for official confirmation.
2. Will Xiaomi 18 have a headphone jack?
Highly unlikely. Flagship Xiaomi phones have moved away from the 3.5mm headphone jack since 2019. You will need USB-C or wireless headphones.
3. Is 200MP on a telephoto lens actually useful?
Yes. More megapixels on a telephoto lens means you can crop deeply while maintaining sharpness. It also enables better digital zoom and improved portrait mode edge detection. This is genuinely useful, not just a marketing number.
