Xiaomi is reportedly preparing to elevate its flagship smartphone lineup with the Xiaomi 16 series. According to leaks, the upcoming devices will introduce significant upgrades, including periscope cameras across the entire series and Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset.
Enhanced Photography Capabilities
Xiaomi has consistently offered telephoto cameras on its flagship models, but the 15 Pro marked the introduction of a periscope telephoto lens. For the Xiaomi 16 series, the company appears to be taking things further by equipping both the standard and Pro models with periscope cameras. This upgrade promises enhanced zoom capabilities, catering to photography enthusiasts.
Next-Gen Performance
The Xiaomi 16 series is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, identified as the SM8850 chip. Built using TSMC’s advanced N3P manufacturing process, this chip is set to deliver improvements in efficiency and performance, alongside significantly enhanced GPU capabilities compared to its predecessor.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 is anticipated to debut in October 2025, making the Xiaomi 16 series one of the first devices to feature this cutting-edge processor.
Development Timeline
While the Xiaomi 16 series has yet to enter the Product Validation Testing (PVT) stage, it is expected to do so by the second quarter of 2025. Meanwhile, the Xiaomi 15 series is slated for a global release in early 2025, allowing Xiaomi to bridge the gap between its current and upcoming flagship lineups.
