Xiaomi 16: In summary
- Xiaomi’s upcoming range of flagship smartphones
- Set to debut in late September, with a China launch soon after, followed by a global launch early 2026
- UK/Europe likely to miss out on the Pro model again
- Upgrades tipped for screen, cameras, battery, charging and more
The Xiaomi 15 series arrived this year to rave reviews, but, as usual in the world of phones, thoughts and eyes turn to what the next models will bring.
That will be the Xiaomi 16 series, of course, and there possibly isn’t too long to wait until we see them officially, though this will just be their initial launch in China.
These are among Tech Advisor’s favourite phones outside of Google Pixel and Samsung Galaxy and there are big shoes to fill. However, the Xiaomi 16 series is shaping up nicely, with various upgrades being rumoured from cameras to big batteries.
Here’s everything we know so far about the phones from rumours, leaks with our expert analysis and predictions.
Latest Xiaomi 16 rumours
The latest rumours suggest Xiaomi could launch a new 16 Pro Max model and introduce an innovation camera technology for continuous optical zoom.
When will the Xiaomi 16 series be released?
In summary
- Initial reveal likely to take place sometime between 24-26 September
- Global launch will be months later, early in 2026
- 1 March is a likely date for an event at MWC
Unlike the last two sets of Xiaomi phones, which saw last year’s crop unveiled in October 2024 and the previous range unveiled in November 2023, Xiaomi is bringing the debut of its latest flagship handsets forward even further, with the latest rumours now pointing towards an official September announcement, namely between 24-26 September.
Even though the reveal is happening sooner than before, there’s no word yet on Xiaomi bucking its typical release schedule of having its phones debut in China shortly after being announced, with a global release pencilled in for the first few months of the following year. With that in mind, Xiaomi fans in the UK could still be waiting until February/March 2026 before getting their hands on one of the new Xiaomi 16 devices.
Tech Advisor attended both launch events for the Xiaomi 14 and Xiaomi 15 series at MWC (Mobile World Congress) in Barcelona, typically held at the end of February/early March.
It would seem reasonable, then, that this is when we can expect the global launch of the Xiaomi 16, too.
In 2026, MWC is due to take place from 2-5 March, so that would place Xiaomi’s launch event on 1 March, the day before the show starts, which is the typical strategy.
Source: Digital Chat Station via Weibo
How much will the Xiaomi 16 series cost?
In summary
- Similar pricing expected
- The range could start from £899 again
- Almost certainly not available in the US
We’ll have to wait for the Xiaomi 16 launch to get an idea of pricing, and even then, the global pricing will likely differ from the Chinese figures converted.
However, we can estimate the cost based on previous models and the competition.
Here’s a look at the expected price range for the Chinese market with conversions:
- Xiaomi 16: Starting from around CNY 4,500 (£515/$630).
- Xiaomi 16 Pro: Around CNY 5,300 (£600/$740).
- Xiaomi 16 Ultra: Likely starting at CNY 6,500 (£730/$910).
For global pricing, we expect similar pricing. Here are approximate global prices based on previous launches:
- Xiaomi 16: £899/€999
- Xiaomi 16 Pro: £1,099/€1,299 (if it launches)
- Xiaomi 16 Ultra: £1,299/€1,499
Will we get the Xiaomi 16 Pro?
One of the questions, as ever, is whether we will get the Xiaomi 16 Pro model in the UK and Europe. Going by previous years, the answer is no, but we’re still hoping that Xiaomi changes its mind on this and provides more choice. This might be wishful thinking, however.
Here are the global launch prices of previous generations:
- Xiaomi 15: £899
- Xiaomi 15 Ultra: £1,299
- Xiaomi 14: £849/€999
- Xiaomi 14 Ultra: £1,299/€1,499
- Xiaomi 13 Lite: £449/€499
- Xiaomi 13: £849/€999
- Xiaomi 13 Pro: £1,099/€1,299
- Xiaomi 13 Ultra: €1,499
- Xiaomi 12 Lite: £419/€395
- Xiaomi 12: £749/€849
- Xiaomi 12 Pro: £1,049/€1,049
What specs and features will the Xiaomi 16 series have?
In summary
- Similar design, with leaked two-tone design
- Possibly the first phones with new flagship Snapgragon processor
- Much bigger battery is tipped, along with even faster charging
- Secondary display may return for the Pro Max model
Most rumours about the Xiaomi 16 series so far relate to the regular model, including upgrades to the screen, battery and charging. There’s also a leaked render showing a possible two-tone design.
Some of these upgrades, including a new Snapdragon processor, will apply to the Ultra model as well. Details on this model are thin on the ground, but we’ll keep an eye out going forward.
Another interesting element is the notion of a new ‘Pro Max’ model, which would mimic the typical iPhone naming pattern. This comes via Digital Chat Station who mentioned it in the comments of a post talking about the design and sizes of the phones. However, it’s possible Xiaomi is simply replacing the Ultra with the Pro Max.
Forget the Galaxy S25 Edge – Xiaomi knows what I want from a small phone
Design
The Xiaomi 16 series could maintain the sleek and premium design of its predecessors, featuring ultra-thin bezels and quad-curved edges.
The introduction of a periscope telephoto camera on the standard Xiaomi 16 is a notable rumour, potentially elevating its design to compete with flagship rivals like the Vivo X200 and Oppo Find X8.
The render below shows a possible two-tone design for the Xiaomi 16, but it’s early days for such a render, so we’ll take this with a pinch of salt. It could also be just one of many finishes that Xiaomi offers, as it’s not like many rivals, where it’s simply colours that change.
The design looks like it could be a metal uni-body similar to the OnePlus Nord 4, but this would mean wireless charging isn’t possible so that feels an unlikely move.
Majinbu Official
Materials such as Dragon Crystal Glass are expected to be durable, along with IP68 water and dust resistance. The Pro and Ultra models may offer unique finishes, including leather textures or metal frames for a premium look.
Whether we get all the colourways in the UK and Europe is another question. The options are typically more limited compared to China.
The Ultra is likely to keep a similar design, featuring a large round camera module to house no less than four cameras. It should also come with an optional Photography Kit to stand out from other photography-focused phones once again.
Chris Martin / Foundry
However, the source mentioned above suggesting there might be a Pro Max model includes a selection of camera module designs which look very different to previous Xiaomi flagships.
They look far more like iPhone camera modules and are tipped for the Pro series, which doesn’t normally launch in the UK.
Digital Chat Station
Sources: Weibo | Maijinbu Official
Display
While the jury is still out on the other two phones, a recent Xiaomi 16 leak seems to all but confirm that a 6.3-inch LPTO OLED display is on the horizon, but what’s more impressive is that it’s reported to pack a 1.5K resolution.
This could be a huge win for anyone who likes to watch a bit of Netflix or Disney+ on their phone, as it’ll allow the handset to depict greater detail than before, allowing for a more eye-catching experience.
Another key upgrade is rumoured, as it might have the best PWM dimming (or related eye-preserving technology) in its size class. It could go above the 1920Hz PWM Dimming at low brightness feature of the Xiaomi 15, with the potential for 3200 nits of peak brightness as well.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The Pro and Ultra variants may step up to a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display with a 1440p resolution and adaptive refresh rates for smoother performance.
Sources: Smart Pikachu | Smart Pikachu (2) | GSMArena
Performance
The Xiaomi 16 series is expected to debut the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 2 chipset, which Qualcomm is set to unveil in September.
It has essentially been confirmed by way of comments from the Qualcomm CEO, stating that Xiaomi will be “the first OEM to launch with our next Snapdragon 8 Elite chip.”
This powerful processor should deliver significant performance improvements, coupled with 12- or 16GB of RAM and UFS 4.0 storage options ranging from 256GB to 1TB.
It’s worth mentioning that the latest word on the street regarding Qualcomm’s next big chipset is that, instead of going with the Elite Gen 2 naming convention like we originally believed, it seems as though the CPU powering the Xiaomi 16 range will be called the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
This could signal the previous Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset as being a direct successor to the 8 Gen 3 as opposed to the start of a new range, which would explain why 4 has been left out and we’ve now gone straight to 5.
Source: Digital Chat Station via Weibo
Cameras
A standout rumour is the inclusion of periscope telephoto cameras across the entire Xiaomi 16 lineup. This would help it compete with the regular Pixel 10, which is set to get a telephoto for the first time.
The Xiaomi 16 is expected to feature a 50Mp triple-camera setup, including a main sensor, an ultrawide camera, and the newly added periscope telephoto lens. This represents a significant upgrade over its predecessor.
Jon Mundy / Foundry
The Pro version is said to benefit from Leica’s camera tuning expertise, with a 5x optical zoom capability and enhanced computational photography features. The Ultra model is expected to push the boundaries further with a 1-inch main sensor and a 200Mp periscope telephoto camera offering 4.3x magnification.
While it would seem a reasonable bet to predict the 16 Ultra will stick to four rear cameras, a leak now suggests the phone will drop one camera in order to focus on quality and not quantity.
Instead of two cameras for ultrawide and mid-range optical zoom, the company will reportedly opt for an “extremely capable third camera”, though the specs are currently unknown.
An interesting leak suggests the Ultra (or will it be the Pro Max?) will come with a significant photography innovation – continuous optical zoom.
It’s also thought that the telephoto camera will share the same CMOS sensor, which would result in smoother transitions between focal lengths.
One big surprise that we weren’t expecting was the return of Xiaomi’s secondary display, last seen on the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra. We don’t yet know what form this secondary display will take, but its return could be a huge win for vloggers and content creators who appreciated having a means of lining up their to-camera shots correctly, without the use of secondary equipment.
Based on initial rumours, it seemed as though the previous 32Mp selfie camera would be receiving a key update across all three phones, but that’s no longer the case. While the jury is still out on the 16 Pro and the 16 Pro Max, the latest information suggests that the Xiaomi 16 will stick with having a 32Mp front-facing camera, so if you do want a better selfie experience that can better match all of the upgrades Apple recently brought to the iPhone 17 range, you may want to opt for one of the pricier options in this range.
Xiaomi’s collaboration with Leica on imaging will continue, as confirmed by CEO Lei Jun, who said, “Xiaomi and Leica have been and will continue to be close partners. I am very confident that Xiaomi 16Ultra will be a new height of mobile imaging, so stay tuned.”
Sources: Weibo (since deleted) | Weibo (2) | Smartprix | Digital Chat Station via Weibo
Battery & Charging
This is an area where the Xiaomi 16 could get a huge upgrade, compared to both its predecessor and rivals.
It seems the battery size will increase, though rumours suggest both 6800- and 7000mAh capacities. Just note that Chinese models often get a downsized battery for the global version.
The Xiaomi 15, for example, was 5400mAh in China but 5240mAh elsewhere.
Chris Martin / Foundry
This could still be in a “light and thin body”, suggesting Xiaomi will utilise silicon-carbon technology here. This would make it 75% larger than the Galaxy S25, which is a little mindblowing.
Charging is also set to improve with possible 100W wired charging, up from an already impressive 90W.
Various battery sizes are flying around, with one reliable leaker saying the 16 Ultra will be limited to 7000mAh, but there’s also talk of a 7500mAh cell, which then could be found inside the possible 16 Pro Max model.
Sources: Smart Pikachu | Digital Chat Station (2) | Wiebo
Software
The Xiaomi 16 series will likely run on HyperOS 3, based on Android 16. This software promises enhanced performance, seamless device integration, and AI-driven features.
What exactly it will feature remains to be seen, but Tech Advisor hopes it continues to get cleaned up, less cluttered and more intuitive.
That’s all we know about the Xiaomi 16 series of phones so far, but we’ll update this article when more news drops, leaks or official, in the weeks and months leading up to the launch.
In the meantime, see our guides to the best phones and the best Xiaomi phones to see what the Xiaomi 16 series will be up against.
from Tech Advisor
via Xiaomi 16 series: Everything we know so far