Fresh leaks have started to shed light on Xiaomi’s next flagship smartphone, the Xiaomi 18, which is expected to launch later this year.
According to a new report from well-known Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station on Weibo, the upcoming device will bring several premium upgrades, including a powerful periscope telephoto camera.
As per the leak, the Xiaomi 18 is likely to feature a periscope telephoto lens similar to the one used in the Xiaomi 17 Pro. This means the phone could pack a 50MP periscope camera with an f/3.0 aperture and 5x optical zoom. If true, this would be a major camera boost for the “vanilla” Xiaomi 18 model, narrowing the gap between it and the Pro variants in Xiaomi’s flagship lineup.
In addition to the camera improvements, the Xiaomi 18 is also tipped to come with an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner. This technology is typically faster and more secure than traditional optical sensors, further reinforcing the phone’s premium positioning. The leak also claims that the device will support wireless charging, a feature that has become standard in high-end smartphones.
Durability appears to be another focus area for Xiaomi this year. The Xiaomi 18 is said to offer very high dust and water resistance, although exact IP ratings have not yet been revealed. If accurate, this would make the device more resilient for everyday use and better suited to compete with other flagship phones from Samsung and Apple.
On the performance front, the Xiaomi 18 is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset. Interestingly, rumors suggest Qualcomm may release two versions of this processor: the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. Xiaomi could opt for the standard version for the base Xiaomi 18 to balance costs, especially amid rising RAM and component prices.
For now, details about the Xiaomi 18 remain limited, and Xiaomi has not officially confirmed any specifications. However, based on previous launch cycles, the smartphone is expected to debut around September. As more information emerges in the coming weeks, the Xiaomi 18 is shaping up to be a strong contender in the 2026 flagship smartphone race.