Fresh leaks surrounding Xiaomi’s next flagship smartphone are beginning to surface, offering an early glimpse at what the Xiaomi 18 could bring to the table. According to well-known Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station, posting on Weibo, the upcoming device is expected to feature a periscope telephoto camera — a notable upgrade for the standard model in the lineup.
The leak suggests that the Xiaomi 18 will likely use the same periscope telephoto sensor found in the Xiaomi 17 Pro. This would be a 50-megapixel f/3.0 camera with 5x optical zoom, indicating Xiaomi’s intention to deliver high-end photography features even in its non-Pro flagship. If accurate, this move would narrow the gap between the standard and Pro variants, particularly in the camera department.
Beyond imaging, the Xiaomi 18 is also tipped to receive an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner, a feature generally reserved for premium devices due to its faster performance and improved accuracy compared to optical sensors. Wireless charging support is also expected to make a return, along with enhanced dust and water resistance, suggesting a strong focus on durability.
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 18 is rumored to be powered by Qualcomm’s next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 processor. However, some uncertainty remains, as reports indicate Qualcomm may introduce two versions of the chip: the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and a more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.
Xiaomi is believed to be leaning toward the standard Elite Gen 6 for the “vanilla” Xiaomi 18. This decision could help manage production costs and offset rising memory and component prices, while still delivering flagship-level performance. The Pro variant, if released, would likely receive the higher-end chipset.
At this stage, additional details about the Xiaomi 18 — including display specifications, battery capacity, and RAM configurations — remain under wraps. However, based on Xiaomi’s usual release cycle, the device is expected to be officially unveiled around September.
As more leaks and certifications emerge in the coming months, a clearer picture of Xiaomi’s next flagship strategy should begin to take shape. For now, the early signs point to a well-balanced premium smartphone that brings advanced camera hardware and flagship features to a wider audience.
