That would be huge! Xiaomi 18 Ultra is expected to come with a groundbreaking camera

The Xiaomi 17 Ultra is one of the first phones with optical zoom in the range of 75–100 mm equivalent focal length and a 200MPx Samsung ISOCELL HPE sensor. However, before customers can get used to this novelty, outlines of its successor are already emerging from Chinese leaks. The Xiaomi 18 Ultra is expected to bring a trio of improvements to the zoom camera — and one of them could push the entire category forward.

200 MPx with continuous optical zoom

Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station hinted on Weibo that an unspecified manufacturer is developing the first 200MPx camera with continuous optical zoom. While no name was mentioned, Xiaomi was immediately speculated in the comments — and it makes sense. Xiaomi, in cooperation with Leica, is among the pioneers of miniaturized zoom lenses in phones.

The key novelty is expected to be LOFIC (Lateral Overflow Integration Capacitor) technology, which significantly expands the sensor’s dynamic range. In practice, this means that the telephoto lens should be able to handle scenes with high contrasts — such as backlighting or a night city — at a level comparable to the main camera. Until now, the dynamic range of zoom lenses in phones has been their weakest point.

Larger sensor and improved telemacro

According to leaker Kartikey Singh, Xiaomi is working on three specific improvements for the 18 Ultra’s zoom camera. In addition to the aforementioned LOFIC, these include a larger sensor — the current 1/1.4-inch chip could be replaced by an even larger sensor. And the third point is improved telemacro, meaning the ability to focus up close at higher magnifications.

Telemacro is precisely an area where phones still have room for improvement. Current zoom lenses in mobile phones often have a minimum focusing distance that prevents detailed close-up shots. Xiaomi is reportedly working on better telemacro for the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max models as well, so it’s not just an exclusive feature of the Ultra version.

Oppo as benchmark, Xiaomi as challenger

Meanwhile, the competition isn’t sleeping. The Oppo Find X9 Ultra is expected to come with a 1/1.28-inch 200MPx sensor in its telephoto lens — that’s larger than anything that has existed in this category so far. Most current 200MPx telephoto lenses range between 1/1.56 and 1/1.4 inches. Oppo is thus setting a bar that Xiaomi will have to surpass or at least match.

There is no credible information yet about the expansion of the optical zoom range for the Xiaomi 18 Ultra. However, that doesn’t mean it won’t happen — with previous generations, zoom details only emerged shortly before the unveiling. What is certain: 2026 will be a breakthrough year for mobile photography at longer focal lengths.

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Source: Notebookcheck