Xiaomi 18 might surprise with a great camera upgrade, leaker suggests

The Xiaomi 17 hasn’t even reached global markets yet, but the internet is already speculating about its successor. The well-known Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station hinted that the base model of the Xiaomi 18 series will finally get a periscope telephoto lens. If the information is confirmed, it will be a significant upgrade compared to the current generation.

Periscope Telephoto Lens for Everyone

Until now, Xiaomi reserved periscope lenses for its Pro and Pro Max models. The base Xiaomi 17 only features a classic telephoto lens with 2.6× optical zoom. A periscope, thanks to its folded optics, allows for longer zoom – typically 4× to 5× – without needing to increase the phone’s thickness.

According to the leak, periscope optics should become a standard across all models in the Xiaomi 18 series. The same applies to the 3D ultrasonic fingerprint reader, wireless charging, and a higher degree of water resistance. Under the hood, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset can be expected.

Xiaomi 17 is Heading to the Czech Republic

Before we see the eighteenth generation, the current Xiaomi 17 is heading to the Czech market. This compact flagship with a 6.3″ LTPO OLED display and a 7000mAh battery should appear here in March 2026. The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and offers a trio of 50Mpx cameras, including a telephoto lens with 2.6× zoom.

There’s still a lot of time until this autumn, and plans can change. However, if Xiaomi truly democratizes periscope optics, the base model of the eighteenth series could become an interesting choice for photography enthusiasts who don’t want to pay for premium variants.

Would you appreciate a periscope telephoto lens in the base model?

Sources: Digital Chat Station/Weibo, Gizmochina, PhoneArena