Vanilla Xiaomi 16 could arrive with a periscope zoom lens in 2025

Vanilla Xiaomi 16 to Finally Get Periscope Telephoto Lens for the First Time. According to rumors, Xiaomi is said to be readying its new flagship, the Xiaomi 16, with a periscope telephoto lens. This much-awaited feature would finally complete the package of the much-awaited successor, the Xiaomi 15, which had been lacking in this high-end zoom technology.

The periscope lens bending light at a 90-degree angle allows for superior optical zoom without compromising image quality. If these rumors are true, this upgrade could make a huge difference in the camera capabilities of the Xiaomi 16, making it a strong contender in the premium smartphone market.

Compact Design

Xiaomi is likely to retain the popular 6.36-inch compact screen size for the Xiaomi 16. Since the Xiaomi 13, this compact form factor has been very well received, and the device will differ from many of the larger flagship smartphones that exist today, making it more pocket-friendly for users.

While details about the Xiaomi 16 are scarce it is likely to build on the strong foundation of the Xiaomi 15 which featured a 1.5K AMOLED flat TCL C8 LTPO display the powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset a 4610 mAh battery with 90W wired fast charging and a 50MP triple-camera system with Leica optics.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra

The company is said to unveil the Xiaomi 15 Ultra along with the Xiaomi 16, with an expected debut in China immediately after the 2025 Chinese New Year likely in February.

The Xiaomi 15 Ultra will come with a 6.7-inch LTPO OLED display featuring a 120Hz refresh rate and a micro-covered design. Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset will reportedly power it and run on Android 15-based HyperOS 2.

The quad-camera setup will sport sensors with 50MP, 50MP, 50MP, and 200MP resolutions allowing for excellent photography. The battery should be a strong 6000mAh one and will reportedly support 90W wired charging and 80W wireless charging. According to the leaks, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra will carry customizable back-side glass for improved speed unlocking through an under-display ultrasonic fingerprint.