The year 2026 started with rumors about 200 MP cameras, and now it’s also the turn of the unreleased Xiaomi 17 Max. Indeed, the brand’s new flagship lineup uses only 50 MP sensors, and for the leap to the next level you have to go directly to the Ultra version.
The new Max model could do justice to the base trio as well, but there might be a compromise related to the chipset.
Xiaomi 17 Max could have a 200 MP camera, but at a price to pay
The Xiaomi 17 Max release has been teased on various occasions: the launch is expected around March/April and we should have a screen wider than the 6.3″ of the Xiaomi 17 standard — we are talking about a panel around 6.8″ or 6.9″.
The battery would not be outdone, surpassing the entire series (including the Camera Phone Ultra) with a colossal unit of 8,000 mAh and dual charging – wired 100W, wireless 50W.
The insider Digital Chat Station has returned to talk about the device, this time revealing something about the camera department. Well, despite the 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, the next addition to the range should introduce a main 200 MP sensor branded Samsung HP, with dimensions of 1/1.4″.
Accompanying the main module would be a 50 MP ultra-wide and a 50 MP periscope telephoto, a sensor from the Sony IMX8 series. For now the only smartphone in this generation equipped with a 200 MP solution is the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, with its telephoto.
Back to the Max model, the real unknown of the phone would be the chipset: according to the insider’s words, this time we should have a Dimensity SoC, a major change compared to the other devices (all with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5).
The other rivals and the future of Xiaomi
Among the various Chinese brands, Xiaomi is currently the only one to have implemented 200 MP only in the Ultra variant. OPPO Find X9 Pro, vivo X300 and X300 Pro, iQOO Z11 Turbo, Honor 400 and 400 Pro: all have at least one 200 MP sensor, as either main or tele. Crossing Chinese borders we could also cite Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, and it wouldn’t be the only one.
Xiaomi 17 Max could be the flagship device capable of changing things and paving the way for the next generation. Not by chance, rumors have recently surfaced about Xiaomi 18 Pro: the future top of the line could raise the level even more, apparently with two 200 MP cameras (main and periscope telephoto).
