Perhaps it’s worth waiting for the Xiaomi 18—and for a good reason

The current flagship of Lei Jun’s company is expected to debut globally, but perhaps it’s worth waiting for the next generation — at least for users who are focused on the photography capabilities. The future Xiaomi 18 standard could finally have on board a feature that so far has remained exclusive to the Pro and Ultra models.

Xiaomi 18 could finally introduce a periscope telephoto lens: here are the first clues

The specs of Xiaomi 17 are solid, and yet there is one detail that just doesn’t sit right: the absence of a periscopic telephoto lens, limited to the Pro and Pro Max models. The same happened in the previous generation, with the base version equipped with a standard telephoto — unlike Xiaomi 15 Pro. The same happened also with Xiaomi 15T e 15T Pro.

This unfortunate tradition could end with Xiaomi 18, according to what the Chinese insider Digital Chat Station has revealed. The leaker claims that the next flagship will finally be equipped with a teleobiettivo periscopico, completing the premium package (ultrasonic fingerprint reader, fast charging and waterproofing).

This is a feature that we might now consider taken for granted in the top tier, but this does not apply to Xiaomi. The periscopic telephoto is an optical system that allows high magnifications without the need for a component that increases the device’s thickness. Widely used in the mobile sector, it enables a higher optical zoom and a more natural bokeh.

Not mentioned is the rear display: just as happened with the current generation, it should be exclusive to Xiaomi 18 Pro (and Pro Max, if the company continues with the current lineup). Regarding the release, we can take it easy: the launch is scheduled for the month of September (in China), so there’s still quite a bit of time to wait.