Xiaomi MIX 5 won’t happen: is this the end of the MIX series?

Xiaomi veterans have a clear memory of the wonders of the MIX series, the brand’s experimental lineup led by Lei Jun. It is a family of smartphones characterized by a unique design and style, which culminated in the first (and only) brand phone equipped with a camera under the display.

There have long been rumors about the return of the series, but now a well-known Chinese insider seems to lay the matter to rest: Xiaomi MIX 5 won’t happen and there is no model in development with this name.

No Xiaomi MIX 5 on the horizon: the Chinese company has finished its experimental lineup

The denial comes from Digital Chat Station, an insider who often offers clues and details about the brand’s news. In February, the rumors of a possible Xiaomi MIX 5 returned, leveraging two important features: on the security front, the device was supposed to introduce 3D face unlock under the display – an evolution that Cupertino would also aim for with its Face ID.

The other feature comes from the Xiaomi prototype with a magnetic lens system seen at the MWC 2025, decidedly suitable for an experimental MIX series phone.

Despite the rumors, the insider now seems to definitively close the matter: there is no Xiaomi MIX 5 in development and the flagship device leaked with the internal code Q5 would not be tied to the MIX series, but to one of the top models of the upcoming Xiaomi 18 family.

Will the experimental future lie in the 18 series?

The very first Mi MIX made us dream with a nearly bezel-less display on three sides, a design that remains to this day. The fourth chapter, Xiaomi MIX 4, debuted with a selfie camera under the display but since then (we’re talking 2021) no new model has arrived.

The MIX range has been associated with the folding MIX Fold but on this front there is also bad news: MIX Fold 5 would have been canceled, or rather, the new flagship foldable should debut as Xiaomi 17 Fold.

This means the MIX name is destined to disappear and that the Chinese manufacturer’s futuristic phones will be absorbed into the regular series. Not surprisingly Xiaomi 17 Pro and Pro Max mount rear displays, an aesthetic and functional choice that we could define as experimental (compared to the current landscape) and that will also return with the next Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max.