Xiaomi Draws Inspiration from Cupertino, with the New Square Selfie Camera

With the upcoming Xiaomi 18 series, Lei Jun’s company is expected to introduce various improvements to the camera system: among the rumors is a front-facing camera boosted to a whopping 100 MP. The next step should be the addition of a square front-facing camera, a solution we’ve already seen on the iPhone 17 lineup and that could gain traction in the Android landscape as well.

Xiaomi Joins the Ranks of Chinese Manufacturers Interested in the New Square Front Cameras

The rumor comes from leaker Digital Chat Station: Xiaomi is considering a square front-facing camera, but for now it’s still an embryonic novelty. The debut is expected during the first half of 2027, yet the identity of the smartphone that will use the new sensor remains unknown.

Based on what was leaked previously, Xiaomi 18 Ultra would not be in development: the role of flagship Camera Phone would go to the 18 Pro Max, with international debut. Still, the final word always lies with the company, so there’s nothing left but to wait and see how things evolve.

The square sensor (with a 1:1 aspect ratio) was introduced by Apple with the front-facing camera of the iPhone 17 lineup. It represents a radical shift compared to the traditional rectangular sensors (in 4:3 or 16:9 format) used on smartphones.

Traditional rectangular sensors force you to physically rotate the phone to switch from a vertical to a horizontal shot. The square module overcomes this limit by capturing more visual information in all directions at once.

In essence, it allows moving from a vertical shot (portrait) to a horizontal one (panorama) directly via software, without moving or rotating the iPhone. All of this happens by capturing more space at the edges, thus benefiting from a wider field of view.

Cupertino has launched the latest models with this novelty, together with the Center Stage, a feature that OPPO could also adopt.