Xiaomi 16: Everything known about this upcoming phone

The Xiaomi 16 series is right around the corner, and going by early leaks and reports, it’s shaping up to be one of the more well-rounded Android launches of the year. Xiaomi is leaning into what it does best – refined design, powerful hardware, and a strong emphasis on camera performance.

With upgraded imaging hardware, a seriously large battery, and the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chip under the hood, the Xiaomi 16 looks like a thoughtful evolution rather than a radical reinvention. And for Indian buyers, the good news is that the standard Xiaomi 16 is expected to launch in the country, bringing flagship-grade specs to a wider audience at a price that doesn’t necessitate selling a kidney!

Here’s a closer look at everything known so far about the Xiaomi 16 series.

Xiaomi 16: Everything you need to know

Early CAD renders suggest Xiaomi is sticking with a sleek, premium design language. The Xiaomi 16 is expected to have flat sides softened by subtly curved edges, and a rectangular camera module housing a triple rear camera array.

You can also expect a 6.32 to 6.36-inch display on the Xiaomi 16, possibly AMOLED. This continues Xiaomi’s trend of compact flagships with big spec sheets. There’s no official word on refresh rate or resolution just yet, but a smooth 120Hz panel is pretty much a given in 2025.

Xiaomi 16 will be among the first devices to debut the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2, the unofficial but widely accepted name for the next-gen flagship chip from Qualcomm. This new SoC will likely be announced at the Snapdragon Summit in September, and Xiaomi’s long-standing partnership with Qualcomm means it’ll get early dibs.

Alongside this, the phone is tipped to feature a massive 6,800mAh battery; a huge leap over the 5,240mAh unit in the Xiaomi 15. That’s paired with 100W fast charging, making this possibly the best battery phone in its weight class.

Another standout detail? An IP69 rating, up from IP68 on the Xiaomi 15. That means better protection against dust, high-pressure water jets, and more. For anyone living life on the go (or just prone to spills), this could be a Godsend.

ALSO READ: Xiaomi 15 Ultra first impressions

For cameras, you’re looking at a 50MP triple-camera setup, likely retaining the versatile main + ultra-wide + telephoto formula Xiaomi’s been refining. Details are sparse, but don’t expect a downgrade from the Xiaomi 15’s camera system. This is the company’s mainstream flagship, after all.

Unlike the Pro, the Xiaomi 16 will launch in India, making it a potentially hot contender in the country’s premium Android space. With that battery, that chip, and the IP69 durability, it’s shaping up to be a beast.

Xiaomi 16 Pro: Everything you need to know

Bigger. Better. But (probably) not yours. Much like the Xiaomi 15 Pro, the Xiaomi 16 Pro is likely to be a China-exclusive, which means it won’t be showing up in the Indian market. The IMEI database shows only region-locked model numbers, and, sadly, there’s been no indication of a global launch.

It’s unfortunate, because the leaked specs look amazing. The Xiaomi 16 Pro could feature a 6.85-inch LTPO OLED display with 2K resolution and 120Hz refresh rate. That’s flagship-level screen tech that could rival Samsung’s Ultra series or the Pixel Pro XL lineup. Expect ultra-thin bezels and a very clean front, although exact design renders haven’t leaked in full yet.

The Pro’s camera setup may see some serious upgrades, most notably, a new Sony LYTIA sensor for the telephoto lens. Rumours hint at a larger sensor with a wider aperture and next-gen lens system, meaning the periscope zoom could offer sharper, clearer shots even in low light. It could come close to the performance of the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, which is saying something!

Like its younger sibling, the Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 will power the Xiaomi 16 Pro, offering top-tier performance across gaming, AI, and multitasking. Xiaomi isn’t messing with success here, it’s leveraging Qualcomm’s might to keep its flagships at the bleeding edge.

Specific battery figures for the Pro haven’t been confirmed, but with the base variant getting a 6,800mAh cell, it’s fair to expect something similar or better. Fast charging is expected to stay at 100W or higher, depending on how Xiaomi splits its fast-charging tiers.

Notably, the Pro won’t debut Xiaomi’s new custom in-house Xring chip, that’s being saved for the Xiaomi 16S Pro and Xiaomi 16 Ultra, expected to launch later. But this choice underscores Xiaomi’s strategy – Qualcomm for global (or global-friendly) flagships, and Xring for China-first experiments in performance and power efficiency.

India launch dates or pricing details for both phones are unknown so far but stay tuned to Unboxed by Croma for the latest updates.