Xiaomi 16 design revealed ahead of schedule in early leaked images

There have been rumours for months that Xiaomi will be joining Apple this year in redesigning its flagship smartphones. For context, the alleged designs of the iPhone 17 series are already well-known. Conversely, recent Xiaomi 16-related leaks have focused on potential hardware changes from the Xiaomi 15 (curr. $1,069 on Amazon).

Now, Majin Bu has provided a first look at the Xiaomi 16 based on a leaked CAD image. Seemingly, the triple camera layout of the Xiaomi 15 will return, as will a squircle camera housing. Leica camera branding has been moved to the latter's lower right corner though, while the fake fourth lens on the Xiaomi 15 has been removed altogether. Conversely, the LED flash remains situated to the right within the main area of the Xiaomi 16's back panel.

The render image also points to a dual-tone design, just like early iPhone 17 series rumours. Conversely, the darker area could actually be a cut-out for a wireless charging coil that will be covered on retail devices. Either way, the Xiaomi 16 may arrive in the wake of the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro towards the end of September. Alongside the Xiaomi 16 Pro, the Xiaomi 16 should be one of the first devices to launch with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset.