Rumours are already swirling about Xiaomi’s next premium flagship, the Xiaomi 16 Ultra, which is expected to debut early next year. According to fresh leaks, the company might swap out Sony’s high-end camera sensor for a component from SmartSens, marking a significant shift in Xiaomi’s approach to imaging hardware.
New Camera Sensor Could Replace Sony LYT-900
Tipster Kartikey Singh shared on X that Xiaomi plans to use a SmartSens camera sensor in the 16 Ultra. If the claim holds true, the phone will likely adopt the same 1-inch SC5A0CS sensor found on the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra. This would replace the Sony LYT-900 sensor that leads the camera setup on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
For years, Xiaomi has relied heavily on sensors from Sony, Samsung, and OmniVision for its top-tier models. The rumoured move to SmartSens hints at a potential strategy shift—perhaps to stand out in the competitive flagship segment or manage costs while still delivering cutting-edge camera performance.
What We Know About the Xiaomi 15 Ultra
Launched in India this March at ₹1,09,999, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra set a high bar for mobile photography. Its Leica-branded quad camera system includes:
- A 50-megapixel Sony LYT-900 primary sensor with optical image stabilisation (OIS)
- A 50-megapixel ultrawide camera
- A 50-megapixel Sony IMX858 telephoto lens with OIS
- A 200-megapixel ISOCELL HP9 periscope telephoto camera
It also features a 32-megapixel front camera, perfect for selfies and video calls.
Under the hood, the phone runs on a Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, paired with up to 16GB LPDDR5X RAM and up to 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. The device sports a 6.73-inch WQHD+ LTPO AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, plus a large 5,410mAh battery supporting 90W wired and 80W wireless charging. An IP68 rating adds peace of mind against water and dust.
What’s Next for Xiaomi’s Flagship Line
While Xiaomi has yet to officially confirm details, leaks suggest the 16 Ultra will be powered by Qualcomm’s upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset. Alongside the potential new camera sensor, this could mean serious performance and photography upgrades over the current model.
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