Xiaomi could launch phone with 200MP zoom camera before Samsung

In 2021, Samsung launched the ISOCELL HP1, the world’s first 200MP camera sensor for mobile devices. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the South Korean tech giant who used this camera first. It was Motorola, equipping the sensor in the X30 Pro for the primary camera.

Since then, many brands have used Samsung’s 200MP sensors in their smartphones as primary cameras. However, in May last year, Vivo used Samsung’s 200MP camera behind a periscope lens, making it the first device to do so. Once again, the South Korean tech giant wasn’t first at equipping its camera sensors the way the Chinese brand did.

Fortunately, yesterday we learned that Samsung will use one of its 200MP sensors as a periscope camera on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Sadly for Samsung fans, before that happens, we might see another device using Samsung’s 200MP camera behind a periscope lens.

Xiaomi 15 Ultra is coming this February with Samsung's 200MP zoom camera

According to various leaks, Xiaomi’s upcoming flagship phone, the Xiaomi 15 Ultra, will use Samsung’s 200MP sensor for the periscope camera. That should make it the third device to do so, with the first and second being the Vivo X100 Ultra and the Vivo X200 Pro respectively. Xiaomi 15 Ultra will be a direct rival to the Galaxy S25 Ultra.

Xiaomi’s Partner and President, Lu Weibing, has confirmed that the brand will launch the Xiaomi 15 Ultra after the next Chinese New Year, which falls on 29 January 2025. He also said that the brand will make the phone available globally, which will make things even tougher for Samsung and the Gaalxy S25 lineup.