Update

The MIUI 11 source code has also revealed that Xiaomi is developing a smartphone with 120 Hz refresh rate display. A couple of screenshots of the same have been listed below. As of now, it cannot be confirmed whether this handset will be same as the one with 5X telephoto zoom. However, taking into consideration that both these features will first be seen on a high-end device, it wont be wrong to assume that this will indeed be the same handset.

In comparison to a 60 Hz rate display seen on most modern handsets, a smartphone with a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate provides for a much more fluid viewing experience. Users who have used display panels with a higher refresh rate report to have a laggy experience when switching back to standard panels. A couple of handsets that are equipped with such displays include Asus ROG Phone 2, OnePlus 7 Pro, OnePlus 7T lineup, Oppo Reno Ace. Besides the upcoming Pixel 4 Lineup and the Realme XT Pro have been leaked to have a higher refresh rate display. Noteworthy, out of all the devices listed above, the only smartphone with a 120 Hz refresh rate display is the ROG Phone 2.

All in all, it is highly likely that Xiaomi embraces this technology in one of its upcoming smartphones.

Original Story

Last month, Xiaomi unveiled the latest version of its custom Android skin which is dubbed MIUI 11. While going through its source code, a member of team XDA has discovered the keyword “Tele 5X” and keyword “ultra tele” which is accompanied by description “use 50X zoom to capture distant objects in greater detail”. These findings suggest Xiaomi is developing a smartphone with 5X optical zoom and 50X digital zoom, making it the third Chinese company to do so.

Huawei P30 Pro featured
Huawei P30 Pro with 50X zoom support

Earlier this year, Huawei launched the photography centric P30 Pro which is the first handset to support 5X optical zoom and 50X digital zoom. The device is able to attain this remarkable level zoom with the help of a periscopic camera module. Soon after its launch, Oppo also unveiled the Reno 10x that is equipped with a similar periscopic camera sensor and that also supports 5X optical zoom and 50X digital zoom.

Coming back to the source code of MIUI 11, it was previously revealed that Xiaomi is working on a smartphone that will be able to capture 8K videos at 30fps. Presumably, this may be the same device that will support the remarkable zoom capabilities we had previously talked about.

OPPO Reno vs Huawei P30 Pro-1
OPPO Reno vs Huawei P30 Pro

Unfortunately, any details except for the existence of such a Xiaomi smartphone are currently unavailable. Therefore, it is hard to divulge whether Xiaomi will also implement the periscopic module on its smartphone or come up with its very own piece of technology. Nonetheless, it could incorporate the 108 MP Samsung made sensor which is also found on the Mi Mix Alpha. The extremely high resolution of this sensor would allow the details to be preserved even when shooting with 8X digital zoom.

The implementation of the technology is assumed to be fairly simple as the hurdles of developing the components as already been overcome by Oppo and Huawei, therefore, Xiaomi could launch a device with this technology in the coming months. However, we will have to wait until an official announcement is made.

(via)