Is this the Mi Note 11? Xiaomi could be readying phone with 12x optical zoom

The Xiaomi Mi Note 10 was one of the more feature-packed phones in the last 12 months, offering two zoom lenses, a 108MP main camera, and a big battery.

Now, tipster Xiaomishka reports that Xiaomi is working on a phone codenamed “CAS” that could be the Mi CC10 Pro or Mi Note 11. And it’s reportedly packing similarly impressive camera specs.

For starters, the leaker says the Xiaomi phone will offer a 12x optical zoom periscope camera, with 120x digital zoom. HUAWEI’s P40 Pro Plus currently offers a 10x optical zoom camera, so Xiaomi’s effort could be more impressive on paper. But it’s also worth noting the firm previously used a 3.7x 8MP camera and cropped in to give what it initially branded as 5x optical zoom on the Mi Note 10. It’s therefore entirely possible that Xiaomi is doing something similar here with this periscope camera if this leak is correct.

Furthermore, Samsung’s Galaxy S20 Ultra shows us that 100x digital zoom is pretty useless. So we’d expect 120x digital zoom to be similarly disappointing if Xiaomi adopts it.

Xiaomishka also reports that the phone will pack a 108MP main camera with a Samsung HM2 camera sensor. The firm used the HMX camera sensor for the Mi Note 10 and Mi 10 series, while the S20 Ultra used the HM1 sensor that was capable of nona-binning.

The tipster suggests that this could be the Xiaomi Mi CC10 Pro, being a follow-up to the Mi CC9 Pro. The latter phone is known as the Mi Note 10 in global markets, so it’s possible the Mi CC10 Pro could be the Mi Note 11. Hopefully it comes in at a similar price to the previous model if it’s indeed a successor, with the Mi Note 10 retailing for ~$440.

Finally, the leaker says the new Xiaomi device will pack an unannounced Snapdragon 775G chipset, 5G, and NFC, and will launch in July. That seems like an awfully quick turnaround time between generations, spanning eight months.

Looking for more Xiaomi-related coverage? Then check out our stories in the list below.

• Xiaomi Mi Band 5: Everything we know and what we want to see
• Redmi Note 9 Pro review: Great value, even against strong competition
• These are the coolest new features coming to MIUI 12
• Xiaomi is climbing the price ladder in India — here’s why
• Here’s why the Redmi 10X series should be on your radar