Xiaomi May Be Working On A Wide-Screen Smartphone: How Will It Be Different

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-Divyanshi Sharma

Published: Thursday,
November 5, 2026, 16:50 [IST]

Smartphone displays have been getting taller for years but have you ever stopped to think what happens when a phone maker decided to go in the opposite direction? Xiaomi could be doing exactly that. A new leak suggests that the company is testing a wide-screen smartphone that looks quite different from the usual tall and narrow phones we see today. The device could also get a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Read on to know more.

Xiaomi could be testing a phone with a 16:10 or 16:9 display

According to tipster Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi is reportedly experimenting with a new candybar-style smartphone that features a much wider display than conventional phones. The screen is tipped to have a 16:10 or 16:9 aspect ratio, giving the device a noticeably different shape.

For context, most smartphones today use taller displays that offer more vertical space for scrolling through apps, websites and social media feeds. Xiaomi’s rumoured design could shift some of that space horizontally instead.

This could make certain everyday activities more comfortable. Reading documents, browsing websites and typing with both hands could benefit from the wider screen. It could also offer more room for split-screen multitasking, allowing users to work with two apps side by side without needing a foldable phone.

Watching videos could be another advantage, as the wider display would be better suited to conventional 16:9 content. The overall experience could be closer to using a compact tablet than a traditional smartphone.

The phone could get a side-mounted fingerprint sensor

The leak also points towards a side-mounted fingerprint sensor. Xiaomi could integrate it into the power button, allowing users to unlock the phone using their thumb while holding the device.

This is an interesting choice, considering the wider body of the rumoured smartphone. However, the tipster has not shared further details about the phone’s design, including its dimensions or how thick it could be.

The concept appears to take inspiration from the wider displays found on large foldable smartphones, but Xiaomi could be bringing that screen format to a regular slab-style device. This would mean users could get a broader display without having to deal with a folding mechanism or a visible crease.

Xiaomi’s wide-screen smartphone: What else do we know?

Not much else is known about the rumoured device at the moment. The leak does not mention its processor, camera specifications, battery capacity or software features. Xiaomi has also not officially confirmed that it is developing such a smartphone.

The device is reportedly still in the prototype and testing stage, which means there is no confirmed launch timeline either. If Xiaomi decides to take the project forward, China could be among the first markets to receive it. However, there is no confirmation of an India launch.

For now, the idea of a wider smartphone remains an interesting possibility rather than an upcoming product announcement. Whether this design catches on will depend on how Xiaomi balances the larger screen with everyday comfort and portability.