A new round of leaked photos suggests the Xiaomi 16 Pro Max may revive a bold idea: a functional screen on the back of the phone. If accurate, the design could give Xiaomi a headline-grabbing differentiator against Samsung’s next Ultra-class flagship while rekindling a concept that has struggled to find staying power.
Leaked photos hint at a second screen
Images circulating on Weibo, spotted by NotebookCheck, allegedly show a large case cutout next to a dual-camera cluster—an unusually expansive blank panel that the protective case conspicuously leaves uncovered. A pair of smaller sensor cutouts sit below, aligning with a second photo that shows the device in the wild resting on someone’s leg.
Nothing in these shots confirms a display, but the layout mirrors designs used when brands accommodate a secondary panel. If Xiaomi is indeed carving out this much real estate, it’s either housing a sizable accessory element—like a display—or introducing a novel camera module arrangement unlike its recent flagships.
Use cases beyond novelty
Rear screens have come and gone. Xiaomi’s own Mi 11 Ultra built in a 1.1-inch AMOLED on the back to double as a selfie viewfinder, a notification ticker, and an always-on clock. Nubia’s Z20 and vivo’s Nex Dual Display chased similar ideas, while Meizu’s Pro 7 and the YotaPhone line experimented with secondary panels for glanceable info. The common critique: great demo value, limited day-to-day utility.
Leakers this time claim the Xiaomi 16 Pro Max’s secondary panel could handle app notifications, transit “card swiping,” exercise tracking, and “smart AI” prompts. In markets like China, a rear screen could combine with NFC to speed metro entry or payments without flipping the phone. For creators, a back display can turn the main camera into a vlogging rig, enabling framing, touch-to-focus, and exposure controls with the best sensors available.
The difference between gimmick and game-changer will come down to execution: brightness that holds up outdoors, smart power management so the feature doesn’t torpedo battery life, and tight software hooks so popular apps can deliver meaningful glanceable experiences without duplication or lag.
Specs rumors paint a powerhouse
Beyond the possible rear screen, the 16 Pro Max is tipped to run Qualcomm’s next flagship silicon, often referred to in leaks as Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Another claim making the rounds: a massive 7,500mAh battery. For context, Xiaomi’s recent Pro models have hovered near 6,100mAh, while Samsung’s Ultra line typically sticks to 5,000mAh. If true, the extra capacity could offset any added draw from a secondary display and still improve longevity.
The camera island in the photos shows two prominent lenses and room for additional sensors. Xiaomi has been aggressive with large main sensors and long-range telephotos, so it will be interesting to see how a rear screen, if present, coexists with periscope hardware without bloating thickness or weight. Materials, cooling, and durability also come into play when you add more glass to the exterior.
What it means for Samsung’s next Ultra
Samsung’s Ultra phones compete on camera consistency, longevity, and software polish, layering in features like advanced on-device AI and S Pen support. A rear screen isn’t on Samsung’s playbook, and that’s precisely where Xiaomi could stand out on store shelves. Whether it resonates will depend on whether Xiaomi can turn the panel into a daily habit rather than a party trick.
Market dynamics favor a bold swing. Canalys and Counterpoint Research have consistently placed Xiaomi among the top three global smartphone vendors in recent years, but premium-tier breakthroughs outside China remain sporadic. A distinctive feature that meaningfully improves camera use or glanceable interactions could give Xiaomi leverage in markets where Samsung’s Ultra dominates brand mindshare.
The big question: global availability
Xiaomi’s most ambitious devices don’t always launch widely. If the 16 Pro Max arrives with a rear display, a large battery, and next-gen silicon, keeping it confined to a limited release would blunt its impact. A committed global rollout, plus software partnerships to optimize the second screen for popular apps and services, would be essential to justify the hardware.
For now, treat the rear display as an informed possibility. The leaked images fit the pattern, past Xiaomi experiments offer a blueprint, and the rumored battery suggests the company is preparing for more screen time—front and back. If Xiaomi nails the software and battery story, this could be the rare dual-display execution that doesn’t just turn heads, it changes habits.