Come 2026, the phone industry will meet the Galaxy S26 and the iPhone 18 – unless both Samsung and Apple go with different monikers – and these two flagships will have to deal with a phone that could arrive with a mind-boggling battery.
It’s the Xiaomi 16 that is rumored to pack a 7,000 mAh battery next year, when it materializes. The popular Weibo (a large Chinese social media platform) tipster by the nickname of Smart Pikachu is the one who predicts it:
Image source – Weibo
In these current times of ours, rumors about a phone with such a massive battery is certainly not that much of a surprise. After all, Honor might be unveiling a handset with a massive 8,000 mAh capacity cell under the hood. We’re now entering Android’s Big Battery Era, as my colleague Alan underscored the other day.
Some tipsters say Android flagships from the recent future could reach battery capacities of up to 7,500 mAh. The Red Magic 10 Pro, for example, already features a 7,050 mAh battery, and rumors suggest the OnePlus 14 may come with a 7000 mAh battery (the OnePlus 13 has a 6,000 mAh cell).
What’s notable about the possibility of the Xiaomi 16 to pack a 7,000 mAh battery is that the phone could be “compact”, at least in the flagship category… and if Xiaomi keeps the dimensions of the Xiaomi 15, a 6.36-inch phone.
Battery technology advancements are super cool: it’s not just owners of tile-sized phones that can enjoy superb battery life. Those among us who cherish compact devices will not be left behind, and this is the kind of news that gives a nice start to the week.
Xiaomi 16 is still too ahead in time to be discussed in detail, but we’re about to meet another compact flagship with a massive battery real soon: the OnePlus 13T. This flagship killer is expected to launch with a 6,200 mAh battery (for reference, the Galaxy S25 Ultra packs a 5,000 mAh capacity cell) and the maxed-out Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset.
It’s also rumored to be under 189 grams, thanks to its “Glacier battery”, developed with battery giant CATL a year ago. Designed to stay cool under pressure, the cell technology helps improve both battery life and performance. Compact phones often overheat during gaming while charging, leading to a poor experience, so keeping the battery cool is crucial.
