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| Xiaomi's now-canceled ultra-thin smartphone would have challenged the Galaxy S25 Edge (pictured). |
The pursuit of smartphone thinness might have finally hit a wall. In 2025, a wave of razor-thin handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, Apple iPhone Air, Motorola Edge 70, and Honor Magic 8 Pro Air hit the market. But while the tech world was marveling at these slim designs, it turns out that one of the biggest names in the industry, Xiaomi, was working on its own challenger behind the scenes. That device, however, never saw the light of day. Now, a new leak has revealed exactly what we missed out on.
"We Were Close to Mass Production"
The clearest confirmation that Xiaomi was deep into development on an ultra-thin phone comes directly from the company's own top brass. Earlier this year, during a live broadcast on May 16th, Xiaomi Group President Lu Weibing was asked directly why the company hadn't launched a competitor to the iPhone Air. He had a surprisingly candid answer: they had, and they almost released it.
According to Mr. Weibing, Xiaomi had started development and even got close to mass production. However, the engineering team encountered a major hurdle. In order to achieve the super-slim form factor, the phone's battery life and overall performance would have to take a significant hit. Rather than compromise the user experience and release a device that wasn't up to their standards, the leadership made the tough call to scrap the entire project right before it was set to launch.
Unpacking the ‘Xiaomi Air’ Prototype
Following the CEO's comments, a popular leak source known as Digital Chat Station went a step further by sharing the specific specifications of the cancelled engineering prototype.
According to the leak, the device—unofficially referred to as the Xiaomi Air—was designed to be a true powerhouse, despite its tiny waistline. At its heart was a flagship-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, paired with a 6.59-inch display featuring a sharp 1.5K (2712 x 1220) resolution.
Photography was also a priority. The back of the phone would have housed a dual-camera setup, with the main shooter boasting a massive 200-megapixel sensor.
How Thin Was It Going to Be?
The leak provided some tantalizing clues regarding the device's physical dimensions, though in typical teaser fashion, it left a bit to the imagination. Digital Chat Station suggested that both the battery capacity and the phone’s thickness "begin with a 5."
This translates to a capacity comfortably sitting between 5,000mAh and 5,999mAh—actually quite respectable for a phone this slim. More importantly, the thickness is measured at less than 6.0mm. For context, the Galaxy S25 Edge measures 5.8mm thick while the iPhone Air sits at 5.6mm. The Xiaomi Air would have been right in the same weight class.
- Check out the original leak post on Digital Chat Station's Weibo.
- For further reading on the ITHome report, click here.
What is the Future of Thin?
The cancellation of the Xiaomi Air is a fascinating case study. It proves that even with cutting-edge flagship components, the laws of physics are hard to beat. Fitting a high-performance chip and a large battery into a chassis under 6mm thick creates significant engineering trade-offs regarding heat dissipation and power efficiency—trade-offs that Xiaomi clearly wasn't willing to make.
For now, the "Xiaomi Air" remains a "what if" story in the company's history. As for Apple, despite the challenges, rumors suggest they are already working on a follow-up to the iPhone Air, potentially announcing it as early as this year. The race to create the thinnest flagship might be on hold for some, but it certainly isn't over yet.
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| The Galaxy S25 Edge was one of the ultra-thin smartphones released in 2025. |
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| The iPhone Air is expected to get a successor. |