A photograph of a mysterious Xiaomi smartphone prototype dated 2024 has surfaced online. The device is equipped with only one rear camera — something unusual for the company’s current lineup. The smartphone was never released, leaving experts puzzled.

The leaked photo shows the back panel of the Xiaomi prototype, which, judging by the development timeline, is not outdated (developed no earlier than 2024). The key detail that drew attention is the presence of just one main camera, even though Xiaomi currently produces no such models.

Code names Amazon and Nebula were also noticed on the rear panel. These names are typically used by Xiaomi for products under development to conceal their actual model names.

Since Xiaomi has never released a smartphone with a single camera, XiaomiTime journalists proposed two possible explanations for its disappearance:

• Abandoned concept:The company might have scrapped the idea, deciding not to launch one-camera smartphones, as the market now demands more advanced photography features.

• Internal use:The prototype may have been intended solely for internal testing or as a development platform for more complex models.

Meanwhile, in early October, sales began in Russia for Xiaomi’s new 15T and 15T Pro series, which feature AMOLED displays, MediaTek Dimensity processors, and Leica cameras.

ORIENT