Xiaomi is reportedly working on a smartphone that breaks from the current norm: a massive 7-inch display paired with a giant battery and a flagship MediaTek Dimensity 9000 chip. According to leakster Digital Chat Station, this device, unofficially dubbed the Redmi Turbo 6 Max, is expected to launch in China in January 2027.
Phablets with screens around 7 inches have almost vanished as mainstream smartphones grew to 6.7-6.9 inches, and foldables attracted size-hungry buyers. Amid this shift, a true 7-inch smartphone isn’t just a quirky outlier-it’s staking out its own territory.
If the leak holds true, the Redmi Turbo 6 Max will stand out in a crowded Android field. Samsung’s upcoming Galaxy S25 Ultra and Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max both feature 6.9-inch displays. Phones hitting the 7-inch mark in recent years have mostly been niche models, like the Honor X30 Max or the Huawei Mate 20 X from a few years back. Xiaomi could be ready to revive this nearly abandoned format.
This won’t just be a big screen for streaming videos. The 2K resolution display combined with MediaTek’s top-tier chipset suggests performance leaning toward sub-flagship or full-flagship levels. This fits Redmi’s longstanding strategy in China: offering high-powered phones at competitive prices.
Digital Chat Station has a solid track record with Chinese Android phone leaks, having accurately revealed details on Xiaomi’s 15 and 15 Pro models, as well as Realme devices and new MediaTek chips. While this isn’t official confirmation, the insider’s info is usually reliable.
Launching a 7-inch phone means Xiaomi will have to balance sheer size with usability. Big screens and huge batteries can turn a device into a brick. Yet, especially in China, demand for large-screen, long-lasting devices remains strong, fueled by mobile gaming and video consumption. This could spark renewed interest in near-tablet smartphones.
If Xiaomi pulls this off, the Redmi Turbo 6 Max might revive the phablet niche with modern specs and fresh appeal at a time when most brands stick to familiar screen sizes or foldables.