Leaks suggest Xiaomi will skip the 19 series and launch Xiaomi 20 to align with iPhone 20 branding. We unpack the strategy and what it means for rivals.
© A. Krivonosov
Xiaomi is gearing up to surprise the market again—this time not with specs, but with a name. According to new leaks, the company plans to skip the Xiaomi 19 series and move straight to Xiaomi 20, breaking with its usual flagship numbering.
At first glance that might seem minor, but in the smartphone world model names often carry symbolic weight. Here, the move appears driven less by superstition—19 holds no negative meaning in China—and more by marketing. The company is looking to align its flagship cycle with a future iPhone 20 lineup, rumored to arrive in 2027 to mark the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. Framed this way, Xiaomi invites a direct comparison with Apple, positioning itself not as a follower but as a peer.
This playbook isn’t new for the brand. Earlier, Xiaomi used the “Pro Max” label in the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, effectively mirroring the iPhone lineup structure. Now, skipping 19 becomes another step toward building that parallel image; the Xiaomi 20 versus iPhone 20 framing reads like a strong marketing gambit, one that can draw attention and reinforce the perception of Xiaomi as a global leader.
The symbolism lines up with a milestone in the company’s story. By 2027, Xiaomi will enter its third decade, closing out a phase of rapid growth and a shift toward the premium tier. A new flagship cycle could reflect that transformation: a refreshed design, improved AI-powered cameras, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 7 chip, and the company’s HyperOS 5 would lay the groundwork for a new level of competition with Apple and Samsung.
If the rumors hold, the Xiaomi 20 series would be more than the next step in the line—it would signal an ambition to stake a claim as a technology leader for the decade ahead.