The launch of the Xiaomi 15 series earlier this week marked the arrival of the company’s latest flagship smartphones in global markets, with the Indian release scheduled for March 11. While consumers are still getting accustomed to these new devices, attention is already shifting toward the next iteration of Xiaomi’s premium phones—the Xiaomi 16 series. According to TF Securities International analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the upcoming Xiaomi 16 Pro, set to launch at the end of 2025, will feature a new and innovative component aimed at improving its performance. This component, a 3D-printed metal mid-frame, is expected to reduce the phone’s weight while enhancing thermal efficiency.
Kuo’s recent comments shed light on Xiaomi’s commitment to incorporating cutting-edge manufacturing techniques to improve smartphone design and functionality. The use of 3D printing in phone manufacturing is becoming more common as it allows for greater precision, faster production times, and the ability to create more complex and lightweight components. In the case of the Xiaomi 16 Pro, the new metal mid-frame is expected to help address two critical factors: the phone’s overall weight and its ability to manage heat. Lighter devices are always in demand, especially as smartphones continue to grow in size and screen quality, and managing heat is essential for maintaining performance in high-end devices.
The collaboration with Chinese supplier Bright Laser Technologies (BLT) will play a key role in the development of the Xiaomi 16 Pro’s metal mid-frame. While the current Xiaomi 15 Pro uses a traditional metal frame, the new 3D-printed frame is expected to offer superior strength-to-weight ratio and better heat dissipation. The ability to use 3D printing for creating such components could also allow for more design flexibility, enabling Xiaomi to experiment with unique shapes and structures that were previously difficult or impossible to achieve using traditional manufacturing methods.
This move by Xiaomi reflects a broader trend in the smartphone industry, where manufacturers are increasingly adopting 3D printing technologies to improve the functionality and durability of their devices. As more companies look for ways to optimize performance and create sleeker, lighter designs, innovations like the 3D-printed metal mid-frame could become a standard in future flagship smartphones. For now, the Xiaomi 16 Pro promises to be an exciting advancement in mobile technology, with its focus on weight reduction and improved thermal management setting a new benchmark for premium devices.
