Xiaomi don officially launch di Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max for China, and na dem be first phones to carry Qualcomm new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips. Di Xiaomi 18 Pro na di first Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 phone on di market, while di Xiaomi 18 Pro Max claim dibs on di 8 Elite Extreme variant. Di launch happen just some hours after Qualcomm announce di chips, according to report.
Outside di new flagship chips, di Xiaomi 18 Pro series bring bigger batteries, hardware-level privacy displays, updated telephoto cameras, and e still keep di rear screens from dia predecessors. Xiaomi add extra functionality with new AI capabilities. Users go now fit create dia own rear-screen mini apps with help from Xiaomi Xiao AI assistant. Xiaomi show examples like reminder app for drinking water, egg cooking timer, and recipe recommendations mini app. Di rear panel also go allow users create custom AI wallpapers, display widgets and interact with Xiao AI assistant. More importantly, e be neat viewfinder for di triple rear cameras.
Camera-wise, both phones get identical triple lens setups. There’s 23mm equivalent 200MP main shooter, Light Hunter 960, wey come in at 1/1.28-inch size. E join with 75mm equivalent 200MP periscope telephoto with 1/1.56-inch size and 3.2x optical zoom. Di third module na 50MP ultrawide lens wey cover 102-degree field of view.
For main displays, Xiaomi dey use LTPO AMOLEDs with 2K resolution and variable 1-120Hz refresh rate on both models. Di one on 18 Pro now measure 6.4-inches while 18 Pro Max still 6.9-inches. Both panels rated at 4,000nits peak brightness and feature Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3 protection. Xiaomi implement hardware-level privacy screens this time around, which restrict peeping eyes from seeing wetin dey your screen when dem look from angle. Di implementation on Xiaomi 18 Pro series more capable than di one on Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, as e allow location-based triggers and block notifications, floating windows and split-view app configurations. Di feature also easily accessible via dedicated AI button on left-hand side.
Battery and charging: Both phones get modest battery upgrades over dia predecessors. Di 18 Pro features 7,000mAh cell, 11% larger, while 18 Pro Max packs 8,500mAh cell, 13% larger. Both phones feature 100W wired, 50W wireless and 27W reverse wireless charging. Dem also boot Xiaomi HyperOS 4 and feature IP69 ingress protection. Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max come in black, white, pink and blue as standard. There’s special edition red variant wey features transparent back elements. Pricing starts at CNY 5,999, around $895, for 18 Pro and CNY 6,999, around $1,045, for 18 Pro Max in dia 12/256GB configurations. Xiaomi confirm global launch go follow later this year. Most important bit be say Xiaomi confirm global launch of dis pro series later this year, which be first and great news.
Meanwhile, for India, Xiaomi dey reshuffle im flagship smartphone strategy. Company now expected to bring only Xiaomi 18 Pro to di country later this year. Di information come from industry insider Yogesh Brar, who tell us say Xiaomi don change earlier launch plans for Indian market due to current dwindling market conditions. According to di tip, Xiaomi previously consider launching both Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max for India. Those plans don change now, and only Xiaomi 18 Pro expected to make im way to di country this year. Di regular Xiaomi 18 and top-end Xiaomi 18 Pro Max also appear to don drop from India roadmap. Global markets, however, still expected to receive both Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max. Di global launch planned for later this year, while Xiaomi 18 Pro could arrive in India by December. Di move suggest Xiaomi dey look to streamline im premium smartphone portfolio for India instead of bringing every model from Xiaomi 18 series.
Xiaomi next major flagship launch after Xiaomi 18 Pro go be Xiaomi 18T. According to Brar, di smartphone currently expected to launch in India sometime between March and April next year. Di launch go coincide with long rumoured iPhone 18 launch. If these plans hold, Xiaomi premium lineup for India could effectively revolve around just two models, Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18T.
Xiaomi 18 Pro dey shape up to be compact but heavily-specced flagship. E get 6.4-inch flat LTPO OLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, alongside 2.66-inch secondary OLED screen on back. Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset dey power di device, paired with LPDDR5X RAM and UFS 4.1 storage. Cameras na another major highlight, with Leica-branded setup comprising 200MP primary camera, 200MP periscope telephoto camera and 50MP ultrawide sensor. A 50MP camera dey handle selfies. Di phone pack 6,000mAh battery with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. Other features include Wi-Fi 7, UWB, USB 3.2 Gen 1, independent AI button, stereo speakers and IP66, IP68 and IP69 protection. Xiaomi 18 Pro run Android 17-based Surge OS 4 with Xiaomi Super AI 2.0 features.
