Xiaomi has now launched its newest flagship series in China. The premium lineup consists of two phones, which are the base Pro model and the Pro Max variant. The model comes with the famous rear display that first made its appearance on the China-exclusive Xiaomi 17 Pro. However, unlike that particular model, reports say that the lineup will debut globally, Malaysia included.
On the surface, these phones may seem like your typical annual smartphone release. However, the launch of the Xiaomi 18 Pro phones is more significant than you realise, as they are the first phones to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipsets. The phone is on display at the Snapdragon Summit 2026 in Maui, Hawaii.
Displays
Diving into its specs, Xiaomi has equipped both phones with an LTPO AMOLED display with a 2K resolution and a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz. Both screens have a peak brightness of 4,000 nits and come with the company’s own Dragon Crystal Glass 3 protection. The main difference between these two is the size; the 18 Pro’s screen comes in at 6.4 inches, while the Pro Max sibling is slightly longer, measuring in at 6.9 inches.
If you may recall, there have been reports claiming that the Chinese tech giant was working on its own hardware-level privacy display. Turns out they were true, and they have been fully implemented into the new Xiaomi 18 Pro series. However, these displays appear to be a tad more capable than the ones found on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. For starters, these panels feature location-based triggers and block out notifications and even work with floating window and split-view app layouts. Users can even access it via a dedicated AI button on the side of the device.
One significant feature that was carried over to the new phones from its predecessor is the rear display. The rear panel on the 18 Pro comes in at 2.7 inches, featuring a 596 x 912 resolution, up to a 120Hz refresh rate, and has a peak brightness of 4,000 nits. The Pro Max model is relatively the same, save for the fact that it comes in 2.9 inches with a resolution of 596 x 976.
Xiaomi has given the rear panel on both phones some added functionality as well as some AI capabilities. According to some reports, users will be able to create their own rear-screen mini apps with the company’s own Xiao AI assistant.
These apps can range from reminder apps to cooking timers and more. The secondary screen will also enable users to create custom AI wallpapers, display widgets, interact with the AI assistant, and even work as a viewfinder for the triple rear cameras (more on that later).
Internal Specs
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 18 Pro carries the aforementioned Snapdragon SoC, but the Pro Max model carries the 8 Elite Gen 6 Extreme variant. Both phones can have up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage.
In terms of batteries, the 18 Pro comes with a 7,000mAh battery, while the 18 Pro Max has an 8,500mAh cell. Both support 100W wired, 50W wireless, and 27W reverse wireless charging. As for software, it runs on Xiaomi HyperOS 4.
Camera
Now for the imaging system. Regardless of the model consumers choose, they will be greeted by the same triple camera array. The whole affair is led by a 200MP main camera with a 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/1.67 aperture, and OIS. Alongside it is a 200MP periscope telephoto lens with a 1/1.56-inch sensor and features a 3.2x optical zoom. The third module is a 50MP ultrawide sensor that has a 102-degree field of view. On the flip side, the phone has a 50MP selfie camera tucked away in a punch-hole cutout.
Pricing And Availability
As mentioned earlier, Xiaomi’s flagship series is now available in China. The 18 Pro starts at CNY5,999, while the 18 Pro Max starts from CNY6,999. There are five different colourways to choose from: black, white, pink, blue, and a special edition transparent red.
According to GSMArena, Xiaomi has confirmed that the phones are slated for a global launch later this year. WISER.MY adds that Malaysia is included in this global launch. At the time of writing we could not find the smartphone series listed in the organisation’s database. We will keep a close eye on the series and report on any developments.
