Xiaomi has officially unveiled the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max in China, and both phones are set to go global soon. They pair Qualcomm's newest Snapdragon chips with Leica-tuned 200 MP cameras, a hardware privacy display, huge silicon-carbon batteries and, once again, a small second screen on the back. Here's everything we know about the specs, prices and when the new Pro models should arrive in Europe and the US.
When will the Xiaomi 18 Pro launch globally?
The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max were announced in China on September 23, 2026, and Xiaomi has confirmed that the series will be sold internationally, which wasn't the case with last year's Xiaomi 17 Pro.
According to reports from the Chinese press, Xiaomi president Lu Weibing said the international launch is planned for November, with Europe, the Americas and the Middle East among the target markets. Xiaomi hasn't announced an exact date yet, so it's worth treating November as the plan rather than a promise, especially since the regular Xiaomi 17 only launched globally in late February.
Leaked European information gives us a first idea of what to expect. According to a YTechB report based on EU energy labels, the global versions may get noticeably smaller batteries: about 6,000 mAh for the 18 Pro and 7,050 mAh for the Pro Max, compared with 7,000 and 8,500 mAh in China.
The same leak points to European prices of €1,449 for the 18 Pro with 256 GB and €1,849 for the Pro Max with 512 GB. None of this is official yet, but if it's accurate, the new Pro models will cost a lot more than the Xiaomi 17, which started at €999.
Xiaomi 18 Pro: flagship power in a smaller body
The Xiaomi 18 Pro is the more compact of the two, with a 6.4-inch LTPO AMOLED display that runs at 1–120 Hz, has a sharp 2K resolution and reaches up to 4,000 nits of peak brightness. On the back, next to the cameras, there's a 2.7-inch secondary display that can show widgets, notifications and AI-generated mini apps, and also works as a viewfinder, so you can take selfies with the main cameras instead of the front one. We cover that feature in more detail in our article about how the Xiaomi 18 Pro's rear display can create its own AI apps.
Inside, the 18 Pro uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 with 12 or 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB of UFS 4.1 storage. The Chinese version has a 7,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery, which is 11% bigger than its predecessor's, with 100 W wired, 50 W wireless and 27 W reverse wireless charging. It runs HyperOS 4, uses Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3 on the front and is rated IP69 for dust and water resistance.
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: bigger screen, bigger battery
The Pro Max takes the opposite approach. It has a 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED display with the same 1–120 Hz refresh rate and 4,000-nit peak brightness, a larger 2.9-inch rear screen, and the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. That gives Xiaomi a clearer difference between the two models than in previous years, when the bigger phone was mostly just bigger.
The headline feature is the battery. With 8,500 mAh in the Chinese model, the Pro Max has one of the largest batteries in any mainstream flagship, and it still supports 100 W wired and 50 W wireless charging.
Fast charging is convenient, but heat is what wears a battery down over time, so our guide on how to charge your phone properly and make the battery last longer is worth a look if you're planning to keep a phone like this for several years.
Privacy display and AI button
Both phones get a new hardware privacy display, similar to the one Samsung introduced on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. When it's turned on, the screen limits how much people next to you can see from an angle.
Xiaomi's version is quite flexible: you can trigger it with a dedicated AI button on the left side, the front camera can switch it on automatically when it detects someone looking over your shoulder, and it can turn on by itself in places you choose, like public transport. It can also hide notifications, floating windows and split-screen apps.
Cameras: two 200 MP sensors on both models
Unlike some rivals, Xiaomi gives both Pro models the same Leica-tuned camera system. It includes a 200 MP main camera with a large 1/1.28-inch Light Hunter 960 sensor, a 200 MP periscope telephoto camera with 3.2x optical zoom, and a 50 MP ultrawide camera with a 102-degree field of view.
Combined with the rear display for framing, it's an interesting setup for creators who want to film themselves with the best cameras on the phone. Just keep in mind that 200 MP photos and high-resolution video fill up storage quickly, so it's worth thinking about where to store photos from your phone before you start shooting.
Xiaomi 18 Pro vs 18 Pro Max: key differences
Here's how the two models compare, based on the Chinese launch versions:
| Xiaomi 18 Pro | Xiaomi 18 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Main display | 6.4-inch LTPO AMOLED, 2K, 1–120 Hz | 6.9-inch LTPO AMOLED, 2K, 1–120 Hz |
| Rear display | 2.7 inches, 120 Hz | 2.9 inches, 120 Hz |
| Processor | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 | Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 |
| RAM / storage | 12–16 GB / 256 GB–1 TB | 12–16 GB / 256 GB–1 TB |
| Cameras | 200 MP main, 200 MP 3.2x periscope, 50 MP ultrawide | 200 MP main, 200 MP 3.2x periscope, 50 MP ultrawide |
| Battery (China) | 7,000 mAh | 8,500 mAh |
| Charging | 100 W wired, 50 W wireless | 100 W wired, 50 W wireless |
| Starting price (China) | CNY 5,999 (≈ $895) | CNY 6,999 (≈ $1,045) |
Global versions may differ, especially in battery capacity and charging speed, so we'll update this article once Xiaomi confirms the international specs.
How much do the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max cost?
In China, the Xiaomi 18 Pro starts at CNY 5,999 (about $895) for 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage, and goes up to CNY 9,999 for a special edition with 16 GB and 1 TB. The Pro Max starts at CNY 6,999 (about $1,045) and tops out at CNY 10,999.
Chinese prices don't include the taxes, import costs and regional pricing that apply elsewhere, so they're not a good guide to what you'll pay in Europe or the US. The leaked European prices of €1,449 and €1,849 show how big that difference can be.
Will the Xiaomi 18 Pro come to the US?
Probably not officially. Xiaomi has mentioned the Americas as a target market, but its flagship phones have never been sold through US carriers or major US retailers, and there's no sign that this will change. You can import one, but check carefully which 5G and LTE bands it supports, whether eSIM and Wi-Fi calling work with your carrier, and what happens with the warranty.
Imported Chinese models also run the Chinese version of HyperOS, which doesn't come with Google services in the same way as global models. If you're in the US and want a flagship with similar camera ambitions, our overview of the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max is a good place to compare what Apple offers this year.
Final thoughts
The Xiaomi 18 Pro series is more than a routine yearly update. The two models are now clearly different, with the 18 Pro bringing flagship hardware to a more manageable size and the Pro Max going all-in on screen size, battery and performance.
The rear display is turning into a signature Xiaomi feature, and the privacy screen is a genuinely useful addition. The big question is how much of that massive battery capacity survives in the global versions and how high European prices will really be. We'll update this article as soon as Xiaomi announces the international launch.
