Xiaomi held a new product launch event in Beijing on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, and unveiled two new models: the “Xiaomi 18 Pro ” and the “Xiaomi 18 Pro Max.”
Both are powerful models equipped with Qualcomm’s latest chipset.
They’re also generating a lot of buzz thanks to features like rear displays and high-performance cameras.
These smartphones, which may be released in Japan, come in multiple color variations, but the special red transparent model is particularly noteworthy.
Both models were unveiled immediately following Qualcomm’s announcement
On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, the day of the Xiaomi 18 Pro series launch event, Qualcomm held the Snapdragon Summit in Hawaii and announced its latest “Snapdragon 8 Elite 6 ” series of chipsets in the morning (China time).
The Xiaomi 18 Pro series was announced that same evening in response.
These models will be the first in the world to feature this latest chip.
The standard model comes in four colors
The device comes in four colors: the classic White and Black, plus Starry River Blue and Ice Peach Pink.
The blue model features a finish that resembles stars scattered across a blue surface, creating an elegant design.
The pink model also has a lovely, soft finish.
Special Edition Transparent and Red Models
In addition to these four colors, a special edition transparent red model has been released.
The deep red body features a transparent finish that reveals the internal components, creating a stunning design unlike anything found in competing products.
While many people might think of Nothing’s smartphones when they hear “transparent body,” this red transparent version has a striking color that gives a very different impression from Nothing’s products.
Incidentally, only the top-of-the-line model— with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage —is available.
I attended the launch event and had the opportunity to get a close look at this transparent red Xiaomi 18 Pro Max.
The display measures 6.9 inches with a maximum refresh rate of 120Hz and a peak brightness of 4,000 nits.
It features a 50-megapixel front-facing camera.
There is also a Transparent Red version of the other, smaller model, the Xiaomi 18 Pro.
That model has a 6.4-inch display.
It features two 200-megapixel cameras and a rear sub-display
The rear cameras are quite high-performance, with a 200-megapixel wide-angle lens and a 3.2x telephoto lens, also at 200 megapixels.
It also features a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera.
A distinctive feature is the small display on the back.
Positioned next to the cameras, this display can be used for various purposes, such as notifications.
The camera specifications are the same for both models.
The left side of the device features an AI key.
A single press captures a screenshot, while a long press starts recording.
This data is saved in a dedicated AI space, allowing you to utilize it later.
You can collect information daily and then use AI to search through or summarize it later.
The AC adapter is also a red, transparent model
The battery capacity is 8,500 mAh.
The smaller Xiaomi 18 Pro model has a 7,000 mAh battery.
Both support 100W fast charging and come with a compatible AC adapter.
The special edition also includes a red, transparent adapter that matches the body color.
The finish is so good that I’d love to see this sold separately.
Wireless charging is also fast at 50W.
A World First! Features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, while the Xiaomi 18 Pro features the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.
Xiaomi is the first in the world to adopt these chipsets, ahead of other manufacturers, and the Xiaomi 18 Pro series was featured at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 is the top-of-the-line chip built on a 2nm process.
Compared to the previous generation, CPU performance has improved by 13%, GPU performance by 44%, and NPU performance—which handles AI processing—by 35%.
CPU power efficiency has also been improved by 37%, making demanding games and AI editing a smoother experience.
Meanwhile, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 is a model with a 10% faster CPU, 35% faster GPU, and 14% faster NPU, prioritizing a balance between performance and power consumption.
Stable performance even during extended gaming sessions
Gaming performance was also highlighted during the announcement.
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, achieves a 1.3 fps increase in frame rate compared to the previous generation while reducing power consumption per frame by 38.1% when playing high-resolution open-world games.
By balancing high graphics performance with power efficiency, the device aims to deliver stable performance even during extended gaming sessions.
New Mechanism to Enhance Chipset Heat Dissipation
To improve internal cooling and heat dissipation, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max employs an “Offset PoP High Thermal Conductivity Package,” which offsets the placement of the chipset and memory.
This design facilitates heat transfer from the chipset to the vapor chamber, thereby improving cooling efficiency under heavy loads.
According to Xiaomi, the time during which peak performance can be maintained has improved by 100% compared to previous models.
The design is engineered to minimize performance degradation even during extended gaming sessions.
The vapor chamber features a mechanism known as a “next-generation ring-shaped cooling pump.”
Fine copper fins inside efficiently distribute heat, reportedly improving heat dissipation efficiency by 50% compared to conventional structures of the same thickness.
The goal is to suppress heat generation even during high-load gaming or video recording, ensuring stable performance.
Thanks to these enhanced cooling features, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max can reportedly run large-scale open-world games at ultra-high graphics settings while maintaining a frame rate of 90 fps for one hour.
Users who want to enjoy extended gaming sessions without lowering graphics quality or frame rate should definitely take note.
Take photos with the rear display
While the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max’s rear display can be used for a variety of purposes, its most practical use is likely takingselfies and portraits with its 200-megapixel high-resolution camera.
Swiping from left to right on the rear display launches the camera, allowing you to take photos while viewing the live preview.
You can also switch between photo and video modes, as well as change lenses, simply by tapping the screen.
About 100 apps are available for use with this rear display, ranging from practical tools to entertainment options like games.
Installed apps appear as a list on the rear display, and you can select them by scrolling through the screen.
Of course, the rear display is touch-enabled.
Simply select your preferred app with your fingertip and tap it to launch it.
The rear display becomes active with a double-tap.
You can perform simple tasks on the rear display, such as starting a kitchen timer while boiling an egg or checking your calendar to see your schedule.
In addition, users will eventually be able to create their own mini-apps for this display using AI.
You might even be able to create mini-games that are perfect for passing the time.
You can also use an AI assistant
Furthermore, the AI assistant works on the rear display.
You can use the character-based AI assistant on the rear display not only for simple questions like “What’s the weather today?” but also for more personal inquiries such as “What should I have for lunch today?”—as it learns your preferences through interactions with you.
If a global model is released in the future, Google’s Gemini might also run on this screen.
This will make it easier to use AI agents.
Privacy Display to Prevent Peeking
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max also features new privacy functions.
It’s equipped with a Smart Privacy Display that prevents others from peeking at the screen when viewed from the side.
In the settings, you can choose to hide the entire screen or only specific apps.
You can even configure settings like “Games: OFF, Banking Apps: ON.”
For apps with this setting enabled, even if a notification from that app arrives while you’re using your smartphone, only the notification window will pop up—and it won’t be visible from the side—ensuring comprehensive privacy protection.
Unmatched Camera Performance
As mentioned earlier, the camera features two 200-megapixel lenses—one wide-angle and one telephoto—along with a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, boasting top-class performance among current smartphones.
It also supports shooting in Leica Mode, developed in collaboration with Leica, making it a fully capable camera phone.
A Product We’re Looking Forward to Seeing in Japan
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max and Xiaomi 18 Pro are currently available only in China.
However, since the previous model has already been released in the global market, there is a strong possibility that these models will expand beyond China in the future.
On social media platforms like X, Xiaomi’s official accounts have been posting updates that seem to hint at an overseas launch, and the Xiaomi Japan account has shared similar information.
With four key features—a high-performance chip, dual 200-megapixel cameras, a privacy screen, and a rear display—we’re looking forward to the launch of the Xiaomi 18 Pro series in Japan.
▼Photo & Written by Yasuhiro Yamane/Yasuhiro Yamane
Blog: http://www.hkyamane.com/
X: https://x.com/hkyamane/
Note: https://note.com/hkyamane/
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