Xiaomi’s 18 Pro Phones Enhance Privacy Features Beyond Samsung’s Display
Xiaomi has just unveiled its latest smartphones, the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, in China, showcasing an innovative twist on the privacy display technology first seen in Samsung’s Galaxy S26 Ultra. These new models feature dual rear screens, two impressive 200-megapixel cameras, and are powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips. A global release is on the horizon later this year, which is great news considering last year’s 17 Pro models didn’t make it to international markets.
The design of the 18 Pro series closely resembles the 17 Pro, with compact displays that wrap around the rear cameras, allowing users to view notifications, snap selfies, play casual games, and more.
The standout upgrades are found in the front display, now equipped with advanced privacy features akin to those on the S26 Ultra. However, Xiaomi’s approach appears to be more refined: when activated for a specific app, the privacy mode not only engages when that app is open but also extends to notifications, floating windows, and split-screen views, all while leaving the rest of the display unaffected. Users can set location-based triggers to automatically enable or disable the feature when arriving at work or home, and it can even detect when you’re in places like airports or elevators. Additionally, the selfie camera can identify if someone is looking over your shoulder and prompt you to activate privacy mode.
The two models differ in size, with the Pro featuring a 6.4-inch display and the Pro Max boasting a larger 6.9-inch screen. Battery capacities reflect this difference as well, with the Pro housing a 7,000mAh battery and the Pro Max packing an 8,500mAh battery, both utilizing a high silicon content of 32 percent. The chipsets also vary slightly, with the Pro using the Snapdragon 8 Gen 6 Elite and the Pro Max featuring the Extreme version, though the performance differences are minimal.
Camera capabilities are led by a 200-megapixel main sensor, utilizing a large 1/1.28-inch-type sensor (the Light Fusion 960 in the Pro and 960L in the Pro Max, which are quite similar). Both models include a 200-megapixel telephoto lens with a 75mm focal length, equipped with Samsung’s 1/1.56-inch HP5 sensor and a minimum focus distance of 12cm. Rounding out the camera setup is a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens.
Xiaomi’s launch comes on the heels of similar announcements from other brands, including the Vivo X500 and Oppo Find X10 flagships. The 18 Pro series starts at ¥5,999 (approximately $900) and joins the 18 Fold in Xiaomi’s new flagship lineup. Fans are still eagerly awaiting the standard Xiaomi 18 and the 18 Ultra, which are expected to debut next spring. An international release for at least one of the 18 Pro models is confirmed for later this year, but it remains to be seen if the Fold will make its way outside of China.
