Xiaomi 18 Pro Max: specs, price, release date and review

The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max has been official in China since 23 September 2026, with a second screen on the back, an 8,500 mAh battery and Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chip. It went on sale there the day it was unveiled, from 6,999 yuan, or roughly €917 (about 602,000 FCFA) at the current exchange rate. Xiaomi has confirmed a global release before the end of the year, a first for a Pro Max model, but has given neither a precise date nor a price in euros. This is the phone to watch if you want huge battery life and two 200 MP Leica sensors, provided you can live with 235 g in your pocket.

Introduction: the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, the first Pro Max promised to the rest of the world

Xiaomi has flipped its calendar this year. The two Pro models open the 18 series, and the standard model will follow later. The Xiaomi 18 Pro is the compact 6.4-inch version. The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max takes the same recipe to 6.9 inches, with a bigger battery and a more muscular chip.

The real news lies elsewhere. Last year, the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max stayed in China, much to the frustration of European fans. This time, the brand is promising a global release before the end of 2026. The big model therefore becomes a credible rival to the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. It will also run into the Vivo X500 Pro Max and the Oppo Find X10 Pro Max, both launched the same week.

Who is the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max for? Anyone who wants a very large screen, two days away from a socket and a top-tier zoom. Our newsroom has not handled the device. This page draws on Xiaomi’s own data, on the hands-on reports published so far and on our analysis. No full review had been published as of 3 October 2026.

Verdict at a glance: a monster spec sheet, a global timetable that is still hazy

Three figures matter. First, the 8,500 mAh, which is 1,000 mAh more than on the 17 Pro Max according to Android Central, in a body 8.4 mm thick. Then the two 200 MP sensors, when most rivals offer only one. Finally, the 5 GHz reached by the chip’s fastest cores, a symbolic threshold.

Xiaomi 18 Pro Max design: a big phone with a second screen on the back

The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max measures 163.4 x 77.6 x 8.4 mm according to Basic Tutorials and Kimovil. Weight depends on the finish: 235 g with a fibreglass back, 240 g with a glass back, according to Gizmochina. Android Central describes a thick, angular chassis that is surprisingly light for its size.

The frame is aluminium and the front is protected by Xiaomi’s own Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0. Four colours are listed in China: black, white, pink (Ice Peach Pink) and blue (Galaxy Blue). An edition with a transparent back, reserved for the 16 GB and 1 TB version, rounds off the range.

What is the rear screen on the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max for?

The second screen is a 2.9-inch OLED panel with 976 x 596 pixels, refreshed at 120 Hz. It sits in the camera block, next to the lenses. Stuff finds it sharp and easy to read outdoors.

Here is what it lets you do, according to the hands-on reports:

• frame a selfie with the 200 MP rear sensors, which are far better than the front camera;
• read a notification, your calendar or the battery level when the phone is lying face down on the table;
• toggle quick settings without flipping the device over;
• display app cards, more than a hundred at launch according to Xiaomi.

One caveat: according to Memeburn, some features were only partly working during the first demonstrations. If a foldable appeals to you more, Xiaomi also has the 18 Fold in its range.

Water resistance: IP66, IP68 and IP69

Xiaomi claims three ratings for the Chinese model. IP68 covers immersion in fresh water, while IP66 and IP69 cover powerful water jets. A downpour in Douala or harmattan dust in Dakar should not trouble it. Several spec listings mention only IP68: the point remains to be confirmed for the global version.

Display: 6.9 inches, 4,000 nits and a built-in privacy filter

The main panel of the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is a flat 6.9-inch LTPO OLED with 2,624 x 1,208 pixels, or about 418 pixels per inch. The refresh rate ranges from 1 to 120 Hz depending on the content. Xiaomi quotes 4,000 nits at peak, 0.99 mm bezels and 2,160 Hz dimming to combat flicker.

The resolution stays below the 2K of the Vivo X500 Pro Max. Xiaomi makes up for it with full RGB subpixels (Super Pixel 2.0), which are meant to deliver crisper text.

A screen that hides from prying eyes

This is the most original feature. The panel alternates standard pixels with narrow-angle pixels, surrounded by tiny partitions. According to HardwareZone, when the mode kicks in, perceived brightness drops to about 1% beyond 60 degrees. The person next to you in a taxi or on the metro sees nothing but a black screen.

The mode can switch on by itself for certain apps, such as banking, or in places you choose. Opinions differ on how effective it is. Android Central finds it more convincing than the one on the Galaxy S26 Ultra, because it does not degrade the image seen head-on. Expert Reviews, by contrast, notes slightly less strict protection.

Performance: the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 breaks 5 GHz

Qualcomm unveiled two chips in late September. The 18 Pro gets the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, and the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max its most powerful variant, the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Both are built on 2 nm and rely on Oryon cores, two of which climb to 5 GHz.

According to Qualcomm’s figures as reported by the press, the Extreme version gains 13% in computing and 44% in graphics power over the previous generation. Add to that 12 or 16 GB of LPDDR5X memory and 256 GB to 1 TB of UFS 4.1 storage.

Published scores: handle with care

Before the launch, a prototype with 16 GB of memory appeared on Geekbench 7 with 2,831 points in single-core and 8,843 points in multi-core, according to GSMArena. That reading does not come from an independent test on a retail unit.

Cooling and gaming

A chip that hits 5 GHz runs hot. Xiaomi’s answer is a loop cooling system, likened to a heat pump, and 5,513 mm² of dissipation area. No endurance test has been published: nobody knows whether the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max holds its power through an hour of Genshin Impact. At 35 °C in the shade, that matters more than the raw score.

Camera: the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max bets on two 200 MP Leica sensors

Xiaomi and Leica have worked together since 2022. The rear block of the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max brings together three cameras: a 200 MP wide-angle, a 200 MP periscope telephoto and a 50 MP ultra-wide.

Main sensor: 200 MP and wide dynamic range

The main module uses a 1/1.28-inch sensor, the Light Fusion 960L (Light Hunter 960 in China), behind a stabilised f/1.67 lens. By default, it bins its pixels to produce lighter, brighter images.

Xiaomi is pushing a new image pipeline that combines on-device and cloud processing. No full camera review has been published. The sensor size suggests good night shots, but the processing still has to be judged on real results.

200 MP periscope telephoto: 75 mm and close-up shots

The periscope is built around a 1/1.56-inch Samsung HP5 sensor, according to The Gadgeteer, with a 75 mm equivalent lens at f/2.4. That works out to a stabilised 3.2x optical zoom. Xiaomi talks about “lossless” zoom up to 12.8x, obtained by cropping into the 200 MP: the wording is flattering.

The 75 mm focal length suits portraits. The Chinese press also mentions focusing from around a dozen centimetres, handy for a plate of food or a piece of jewellery. Against the 85 mm of the Vivo X500 Pro Max, mounted on a larger sensor, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max starts with a slight handicap at long zoom.

Video, ultra-wide and selfie

The 50 MP ultra-wide covers 102 degrees at f/2.4. That is a tight field of view, when some rivals go beyond 120 degrees. The 50 MP front camera has an f/2.2 aperture and will mostly be used for video calls.

For video, the published spec listings indicate 8K at 30 frames per second and 4K at up to 120 frames per second, with Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

Battery and charging: 8,500 mAh in China, less elsewhere

With 8,500 mAh, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max beats the 8,000 mAh of its direct rivals from Vivo and Oppo. The silicon-carbon cell is said to keep 80% of its capacity after 2,000 cycles, or more than five years of daily charging.

No independent measurement exists yet. Two full days of mixed use look within reach. Where power cuts are part of daily life, that is a serious argument.

Global version: 7,050 mAh according to a leak

The international model is unlikely to keep that capacity. Kacper Skrzypek, a specialist in Xiaomi’s code, spotted a 7,050 mAh battery for the global version in HyperOS, Notebookcheck reports. Xiaomi has not confirmed it, but it fits the company’s habits: the Xiaomi 17 went from 7,000 mAh in China to 6,330 mAh elsewhere.

100 W charging, 50 W wireless

Wired charging goes up to 100 W on the open PPS standard, Gizmochina specifies: a compatible third-party charger should get close to that. Wireless charging reaches 50 W and reverse charging 27 W. The full charging time is not known.

Software: HyperOS 4, Android 17 and an AI button

The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max debuts HyperOS 4, based on Android 17. In China, the interface comes with the Super XiaoAI 2.0 assistant, which runs on an in-house language model. A customisable AI button launches the assistant, a voice note or privacy mode.

The usual flaw remains: Expert Reviews points to duplicate apps and preinstalled software you have to sort through yourself. The Chinese version ships without the Play Store, with an assistant designed for Mandarin. The global version will include Google services.

Updates: nothing official for the 18 Pro series

Xiaomi has not detailed its policy for the 18 Pro series outside China. For the 17 series, the brand committed to six years of support, until 2032. An equivalent commitment would make sense, to be confirmed at the global launch.

Xiaomi 18 Pro Max price and availability: China, Europe, Africa

In China, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max has been on sale since 23 September 2026 in five versions:

• 12 + 256 GB: 6,999 yuan, or roughly €917 (about 602,000 FCFA);
• 12 + 512 GB: 7,999 yuan, or roughly €1,048 (about 687,000 FCFA);
• 16 + 512 GB: 8,999 yuan, or roughly €1,179 (about 773,000 FCFA);
• 16 GB + 1 TB: 9,999 yuan, or roughly €1,310 (about 859,000 FCFA);
• transparent edition, 16 GB + 1 TB: 10,999 yuan, or roughly €1,441 (about 945,000 FCFA).

These conversions are indicative, before VAT and import costs. Memeburn puts the increase at about 20% over a year. The cost of memory has a lot to do with it, as we explain in our article on the RAM shortage.

Xiaomi 18 Pro Max release date worldwide

The only official element fits in one sentence. On 23 September 2026, Xiaomi’s global account announced on X that the 18 Pro series would launch worldwide this year. Xu Fei, its marketing director, repeated it on video. No date, no countries, no price.

Everything else is circumstantial. In late July, global model numbers were spotted in a European certification database, according to GSMArena. Ubergizmo, citing XimiTime, mentions a November launch targeting Europe, the Americas and the Middle East. Notebookcheck leans instead towards a window running from December 2026 to February 2027. Another uncertainty: Xiaomi’s Indian account mentions only the 18 Pro, a sign that the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max may not launch everywhere.

The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max in Europe: expected price and importing

There is no official price in France or anywhere else in Europe. Memeburn puts forward an unofficial estimate of €1,499 (about 983,000 FCFA) for the base model. Between VAT, distribution and warranty, a European price always ends up well above the converted Chinese one. France is a long-standing market for Xiaomi, but no list of countries has been published. We found no product page at the French retailers Amazon.fr, Fnac, Darty or Cdiscount.

The impatient can go through an importer. Notebookcheck lists the Chinese model in 12 + 256 GB at €1,127 (about 739,000 FCFA) from TradingShenzhen. VAT and possible customs duties come on top. You get the 8,500 mAh, but no local warranty.

What about Africa?

Xiaomi has announced nothing for Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire or Senegal. The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max will get there through imports, via specialist resellers. Go for the global version once it exists, for Google services and wider 4G and 5G band support. Have the seller confirm the bands before you pay: the list for the global model has not been published. The manufacturer’s warranty does not follow the device outside its country of sale.

Pros and cons

Pros

• 8,500 mAh battery in China, rated for 2,000 cycles.
• Two 200 MP Leica sensors, including a stabilised 75 mm telephoto.
• 2.9-inch rear screen that is useful for selfies and notifications.
• Privacy filter built into the panel, adjustable per app.
• 100 W PPS-compatible charging, 50 W wireless, IP66, IP68 and IP69.

Cons

• Battery probably cut to 7,050 mAh on the global version.
• Weight of 235 to 240 g and a massive camera block.
• Price in euros, release date and countries not announced.
• HyperOS cluttered with preinstalled apps.
• Ultra-wide limited to 102 degrees, and no independent test of the camera or of heat build-up.

These scores are provisional. They rest on the spec sheet and on the published hands-on reports, not on a trial by our newsroom. We will revise them once full reviews and the European price are known.

The 18 Pro carries the same cameras and a 2.7-inch rear screen in a 6.4-inch, 203 g body, with 7,000 mAh, from 5,999 yuan, or roughly €786 (about 516,000 FCFA). The Vivo X500 Pro Max already has a date in Europe, 27 October. The Oppo Find X10 Pro Max lines up three 200 MP sensors, according to Gizmochina. At Honor, the Magic 9 Pro Max targets the same buyers.

Conclusion: should you buy the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?

On paper, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is the most generous flagship of this autumn. No rival combines such a battery, two 200 MP sensors and a second screen. The first hands-on reports are enthusiastic.

Three unknowns weigh heavily. The battery of the global version is expected to shrink by 17%. The price in euros will be markedly higher than in China. And nobody has yet measured battery life, heat or the real quality of the photos.

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