Xiaomi 18Explainer
Release date
Xiaomi 18 release date: the 18 Pro and Pro Max are out in China, and go global this year
Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max in China on Sept. 23, 2026, and both are on sale on its China store now, from CNY 5,999 and CNY 6,999. On launch day, Xiaomi said the series is going global this year, but it hasn't set a date, a country list or global prices. Both phones have two 200MP Leica cameras, a small screen on the back and Qualcomm's newest Snapdragon chip. The standard Xiaomi 18 isn't out yet: Xiaomi says it will launch separately later. Xiaomi hasn't announced US sales.
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Xiaomi launched the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max in China on Sept. 23, 2026, from CNY 5,999 and CNY 6,999. It says the series goes global this year, but it hasn’t set a date or global prices. The standard Xiaomi 18 comes later.
When is the Xiaomi 18 global launch?
Xiaomi hasn’t set a date. On launch day, Sept. 23, its global account posted, “Xiaomi 18 Pro Series is going global this year.” Xiaomi India followed with a post saying the phones are coming soon, and on Oct. 9, at a Qualcomm event at India Mobile Congress in New Delhi, it said the 18 Pro will arrive in India in the coming months. Xiaomi hasn’t named other countries, prices or a date for the Pro Max.
Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed reports of a November global launch, or code leaks suggesting global versions have smaller batteries, 6,000mAh in the Pro and 7,050mAh in the Pro Max.
- Sep 7, 2026Xiaomi launches the Xiaomi 18 Fold in China, from CNY 10,999
- Sep 23, 2026Xiaomi launches the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max in China, 7 p.m. Beijing time
- Sep 23, 2026Xiaomi says the 18 Pro series is going global this year
- Oct 9, 2026Xiaomi India says the 18 Pro arrives in India in the coming months
- Dec 31, 2026End of the year Xiaomi gave for the global launch
Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max prices in China
On Xiaomi’s China store, the 18 Pro costs CNY 5,999 to CNY 8,999 and the 18 Pro Max CNY 6,999 to CNY 9,999. Both come in black, white, Galaxy Blue and Ice Peach Pink, and every version is in stock. A red transparent edition, with the internals visible through the back, comes only with 16GB of memory and 1TB of storage.
Xiaomi hasn’t announced prices outside China.
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max specs
The 18 Pro Max is the bigger model, with a 6.9-inch screen, a 2.9-inch rear display and an 8,500mAh battery. Xiaomi calls the 18 Pro series the world’s first phones with Qualcomm’s two newest Snapdragon chips, and the Pro Max gets the faster one, a top version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 that runs up to 5.01GHz.
Xiaomi says the main camera uses a 1/1.28-inch sensor with an f/1.67 lens, and the periscope telephoto a 1/1.56-inch sensor with 3.2x optical zoom. The ultra-wide covers 102 degrees and focuses as close as 5 cm.
Xiaomi 18 Pro specs
The 18 Pro has the same three cameras in a smaller body, with a 6.4-inch screen, a 2.7-inch rear display and a 7,000mAh battery. Xiaomi says both models have a privacy screen that hides the display from people looking from the side.
What about the standard Xiaomi 18?
It isn’t out yet. Xiaomi President Lu Weibing said on Weibo that the standard Xiaomi 18 will launch separately later, and Xiaomi’s China store lists only the 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and Xiaomi 18 Fold. Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed a December date reported by a Chinese tipster.
Xiaomi also hasn’t announced a Xiaomi 18 Ultra. The same tipster said in October that Xiaomi shelved an Ultra model; Xiaomi hasn’t commented.
Will the Xiaomi 18 come to the US?
Xiaomi hasn’t announced plans to sell the Xiaomi 18 series in the US. For other flagships launching this fall, see our pages on the Oppo Find X10, the Galaxy S27 and the iPhone 18e.
This page is updated as soon as Xiaomi announces a global launch date and prices for the Xiaomi 18 Pro series, or a date for the standard Xiaomi 18.
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FAQ
When does the Xiaomi 18 come out?
The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max came out in China on Sept. 23, 2026. Xiaomi says the series goes global this year but hasn’t given a date. The standard Xiaomi 18 isn’t out yet; Xiaomi says it will launch separately later.
When is the Xiaomi 18 global launch?
Xiaomi hasn’t set one. On Sept. 23, it posted that the Xiaomi 18 Pro series is going global this year, and on Oct. 9, Xiaomi India said the 18 Pro arrives in India in the coming months. Xiaomi hasn’t confirmed reports of a November launch.
How much is the Xiaomi 18 Pro?
In China, the Xiaomi 18 Pro costs CNY 5,999 to CNY 8,999 and the 18 Pro Max CNY 6,999 to CNY 9,999, depending on memory and storage. A red transparent edition with 16GB and 1TB costs CNY 9,999 and CNY 10,999. Xiaomi hasn’t announced global prices.
Is there a standard Xiaomi 18?
Not yet. Xiaomi President Lu Weibing said on Weibo that it will launch separately later. Xiaomi hasn’t given a date, and its China store lists only the 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max and the Xiaomi 18 Fold.
Is there a Xiaomi 18 Ultra?
Xiaomi hasn’t announced one. A Chinese tipster said in October that Xiaomi shelved an Ultra model; Xiaomi hasn’t commented.
Will the Xiaomi 18 be sold in the US?
Xiaomi hasn’t announced plans to sell the Xiaomi 18 series in the US.
What's the difference between the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max?
The Pro Max has a bigger 6.9-inch screen, a 2.9-inch rear display, an 8,500mAh battery and a top version of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 that runs up to 5.01GHz. The Pro has a 6.4-inch screen, a 2.7-inch rear display and a 7,000mAh battery. Both have the same three rear cameras.
Pop quiz
2 questions from this story.
What’s on the back of the Xiaomi 18 Pro?
Both 18 Pro models have a small rear display: 2.7 inches on the Pro and 2.9 inches on the Pro Max.
How big is the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max battery?
Xiaomi lists 8,500mAh for the Pro Max and 7,000mAh for the Pro in China.
Your call
Would you buy a Xiaomi 18 Pro?
