Xiaomi 18 Pro Series Debuts with Upgraded Cameras and Larger Batteries

Xiaomi has launched its flagships, the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, in China. Both have the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. The Pro Max gets the "Extreme" version of the chip, while the Pro makes do with the regular one. You can already buy both in China.

Key Highlights

• Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max launch in China with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips
• The 18 Pro Max packs a 200MP main camera and an 8,500mAh battery
• Both phones have a small rear display with new AI-powered app features
• The Chinese prices convert to roughly ₹85,800 for the 18 Pro and ₹1,00,000 for the 18 Pro Max

Key Features and Upgrades

The 18 Pro Max is the masterpeice  here, with a 6.9-inch display and a big camera upgrade. Its main sensor jumps from 50MP to 200MP while staying at 1/1.28-inch. The telephoto camera changes too, moving from a 50MP 5x/115mm periscope to a 200MP 3.2x/75mm module. You lose some optical zoom, but the higher resolution gives you more in-sensor zoom, so you can still get close for detailed shots.

The battery also gets a boost. At 8,500mAh, it's 1,000mAh bigger than last year's model. Bear in mind that battery sizes sometimes differ between regions, so the same capacity may not carry over to every market. Xiaomi has confirmed the 18 Pro series will go global, but there are no details yet for Europe or India. So far, Xiaomi India has only mentioned the 18 Pro.

Differences Between 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max

The 18 Pro is the more compact of the two, with a 6.4-inch display. That's only 0.1 inches more than before, and most of it comes from slimmer bezels. The phone is just 0.7mm taller and 0.2mm wider. Its battery has also grown, up 700mAh to 7,000mAh.

The 18 Pro runs the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and gets two 200MP cameras: a 1/1.28-inch main sensor and a 3.2x/75mm periscope lens. These replace the previous 50MP main camera and 50MP 5x/115mm periscope. Both phones also have a 50MP ultra-wide and a 50MP selfie camera.

Each phone has a second screen built into the camera island, 2.9 inches on the Pro Max and 2.7 inches on the Pro. They're handy for framing selfies and now get new AI features, including the ability to generate apps that run right on the rear screen.

Pricing and Global Availability

For now, only the Chinese pricing is out. The Xiaomi 18 Pro (12GB/256GB) converts to roughly ₹85,800, and the 18 Pro Max (12GB/256GB) to about ₹1,00,000. These are straight currency conversions, and global prices are expected to come in higher.

With a worldwide launch on the way, it's still unclear which models and features each region will get. We'll have to wait for Xiaomi to announce international pricing and release dates.