Xiaomi Launches 18 Pro Series with 2nm Snapdragon Chips

Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max smartphones in China on September 23, 2026. The devices are the first to utilize Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series processors, which are built on a 2-nanometer fabrication process. The Pro model uses the standard Gen 6 chipset, while the Pro Max features the Extreme Gen 6 variant with clock speeds reaching 5.0 GHz.

Both models feature a dual 200MP Leica camera system consisting of a primary sensor and a periscope telephoto lens with 3.2x optical zoom. Hardware innovations include a secondary rear OLED display for notifications and AI widgets, and a hardware-level privacy screen that narrows viewing angles to hide content from side observers. The devices run HyperOS 4 based on Android 17 and include the Super Xiao Ai 2.0 assistant.

Battery capacities were significantly increased using silicon-carbon anode chemistry, with the Pro model featuring a 7,000mAh battery and the Pro Max an 8,500mAh battery, both supporting 100W wired charging. In China, the Pro starts at 5,999 yuan and the Pro Max at 6,999 yuan.

While the initial release is limited to China, EEC certifications and company statements indicate a global rollout later this year, with a potential India arrival by December. Availability in North America remains uncertain. The company reportedly shelved the Xiaomi 18 Ultra, while the standard Xiaomi 18 is expected in late 2026 or early 2027.