The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is the larger of the two phones in the Xiaomi 18 Pro series. Xiaomi announced it in China on September 23, 2026, and sales there started the same day. Prices start at CNY 6,999 for 12 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. Xiaomi has also confirmed a global launch later in 2026. However, global prices and dates have not been announced yet.
Design and display
The front has a flat 6.9-inch OLED panel with a resolution of 2624 x 1208 pixels. Its LTPO refresh rate ranges from 1 Hz to 120 Hz, and Xiaomi quotes up to 4,000 nits of peak brightness. The screen also has a hardware privacy mode that narrows the viewing angle. It can turn on for a single app, in chosen locations, or when the front camera spots an onlooker.
On the back, next to the cameras, sits a second 2.9-inch display with 976 x 596 pixels and a 120 Hz refresh rate. It shows notifications and quick controls, and it can run small apps created with the Xiao AI assistant. The phone measures 163.4 x 77.6 x 8.39 mm and weighs 235 g, while some versions weigh 240 g. It carries IP68 and IP69 ratings for dust and water resistance.
Performance
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. This 2 nm chip has two prime CPU cores that reach up to 5.0 GHz, plus an Adreno 850 GPU. In contrast, the smaller Xiaomi 18 Pro uses the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. Memory options are 12 GB or 16 GB of RAM, with 256 GB, 512 GB or 1 TB of storage. Xiaomi also added a new vapor chamber cooling system for sustained gaming loads.
Cameras
The rear camera system is co-engineered with Leica and has three lenses. The main camera uses a 200 MP 1/1.28-inch sensor with LOFIC technology for better dynamic range. This sensor is one of the main differences from the 18 Pro. Next to it is a 200 MP periscope telephoto with a 1/1.56-inch sensor and 3.2x optical zoom. It can also focus as close as 12 cm for macro shots. A 50 MP ultrawide camera completes the setup, and the front camera also has 50 MP. In addition, the phone debuts Xiaomi’s “Legendary Moment” imaging mode, which combines on-device and cloud processing.
Battery and charging
The Chinese model has an 8,500 mAh silicon-carbon battery. Xiaomi says it keeps at least 80% of its capacity after 2,000 charge cycles. Charging reaches 100 W by cable, and the phone also supports wireless charging. Note that the global version is expected to ship with a smaller battery. Code found in HyperOS points to 7,050 mAh, but Xiaomi has not confirmed this figure.
Software and updates
The phone ships with Android 17 and Xiaomi HyperOS 4. Many camera and system features rely on Xiaomi’s on-device AI tools. So far, Xiaomi has not published how many years of OS and security updates the phone will get.
Should you buy the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max suits buyers who want a large screen, a very large battery and two 200 MP cameras. It also fits people who value on-screen privacy in public places. For now, though, it is sold only in China. Buyers in other markets may prefer to wait for the global version. That model is expected to have a smaller battery, and its price is still unknown.
