Xiaomi has launched the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max in China. Both pack 200 MP main and telephoto cameras alongside a 50 MP ultra-wide. A wider international release follows later this year, though the U.S. isn’t included.
Triple camera system
Both phones share the same Leica-branded camera system. The 200 MP 23mm main camera uses a 1/1.28-inch sensor behind a Leica Summilux lens, with seven stops of stabilization. The two models differ slightly here, since the 18 Pro carries the Light Fusion 960 sensor while the Pro Max gets the 960L.
The 200 MP 75 mm periscope telephoto is the more interesting piece. It focuses as close as 4.7 inches (12 cm), which is unusual for a periscope and opens up detail shots most phones can’t manage. Behind it sits a Samsung 1/1.56-inch HP5 sensor.
A 17 mm 50 MP ultra-wide rounds out the system.
Display and processor
The 18 Pro runs a 6.4-inch display against the Pro Max’s 6.9-inch panel. Both are 120Hz LTPO AMOLED with 4,000-nit peak brightness, which should hold up in direct sun. Dolby Vision and HDR10+ are supported on both.
Processors split the two models again. The 18 Pro uses a Snapdragon 8 Gen 6 Elite, while the Pro Max steps up to the Extreme version.
Privacy features
Both phones include hardware-level Privacy Display technology, following the Samsung S26 Ultra. It narrows off-axis viewing so the person beside you can’t read your screen.
You can apply it to a single app, to notifications, to floating windows or to split-screen views, leaving the rest of the display alone. Location triggers let it switch on automatically at home or at work. The selfie camera can also detect when someone else is looking and suggest turning it on.
Other features
A secondary display sits on the back of both phones. It works as a live viewfinder for selfies shot on the rear cameras, which means your best camera handles your face. It also shows notifications and widgets.
Battery capacity differs between them. The 18 Pro holds 7,000 mAh, while the Pro Max carries 8,500 mAh.
What we think
This is a real jump from last year’s 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, which ran 50MP main and telephoto cameras. Going to 200 MP on both is a significant resolution increase, though the ultra-wide appears unchanged at 50MP.
Resolution alone doesn’t settle image quality, of course. What those sensors actually deliver depends on processing, and that won’t be clear until samples start circulating.
The close-focusing telephoto may end up being the standout. Macro work through a long lens is genuinely useful for video, and 4.7 inches is tight for a 75 mm equivalent.
US buyers are out of luck as usual. Anyone who wants one will need to import it, which means no carrier support and no warranty.
Pricing and availability
Both phones are on sale in China now. Pricing starts at 5,999 yuan for the 18 Pro and 6,999 yuan for the Pro Max, roughly $895 and $1,045. The international release comes later this year, without the U.S.
