Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max debut with Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and privacy display
Xiaomi has unveiled its 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max smartphones in China, featuring Qualcomm's latest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipset. The phones include a privacy screen that limits off-angle viewing, with granular per-app controls and location-based triggers. They also offer large LTPO AMOLED displays, 200MP cameras, and batteries up to 8,500mAh.
The privacy display builds on a concept previously seen in Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra, but Xiaomi's version adds finer controls. Users can set location-based triggers, and the front-facing camera can detect potential onlookers and suggest activating privacy mode, with a side button for manual override. The feature also shields notifications, split-screen views, and floating windows from acute angles.
Both phones retain rear displays from the 17 Pro series, which can show notifications or run mini apps generated through Xiaomi's Xiao AI assistant. The devices launch in China starting at 5,999 yuan for the 18 Pro and 6,999 yuan for the Pro Max, with a global release planned later this year.
Privacy screens could shift how people handle sensitive information in public spaces, potentially benefiting commuters, office workers, and anyone in crowded settings. However, the camera-based snoop detection and location triggers may raise questions about how much monitoring users accept in exchange for privacy. The feature's real-world usefulness will depend on how consistently people enable it and whether it becomes a standard expectation in future flagship phones.