Xiaomi Launches 18 Pro Phones in China With Upgraded Privacy Display Technology

Xiaomi has launched its new 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max smartphones in China, introducing an updated take on the privacy display technology that debuted earlier this year on Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra.

The new devices feature a more flexible version of the privacy-screen feature, which is designed to limit the viewing angle of the display so that content is harder to see by people looking at the screen from the side, such as on public transport or in shared workspaces. Xiaomi has paired the feature with a returning rear-display design, allowing users to view notifications and other information on the back of the phone.

Both the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are equipped with dual 200-megapixel rear cameras, continuing Xiaomi's push into high-resolution mobile photography. The devices also come with a choice of two new Qualcomm chips, both from the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 line, giving Xiaomi flexibility to offer different performance and pricing tiers within the same phone series.

The launch positions Xiaomi as one of the first major manufacturers to follow Samsung's introduction of privacy-display technology in flagship smartphones this year, suggesting the feature could become more widespread across the premium phone market in the coming months.

Xiaomi has not yet confirmed a timeline for a global rollout of the 18 Pro series beyond China, and pricing details for international markets have not been announced. The company's flagship devices have typically followed their China launch with international availability within a few months.