Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max in Beijing on September 23. Like last year, these are China-first phones, and the regular Xiaomi 18 hasn’t been announced yet. The difference this time is that Xiaomi Philippines has already said the Pro series is coming here.
Here’s what we know so far, and what we don’t.
Is it coming to the Philippines?
Yes. Xiaomi Philippines teased the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max a day after the China launch and said both are coming to the country this year. That’s all they’ve confirmed for now. There’s no local launch date, no pre-order date and no Philippine price yet.
That alone is news, though. Last year the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max never officially came here. We only got the regular Xiaomi 17 and the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and those arrived in March 2026, about five months after their China launch. If Xiaomi keeps its word, the 18 Pro series will reach us much faster.
You’ll see “Philippine prices” for the Xiaomi 18 Pro on some spec sites already. Those are guesses, not official prices, so take them with a grain of salt until Xiaomi PH announces the real numbers.
How much it costs in China
These are the official China prices. I’ve added rough peso conversions so you have a feel for the numbers, but they are not Philippine prices.
| Model | Starts at (12GB/256GB) | Top model (16GB/1TB) |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 18 Pro | ¥5,999 (about ₱56,000) | ¥8,999 (about ₱84,000) |
| Xiaomi 18 Pro Max | ¥6,999 (about ₱65,000) | ¥9,999 (about ₱93,000) |
There’s also a special transparent-back edition with 16GB and 1TB for ¥9,999 (Pro) and ¥10,999 (Pro Max). Pre-orders opened right after the launch, and regular sales in China started September 28.
Don’t expect those converted prices here. Phones sold in the Philippines include 12% VAT and local distribution costs, so they usually land higher than a straight conversion. For reference, the Xiaomi 17 launched here at ₱53,599 and the 17 Ultra at ₱99,999, with early-bird discounts during pre-order. If the 18 Pro Max comes in under ₱90,000, it would undercut the iPhone 18 Pro (₱94,990) by a good margin.
What’s new this year
A second screen on the back
The most noticeable thing is the small OLED screen next to the cameras: 2.7 inches on the Pro and 2.9 inches on the Pro Max. It shows notifications and quick controls, and you can use it as a viewfinder to take selfies with the main cameras, which are much better than the front camera.
A privacy screen built in
The main display has a hardware privacy mode that narrows the viewing angle, so the person beside you can’t read your screen. If you’ve ever opened your banking app on a packed MRT or jeep, you’ll understand why this is useful. Normally you’d need a privacy screen protector for this, which makes the display dimmer all the time.
Two 200MP Leica cameras
Both phones have the same camera setup, co-developed with Leica: a 200MP main camera with a large 1/1.28-inch sensor, a 200MP periscope telephoto with 3.2x optical zoom, and a 50MP ultra wide. The front camera is 50MP. The smaller Pro gets exactly the same cameras as the Pro Max, which is nice if you don’t want a huge phone.
Huge batteries
This is where Xiaomi, like most Chinese brands, is way ahead. The 18 Pro has a 7,000mAh battery and the Pro Max has 8,500mAh, with 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. For comparison, that’s a lot more capacity than any iPhone.
The rest of the specs
| Xiaomi 18 Pro | Xiaomi 18 Pro Max | |
|---|---|---|
| Screen | 6.4-inch, 120Hz, 4,000 nits | 6.9-inch, 120Hz, 4,000 nits |
| Rear screen | 2.7-inch | 2.9-inch |
| Chip | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 | Faster version of the same chip |
| Battery | 7,000mAh | 8,500mAh |
| Charging | 100W wired, 50W wireless | 100W wired, 50W wireless |
| Water resistance | IP68 and IP69 | IP69 |
| Software | HyperOS 4 (Android 17) | HyperOS 4 (Android 17) |
Should you wait for it?
If you’re shopping for a flagship in the next couple of months, I’d hold off until Xiaomi PH announces the local price. On paper, the 18 Pro Max has one of the biggest batteries you can get in a flagship, and the camera setup looks strong. Whether it’s a good deal depends entirely on where the price lands.
Two things worth watching when it launches here: whether the Philippine units keep the rear display and privacy screen (global versions sometimes drop features), and the pre-order promos. Last year, the Xiaomi 17 was ₱49,999 during pre-order instead of ₱53,599, so buying early can save you a few thousand pesos.
I’ll update this post once Xiaomi Philippines announces the local price and release date.
References
- Xiaomi. “Xiaomi 18 Pro.” Xiaomi China official product page. Accessed September 26, 2026.
- Sofie. “Xiaomi 18 Pro Series Confirmed for PH Launch This Year.” ManilaShaker, September 24, 2026.
- Mohammed, Abubakar. “Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max Arrive with Privacy Displays and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Chipsets.” Beebom, September 23, 2026.
- Chung, Jackson. “Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max Land in China With Dual 200MP Leica Cameras, Rear Screens, and a Hardware Privacy Display.” TechEBlog, September 23, 2026.
- Soriano, Grant. “Xiaomi 17 and Xiaomi 17 Ultra Launch in the Philippines, Priced.” Gadget Pilipinas, March 2026.
- Garzon, Hannah. “Where is it cheaper to get the new iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo.” PhilSTAR Life, September 11, 2026. (Exchange rate reference.)
Peso conversions are rough estimates based on September 2026 exchange rates and are not official Philippine prices. Product images are from Xiaomi’s official product page.