The Xiaomi 18 lineup may follow a different launch strategy this year, with the standard Xiaomi 18 reportedly arriving several months after the Pro models. According to a new leak from Digital Chat Station, the regular Xiaomi 18 is expected to debut in December rather than launching alongside its Pro counterparts. This would mark a departure from Xiaomi’s recent practice of introducing its flagship models at the same event.
Xiaomi has already started experimenting with staggered launches in other parts of its smartphone portfolio. The company recently introduced the Redmi K100 Pro series first, while the standard model is expected to follow later. Separating the launches gives each device more attention instead of having multiple models compete for the spotlight on the same day.
The Xiaomi 18 Pro series, meanwhile, is reportedly scheduled to arrive in September. Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit is set for September 22 to 24, when the company is expected to unveil the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6. Reports suggest Xiaomi could introduce the Xiaomi 18 Pro models shortly afterward, potentially on September 28 or 29.
What we know so far
The entire Xiaomi 18 lineup is expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, which is reportedly manufactured using TSMC’s 2nm process. The new chipset should deliver improvements in processing power and energy efficiency compared with the previous generation. The phones are also expected to be offered in five colors: black, white, pink, blue, and red.
The standard Xiaomi 18 could see one of its biggest changes in the camera department. Instead of continuing with the 50MP triple camera configuration found on previous models, Xiaomi is reportedly preparing a dual camera system featuring a 200MP main sensor and Leica tuning.
The Xiaomi 18 Pro, on the other hand, is expected to retain its rear display while introducing additional functions. These reportedly include a built in compass, quick access to WeChat payment codes, and a shortcut for food delivery pickup codes.
Pricing could also increase significantly. The Xiaomi 18 Pro is rumored to start at 5,499 yuan, which would be around 1,000 yuan higher than the previous generation’s starting price. The increase may be linked to the higher cost of the 2nm chipset and the upgraded camera hardware.
As with the other details surrounding the Xiaomi 18 lineup, the reported launch dates, specifications, and pricing have not been officially confirmed by Xiaomi and should therefore be treated as early information until the company makes an announcement.
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