Xiaomi 18 Series: Leica Cameras, Global Launch Details Leaked

Xiaomi’s upcoming flagship portfolio is taking clearer shape following a flurry of reports and code discoveries, pointing to a significant shift in the company’s international launch strategy and some unexpected hardware decisions.

Global return for the Pro duo and a secondary display

According to fresh translations uncovered by developer Kacper Skrzypek in the global Xiaomi Themes app, the Xiaomi 18 Pro family will bring back a distinctive hardware feature: a secondary display embedded in the rear camera module. This functionality, first introduced on the Xiaomi 17 Pro and Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, is said to now support a wider range of apps, games, and on-device AI features, as noted by leaker Digital Chat Station on Weibo. For the first time in several years, these Pro-tier devices are poised for a broad global rollout, including availability across Europe.

Foldable renamed and Xiaomi 18 camera rethink

Code strings hidden inside HyperOS and entries in the IMEI database, reported by Xiaomitime, suggest the lineup will span four models if the Xiaomi Mix Fold 5—codenamed “Lhasa”—launches as the Xiaomi 18 Fold. This fifth-generation foldable is expected to adopt a form factor reminiscent of the Galaxy Z Fold 8 or an iPhone Ultra-style design, powered by the Xring O3 chipset. Current evidence indicates it will remain exclusive to domestic markets, with no global launch indicators surfacing so far.

In a move that may surprise buyers, the base Xiaomi 18 appears to be dropping the dedicated telephoto camera. Codenamed “Madrid” or “Q2,” the entry-level flagship is listed with a 200-megapixel main sensor and an ultra-wide-angle lens, but no third rear shooter. While earlier rumors hinted at dual 200-megapixel sensors, that configuration has yet to be confirmed within HyperOS. Global availability for this model is planned across Europe, Japan, India, Turkey, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Russia.

Pro models detailed: sensors, silicon, and battery sizes

The Xiaomi 18 Pro, developed under the names “Venice” or “Q1,” contradicts some previous reports by omitting India from its launch list while targeting Europe, Turkey, Indonesia, Taiwan, Russia, and Japan. It is set to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 (Pro) platform and deploy a pair of 200-megapixel cameras: a main unit using a 1/1.28-inch Smartsens SCC80XS or SCC90XS sensor, and a telephoto unit built around the 1/1.56-inch Samsung ISOCELL HP5. The battery capacity is expected to reach 7,000 mAh.

Sitting at the top of the Leica-branded range, the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max is codenamed “Hong Kong” or “Q5” and appears poised to outlast an “Ultra” variant, which multiple sources now describe as canceled. This larger Pro model gains a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera alongside 200-megapixel sensors for the main camera—reportedly the Smartsens SCC90XS with LOFIC 3.0 technology—and the telephoto lens. It will also feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset and a substantial 8,500 mAh battery. The Pro Max is slated for the broadest global release, including Europe, Turkey, Indonesia, Taiwan, Russia, Japan, and India.