When the Xiaomi 18 Pro Goes Global and What It Will Cost

Xiaomi kept the rear-screen Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max in China. Now the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are going global on November 17, 2026, at 2 PM in Paris, or 8 AM ET and 5 AM PT. You can watch live on Xiaomi’s YouTube channel or on X, though there’s no official US launch.

What will you pay if you want one? European leaks put the 256GB Xiaomi 18 Pro at €1,399 or €1,449, and Xiaomi has yet to announce a price. The battery figures are worth a second look too. The European models reportedly have smaller batteries than the phones Xiaomi already sells in China.

So if you’ve been eyeing that little screen next to the cameras, here’s when to tune in and which numbers to check before you decide what you’d pay.

When and Where You Can Watch the Launch

Xiaomi’s Paris event starts on Tuesday, November 17, under the tagline “Back for more.” You can follow the same livestream on YouTube or X. Here’s when to tune in.

• Paris. 2 PM CET.
• United Kingdom. 1 PM GMT, or 1 PM UTC.
• US East Coast. 8 AM ET.
• US West Coast. 5 AM PT.

“This time, there’s more on the back.”
Xiaomi, teasing the Back Display

The phones share the launch page with the Xiaomi Watch S5 41mm, Smart Band 11, Xiaomi Clip, and Robot Vacuum 6 Max. Xiaomi has teased “more surprises” for the event.

If you’re following the UK launch, Xiaomi advertises a 12% reservation coupon and 200 Mi Points. Reported preorder extras vary by market. UK buyers could get a braided USB-C cable and a 90W charger, while reported offers elsewhere in Europe include fitness bands or speakers. Xiaomi says models and sale dates vary by region.

What Xiaomi Has Confirmed About the Xiaomi 18 Pro

Xiaomi’s global page gives you a good look at the rear screen and names the two 200MP Leica cameras. You’ll have to wait for official prices and battery capacities. Here’s what Xiaomi has put on the page so far.

• Back Display. You can see notifications, pin a grocery list, and use tools such as a timer or water intake tracker. Xiaomi says AI Wallpapers will start arriving through a software update in December 2026. Availability and monthly usage limits vary by region.
• Leica Cameras. The main camera pairs a 200MP sensor with Leica Summilux optics. The Leica telephoto camera has its own 200MP sensor.
• Privacy Display. You’ll need to set it up before it dims what people can see from the side. Some content can still be seen at an angle.
• Processors and Battery. Xiaomi uses the wording “Snapdragon Dual 8 Elites” and confirms silicon-carbon batteries. Its global page gives no capacity for either phone.
• Color and Service. Xiaomi shows Velvet Red and lists one free replacement for the back cover, rear screen, or lens, plus one free front screen replacement within 24 months.
• Subscription Trials. Xiaomi lists four months of Spotify Premium, three months of YouTube Premium, and three months of Google AI Pro with 5TB of storage. Eligibility is limited.

How the Global Specs Could Differ From China’s

If you’ve already looked up the China models, check the battery and charging figures before using those specs to compare prices. European leaks point to a 1,000mAh cut on the Pro and a 1,450mAh cut on the Pro Max.

One report lists the Extreme chip for both phones. The China launch specs list two chips, with Adreno 845 graphics on the Pro and Adreno 850 graphics on the Pro Max. Xiaomi has yet to spell out the global model split.

What would you actually do with a rear screen? Alongside notifications, widgets, app cards, and AI wallpapers, you can use it as a viewfinder for selfies with the rear cameras. On the front, Xiaomi said at the China launch that side-view brightness falls to about 1% beyond 60 degrees with the Privacy Display.

How Much You Could Pay for Either Phone

In China, the 256GB Pro Max costs ¥1,000 more than the 256GB Pro. The Dealabs leak puts that same gap at €200 in Europe. Xiaomi hasn’t announced European prices, and the leaks disagree where they overlap.

The leaks are €50 apart on both the 256GB Pro and the 512GB Pro Max. There’s another wrinkle if you want the 512GB Pro. A French retailer listing put it at €1,592, while a separate report put it at €1,649.

For context, the Xiaomi 17 launched globally at €999 and the 17 Ultra at €1,499. Even the lower leak puts the 512GB Pro Max €300 above the 17 Ultra. If you’re comparing it with the $1,299 Galaxy S26 Ultra in the US, remember that the leaked European prices include VAT. Converting them directly to dollars would overstate a hypothetical US price before tax, and Xiaomi has announced no US price.

Can You Buy the Xiaomi 18 Pro in the US?

You’ll need to import the Xiaomi 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max if you want one in the US. Xiaomi doesn’t officially sell phones here, and it hasn’t announced a US release for either model. One report named the Americas as a target region, but it gave no US sale date or price.

You can watch the Paris event from the US, of course. The part to pay attention to if you’re buying is where each model will actually go on sale. Before you order from an overseas seller, run through these four checks.

1. Wait for a global model. The phones already on sale in China are the China editions. If you want a global or European unit, check that the listing identifies that version and spells out which ROM it runs and whether Google services are included.
2. Check your carrier’s bands. Get the exact model number from the seller, then compare that model’s LTE and 5G bands with the ones your US carrier uses. A listing that simply says the phone supports 5G gives you too little information to make that call. If you plan to use an eSIM, check our fixes for an eSIM that won’t activate before you order.
3. Check who would handle a repair. Plan on going without US carrier support or a US retail warranty. Xiaomi lists an International Warranty Service, so check whether it covers the exact phone you’re buying and where you could get it serviced.
4. Add up the import cost. Put the seller’s price, shipping, and any applicable taxes into the same total. That’s the figure you can compare with a phone you can buy locally. The leaked European prices alone won’t tell you how much an import will cost.

How the Xiaomi 18 Pro Compares With the 17 Pro

The little screen on the back might be what got your attention, but Xiaomi already had one on both 17 Pro models. The difference this time is that you’ll be able to buy Xiaomi’s rear-screen phones outside China. You also get two 200MP rear cameras on either 18 Pro model and a larger main display if you pick the smaller Pro.

Notice what happens if you compare the leaked European battery figures with last year’s China models. At 6,000mAh, the European 18 Pro would have 300mAh less capacity than the China-only 17 Pro. The 7,050mAh figure for the European Pro Max would put it 450mAh below the 17 Pro Max. If battery life is what you care about, look for tests of the version you’d actually buy. The independent reviews so far have used Chinese hardware.

How the Xiaomi 18 Pro Stacks Up Against US Rivals

What would make the Xiaomi worth importing for you? If it’s the rear display, that’s a feature you can judge on its own. If you’re after screen privacy, a big battery, or faster performance, you have a few more numbers to compare before you spend anything.

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra. The Galaxy starts at $1,299 in the US and has its own Privacy Display. You get a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy, a 5,000mAh battery, 60W wired charging, and 25W wireless charging. Both Xiaomi models have higher battery and charging figures in the European leaks. Samsung gives you a confirmed US price to work with.
• Motorola Signature 27. This North American model pairs the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 with a 7,000mAh battery and a 200MP periscope camera. If those are the three specs drawing you to the Pro Max, the Motorola gets close on paper. Its battery is just 50mAh below the leaked European Pro Max capacity.
• Apple iPhone 18 Pro. In provisional Geekbench 7 results, the A20 Pro scored 4,025 for single-core and 11,599 for multi-core. The 18 Pro’s Snapdragon chip scored 3,220 and 9,646, while the Pro Max’s Extreme chip posted 3,582 and 12,247. That puts Apple ahead on single-core and the Extreme chip ahead on multi-core in those early figures. Give reviews of the retail phones more weight when you compare everyday performance.

If that little rear screen is still calling your name, enjoy the Paris launch and give yourself time to decide. Once Xiaomi posts regional prices and reviews of global units are out, you can put the import total next to the US options and see which phone you’d be happiest to use every day.

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