{"id":11838,"date":"2026-09-25T05:03:24","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T03:03:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/2026\/09\/25\/xiaomi-is-upgrading-the-cameras-in-its-18-pro-and-pro-max-to-200mp-models\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T05:03:24","modified_gmt":"2026-09-25T03:03:24","slug":"xiaomi-is-upgrading-the-cameras-in-its-18-pro-and-pro-max-to-200mp-models","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.brokenmount.com\/bm\/2026\/09\/25\/xiaomi-is-upgrading-the-cameras-in-its-18-pro-and-pro-max-to-200mp-models\/","title":{"rendered":"Xiaomi is upgrading the cameras in its 18 Pro and Pro Max to 200MP models"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\n\tThe company is doubling down on its Leica partnership with two new flagships that share the same triple-camera system.<\/p>\n

\"BlackXiaomi<\/span><\/figure>\n<\/section>\n
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Xiaomi has announced the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max<\/a>, two new flagship smartphones featuring Leica-branded triple-camera systems. The company says the lineup will reach global markets (except the US), a first for its Pro phones. The phones are also the first powered by Qualcomm\u2019s newly released Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Cameras<\/h2>\n
\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\nXiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max<\/th>\nXiaomi 17 Pro<\/th>\nXiaomi 17 Pro Max<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Main (wide)<\/td>\n23mm equiv.
F1.67
200MP
Type 1\/1.28 LOFIC sensor
(74.4mm2<\/sup>)
OIS<\/td>\n		23mm equiv.
F1.7
50MP
Type 1\/1.28
(74.4mm\u00b2)
OIS<\/td>\n		23mm equiv.
F1.7
50MP
Type 1\/1.28
(74.4mm\u00b2)
OIS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Telephoto<\/td>\n75mm equiv.
F2.4
200MP
Type 1\/1.56
(50mm2<\/sup>)
OIS<\/td>\n		115mm equiv.
F3.0
50MP
Sensor size not provided
OIS<\/td>\n		115mm equiv.
F2.6
50MP
Type 1\/1.95
(32mm\u00b2)
OIS<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Ultrawide<\/td>\n17mm equiv.
F2.4
50MP
Type 1\/2.88
(18.6mm2<\/sup>)<\/td>\n		17mm equiv.
F2.4
50MP
Type 1\/2.76
(20.5mm\u00b2)<\/td>\n		17mm equiv.
F2.4
50MP
Type 1\/2.88
(18.6mm\u00b2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

Unlike their predecessors, the two phones share identical camera setups. They pair a 200MP main camera with a 200MP periscope telephoto, a notable bump in resolution from the 50MP main and telephoto cameras found on the 17 Pro series. Those two cameras also benefit from faster apertures. Additionally, the phones feature a 50MP ultrawide, though it stays consistent with its predecessor\u2019s. <\/p>\n

The main camera uses a Type 1\/1.28 (74.4mm2<\/sup>) sensor with LOFIC technology<\/a>, which is designed to improve highlight handling and dynamic range. Xiaomi is among several phone makers now using the sensor architecture in high-end models. That main camera also features a Leica Summilux lens design, which combines precision glass and plastic elements, and Xiaomi says it offers CIPA-rated seven stops of shake correction.<\/p>\n

\"Person<\/a>
Xiaomi provided this image sample, which was taken with the 18 Pro Max telephoto camera.<\/figcaption>Xiaomi<\/span><\/figure>\n

Xiaomi also introduced \u201cLegendary Moment,\u201d a new imaging system that the company says combines on-device and cloud-based processing with Leica color science. Xiaomi says the feature can apply camera-inspired styles, though it hasn\u2019t provided many details yet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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Displays and design<\/h2>\n
\"A<\/a>Xiaomi<\/span><\/figure>\n

Both phones add a hardware-level Privacy Display feature, which looks broadly similar to the privacy-display technology Samsung introduced on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. Xiaomi says it can limit off-axis viewing for an individual app and automatically apply the protection to associated notifications, floating windows and split-screen views, while leaving the rest of the display unaffected. <\/p>\n

The new phones also retain the secondary display on the back of the phone from the 17 Pro generation. In addition to showing notifications and widgets, it can serve as a live viewfinder when using the rear cameras, making it easier to frame higher-quality main-camera selfies or vlog clips without switching to the front-facing camera. It also allows users to set custom wallpapers and can interact with the phone\u2019s AI assistant. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n

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\"Xiaomi<\/a>Xiaomi<\/span><\/figure>\n

In terms of primary display, the 18 Pro features a 6.4-inch panel, while the Pro Max is a larger 6.9 inches. Both use 120Hz LTPO AMOLED displays with 4000-nit peak brightness and Dolby Vision and HDR10+ support.<\/p>\n

The 18 Pro uses Qualcomm\u2019s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, while the 18 Pro Max receives the higher-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Qualcomm announced both platforms on September 22, only one day before Xiaomi introduced the phones.<\/p>\n

Pricing and availability<\/h2>\n

Xiaomi has launched the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max in China, where they start at CNY 5,999 (about $895) and CNY 6,999 (about $1045), respectively. Xiaomi says the phones will reach global markets later this year, excluding the US, but it has not shared a specific launch schedule.<\/p>\n

About the Author: <\/span>Abby Ferguson holds an MFA in photography and blends a fine-art background with extensive editorial and commercial experience. She built and led an in-house imaging program for a large vacation rental company and has served as an associate editor at Popular Photography. She also teaches at a local community college and serves on its Photographic Technology Program Advisory Board, sharing her knowledge and enthusiasm for the medium.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n
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