The Xiaomi 18 has started leaking surprisingly early, especially considering that the Xiaomi 17 has only just debuted in China and is preparing for its European rollout. Now, what appears to be the first credible render of the base Xiaomi 18 model has surfaced online.
If Xiaomi follows its usual release cycle, the Xiaomi 18, Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max should debut in China in September 2026. The newly shared image, posted by a Chinese blogger, allegedly shows the standard Xiaomi 18. As always with early renders, caution is advised.
At first glance, the design does not appear radically different from the past three generations. The rear camera module looks fairly conventional and has already drawn comparisons to devices like the iPhone 16 Pro. Some observers have also pointed out similarities with recently leaked designs from the OPPO Reno15 lineup.
The Leica branding is still here, albeit now in the lower right corner. The flash has also been moved outside of the module.
According to well-known tipster Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi may increase the display size on the Xiaomi 18 from 6.3 inches to 6.4 inches. While the change sounds minor on paper, it could have practical implications. A slightly larger chassis would allow more internal space, potentially accommodating a bigger battery and improved thermal management.
That said, the Xiaomi 17 already pushed battery capacity to an impressive 7,000 mAh, so expectations are naturally high for its successor. Under the hood, the Xiaomi 18 is expected to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 platform. Camera upgrades could be substantial, with rumors pointing to a 200MP periscope telephoto lens and a 50MP main sensor. If accurate, this would mark a significant step forward in Xiaomi’s zoom capabilities.
via Gizmochina