Xiaomi's newest flagship pair has landed at our office, and we're kicking things off with an unboxing of the bigger Xiaomi 18 Pro Max. Be sure to check out the video unboxing over at our official TikTok as well.
The global retail package comes with a USB cable and a transparent protective case. Our unit is the eye-catching Velvet Red variant, equipped with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
The bundled case is surprisingly solid. It's thick and gives you confidence that your phone is well protected straight out of the box.
The in-box case in the hand
If you want an extra layer of protection with a more premium feel, there's the official Xiaomi Silicone Magnetic case. It boasts a soft-touch finish, a velvet interior lining, and integrated magnets that unlock Qi2 accessory support.
A premium second option
Here's the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max on the left next to the more compact 18 Pro on the right. Xiaomi has kept the differences between the two mostly down to size. Both phones share the same outstanding camera hardware, the same chipset, and identical build quality and display specifications. What sets them apart is their screen dimensions, battery sizes, and the footprint of the secondary displays on their backs.
Xiaomi 18 Pro Max vs Xiaomi 18 Pro
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Max features a 2.9-inch rear screen, while the 18 Pro carries a 2.7-inch one. It's fair to say Xiaomi borrowed a few design cues from Apple's latest iPhone Pro generation. Yet when you put the 18 Pro duo up against the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, the Chinese flagships arguably come across as the more striking devices.
Being able to use the rear display to frame selfies with the main camera is exactly the kind of party trick we appreciate. Curiously, despite the similar looks, Xiaomi's Pro models sit perfectly flat on a table with zero wobble, whereas the iPhone rocks around quite a bit.
The second display
The rear screen is good for much more than selfies. It can surface notifications, handle incoming calls, manage your music, show the weather, display calendar events, run timers, and plenty more. In essence, it's a smartwatch embedded into the camera island on the back of the phone!
Display on, display off
The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max will make their global debut on November 17, and we're working to have our in-depth review ready around that date, so stay tuned!
