Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max should go beyond the Chinese market this month. The company has confirmed the international launch, but has not yet announced the exact launch date, list of countries and official prices. Currently, we have to focus on the sources, which indicate on significant differences between the Chinese and European versions. According to preliminary data, the main characteristics of cameras, processors and an additional screen will remain unchanged. However, European models will get smaller batteries, and previous prices indicate a significant price increase. At the same time, the global launch can be especially interesting for buyers: that year’s Xiaomi 17 Pro never left China.
Xiaomi 18 Pro will retain the processor and two 200 MP Leica cameras
According to preliminary data, the global Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max will receive the same processors as the Chinese versions. The standard model will use Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6and the older one — Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. Both smartphones will run on HyperOS 4. The camera system should also remain the same. Two 200-megapixel Leica cameras are reported to be one of the main features of the series. The unusual additional display on the back panel will also be preserved. According to sources, the Xiaomi 18 Pro will get a 2.7-inch AMOLED screen, and the Pro Max will have a 2.9-inch display. Also, a display privacy protection mode is expected in the series. Thus, the main hardware advantages of Chinese models should be transferred to international versions. The biggest compromises, according to the leaks, will be the batteries and the speed of wired charging.
The European Xiaomi 18 Pro will get smaller batteries
The most noticeable difference between the global models is the reduction of batteries compared to the Chinese versions.
| Model | Chinese version | European version | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 18 Pro | 7000 mAh | 6000 mAh | about −14% |
| Xiaomi 18 Pro Max | 8500 mAh | 7050 mAh | about −17% |
The power of wired charging of the younger model will also decrease: from 100 to 90 W. Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, according to available information, will retain 100 W support. Both smartphones should support 50W wireless charging. It is reported that these indicators are confirmed by European energy labels. However, Xiaomi has not yet explained the reasons for the battery reduction. Possible differences between regional versions remain a matter of discussion until the official launch. This is an important point for buyers: the results of autonomy tests of Chinese models cannot be automatically transferred to European smartphones. The global versions will have smaller batteries, so their actual endurance will need to be evaluated separately.
How much will the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max cost in Europe
Another question is the price. The Italian online store Epto has already published preliminary offers for new smartphones:
| Model | Configuration | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 18 Pro | 256 GB | €1398.90 |
| Xiaomi 18 Pro | 512 GB | €1591.90 |
| Xiaomi 18 Pro Max | — | €1783.90 |
Earlier, another leak mentioned starting prices of €1,449 for the Pro and €1,849 for the Pro Max. Until Xiaomi announces official European prices, these figures should be taken as preliminary retail estimates. For comparison, in China, the Xiaomi 18 Pro starts at 5,999 yuan (about $845), and the Pro Max starts at 6,999 yuan (about $986). If you focus on Italian offers, the European cost can be almost twice as high as the Chinese one in terms of dollars. However, this comparison is not a direct comparison of retail prices: they are affected by taxes, regional costs, warranty terms and distribution features. The final difference can be estimated after the official announcement of the price. To understand the scale of the price increase, we can recall last year’s Xiaomi 17, the starting price of which was €999. If Epto’s previous offers match the upcoming official prices, the basic Xiaomi 18 Pro will be about 40% more expensive.
In which countries will the Xiaomi 18 Pro be sold?
According to previous reports, the international launch will cover Europe, America and the Middle East. However, Xiaomi has not yet published a specific list of countries. There is also no confirmation that the series will enter the US market. The Ukrainian dates for the appearance of smartphones and local prices are currently unknown. After the European presentation, it will become clearer whether both models will reach Ukrainian sellers and how much they will cost. Potential buyers should wait for reviews of global versions. Smaller batteries and different charging capacities can significantly affect the everyday experience.
Should we wait for the global Xiaomi 18 Pro
The international launch of the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max is of particular importance to those who previously could not purchase the Pro model officially outside of China. Xiaomi 17 Pro did not receive a global release, so the new series could be the first real opportunity for an international audience to get acquainted with this format of the device. On the other hand, smaller batteries and higher upfront prices may make the global versions less attractive compared to the Chinese ones. The final estimate will depend on the official price, autonomy and availability of smartphones in specific countries.
