Xiaomi prepares vibrant new 18 Pro series with faster launch plans and Leica cameras

The upcoming Xiaomi 18 Pro lineup promises a more colourful range, faster release schedule, and Leica-branded cameras, signalling a bold step forward in Xiaomi’s premium smartphone segment.

Xiaomi’s next premium phones are already being sketched out in public, and the early picture points to a much more colourful Xiaomi 18 Pro line than the one it replaces. According to a report from Notebookcheck citing the well-known leaker Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi is testing black, white, pink, blue and red finishes for the series, while the overall industrial design is expected to stay broadly familiar. The rear secondary display seen on the current Pro models is also said to remain part of the package.

The timing appears to be moving quickly. Gizmochina reported earlier this year that Xiaomi is expected to bring the Xiaomi 18 family to market in September 2026, with standard, Pro and Max versions likely to use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 platform. That lines up with another Notebookcheck report saying Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit schedule has effectively fixed the launch window, and that Xiaomi may again be among the first brands to adopt the new chip.

There is also growing evidence that Xiaomi wants to shorten the gap between its Chinese and international launches. Gadgets 360, citing leaks from Weibo, said the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 could launch on separate schedules, with the Pro models possibly arriving first and going on sale before the Chinese Spring Festival. The same report said both devices are expected to carry Leica-branded cameras, extending Xiaomi’s partnership with the German optics brand. If the leaks are accurate, the bigger change may not be the hardware shape but the pace of release and the range of finishes, with the company possibly moving away from glass backs in favour of materials such as vegan leather or fibreglass.