The second half of the year will witness the showdown of Android flagship devices, and Xiaomi’s 18 series will kick off this battle. As various leaks are revealed, the biggest change of this new generation of phones is that it has completely solved the problem of the previous standard versions’ “precise design but reduced configuration”. All models have their hardware fully optimized. However, due to the soaring supply chain costs, the price increase of Xiaomi 18 series is almost certain.
This year, Xiaomi 18 series adopted a new release model: Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max were released first in September, while the standard version was postponed. The top-of-the-line Xiaomi 18 Ultra was scheduled to be the last to be launched on December. All the new models were the first to feature the new flagship chip from Qualcomm, and they were the first to adopt the 2nm process from TSMC. The hardware performance has seen a significant upgrade.
In terms of performance, the entire lineup of Xiaomi 18 is equipped with the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen6 series 2nm flagship chip. The new 2+3+3 eight-core architecture, combined with a 16MB ultra-large cache, has achieved comprehensive upgrades in performance and power consumption optimization. The versions are clearly distinguished, with the standard edition and Pro edition using the Snapdragon 8E6, focusing on balance and stability; the Pro Max enjoys the full-blooded Snapdragon 8E6 Pro+ LPDDR6 memory, with the GPU performance fully optimized, firmly occupying the top position in the annual Android performance tier.
However, the price increase of the new model is inevitable. The cost of the 2nm process has soared significantly, and the cost of the Snapdragon 8E6 Pro chip has risen by over 20%, exceeding $300. Coupled with the increase in storage prices and other factors, the original starting price of 4,499 yuan is basically unattainable. The trend of collective price hikes for Android flagship models has been fully realized in the Xiaomi 18 series.
In terms of configuration, the standard version of Xiaomi 18 is highly feature-rich. It is equipped with a 6.4-inch small-sized ultra-clear straight screen, featuring extremely narrow quadrilateral bezels and a large R-corner design, providing excellent hand feel and visual experience. The Pro series upgrades to a 2K ultra-clear screen and adds a hardware-level anti-spy function, balancing display quality and privacy protection.
The camera system has undergone an epic upgrade. The standard version of Xiaomi 18 is the first to feature a 3X telephoto lens + dual 200-megapixel ultra-large sensors. This completely resolves the long-standing shortcoming of the standard version lacking a telephoto lens. The top-of-the-line Pro Max is equipped with a brand-new Leica 200-megapixel main camera, supporting LOFIC HDR 3.0 ultra-high dynamic range. It can prevent overexposure in highlights and ensure clarity in low light, with full pixel ultra-fast focusing, resulting in a significant upgrade in the quality of the final images.
The battery life and all the detailed configurations are at full capacity. All models are equipped with a larger battery and support dual fast charging (100W wired + wireless). This eliminates the worry about battery life. At the same time, it comes with an ultrasonic fingerprint sensor and full-level water resistance, providing an excellent experience. The product selection is also very clear: The Pro series retains the classic back screen, while the standard version gives up the back screen in exchange for a larger battery, catering to different user needs.
The system experience will undergo a qualitative leap. Xiaomi 18 will come pre-installed with the brand-new Hyper OS 4.0. The new version thoroughly removes the residual code of MIUI， restructures the core modules using the Rust language， making the system more lightweight， faster to start， lower in power consumption， and more stable. At the same time， a new Liquid Glass UI is added， featuring a transparent and soft new visual style. Its appearance level is comparable to iOS， and it will also become the mainstream design trend in the industry in the future.
Overall, the Xiaomi 18 series is the generation of flagship phones that has made the most significant progress in addressing shortcomings and has the strongest overall capabilities in recent years. It features 2nm chips across the entire series, standard version telephoto lenses, and a completely restructured system. The upgrade is very sincere. However, the price increase due to rising costs has also made this new model a subject of controversy.
Some people believe that the price increase of flagship models is an inevitable trend in the industry. There are also long-time fans of Xiaomi who lament that Xiaomi no longer focuses on offering affordable and cost-effective products. However, it is undeniable that the all-round and flaw-free configuration has made Xiaomi 18 the most anticipated Android flagship this year in the second half of the year, and the overall product strength has achieved a complete upgrade.