The POCO X8 Pro Max has a serious competitor. And this isn’t just another flagship with a good chip. Xiaomi has unveiled the REDMI K90 Max smartphone, which stands out from the rest of the market in two key ways: built-in active air cooling (a first in the lineup’s history) and a battery with a non-standard capacity. Until now, fans in smartphones were found only in overtly niche gaming devices. Here, this solution was integrated into a body just 8 mm thick, and at the same time, the developers maintained full water protection.
New Xiaomi smartphone for hardcore gamers
REDMI K90 Max Design
The new REDMI K90 Max comes in three colors: silver, blue, and black. Dimensions — 162.91×77.93×8.18 mm, weight — 227 g. For a smartphone with a fan and an 8550 mAh battery inside, those numbers are impressive.
The body has received IP66/68/69 certification. This is full protection against dust and water, including pressurized jets. Gaming smartphones usually sacrifice water resistance for cooling. Here, Xiaomi managed to combine both, which in itself deserves respect.
REDMI K90 Max Specifications
The internals of the REDMI K90 Max smartphone only confirm its gaming orientation, which manifests in literally everything: from the fairly simple camera to the powerful hardware and high refresh rate display.
| Specifications | REDMI K90 Max |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.83 inches, AMOLED (2772×1280), 1-165 Hz |
| Main Camera | 50 (OIS) + 8 MP |
| Front Camera | 20 MP |
| Processor | MediaTek Dimensity 9500 + D2 GPU |
| Memory | 12/256, 12/512, 16/256, 16/512, 16/1024 GB |
| Battery | 8550 mAh |
| Charging | 100 W |
The REDMI K90 Max processor is the MediaTek Dimensity 9500, one of the most powerful chips on the market right now. Added to it is the proprietary D2 GPU, which handles image upscaling and frame interpolation in games. This is a combination found in very few devices (previously, this was exclusive to the most expensive flagships). If you want to understand where the REDMI K90 Max ranks in AnTuTu relative to competitors — it’s among the 10 most powerful smartphones of 2026. As is the POCO X8 Pro Max, by the way.
Wireless interfaces include Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4 with LDAC and LHDC 5.0, NFC, and an IR blaster. There are two SIM card slots, and no memory expansion. So the newcomer is very close to the POCO X8 Pro Max smartphone, which is, however, simplified in several aspects.
REDMI K90 Max Active Cooling
This is the device’s main feature and a topic worthy of a separate discussion. A smartphone with a fan — it sounds exotic, but Xiaomi implemented it in a quite engineering-savvy way. Active air cooling works in tandem with a vapor chamber with an area of 6000 mm².
Diagram of how the built-in smartphone fan works. Image: Xiaomi
The principle is simple: the vapor chamber draws heat away from the chip, and the fan blows it out through special vents in the body. Compared to passive cooling, this delivers a noticeable result under sustained load: the processor doesn’t throttle as aggressively, and performance remains stable even during long gaming sessions.
A smartphone with active cooling isn’t new to the market in principle: similar solutions have appeared in the ASUS ROG Phone and Black Shark. But those devices were always niche and bulky. The REDMI K90 Max, at just 8.18 mm thick, looks like a perfectly ordinary flagship — and yet has a fan inside. This is arguably the most interesting thing Xiaomi has done with the lineup in recent times.
REDMI K90 Max Battery and Charging
The REDMI K90 Max battery is 8550 mAh. This is one of the largest batteries among flagship smartphones today. However, Xiaomi is also set to release a smartphone with a 10,000 mAh battery soon. Charging at 100 W means quite a reasonable charge recovery time for this capacity. There’s also 22.5 W reverse wired charging, meaning you can charge earbuds or other devices directly from the smartphone.
The REDMI K90 Max battery is massive, as befits a gaming phone. Image: Xiaomi
The combination of powerful cooling and a large battery makes sense: during long gaming sessions, the smartphone simultaneously avoids overheating and doesn’t die after two hours. Everything was designed exactly for this purpose.
REDMI K90 Max Price and Release Date
The REDMI K90 Max price in China by configuration:
- 12/256 GB: 2,999 yuan (≈ $410);
- 12/512 GB: 3,499 yuan (≈ $480);
- 16/256 GB: 3,499 yuan (≈ $480);
- 16/512 GB: 3,999 yuan (≈ $548);
- 16/1024 GB: 4,699 yuan (≈ $644).
The REDMI K series has historically been aimed at the Chinese domestic market and is not sold globally. Therefore, the REDMI K90 Max release date is not directly relevant for most readers. This smartphone will not appear in retail under its own name outside China.
However, there are precedents: previous REDMI K series models were released on the global market under the POCO brand. A global version of the REDMI K90 Max may well appear as a POCO smartphone. In that case, the REDMI K90 Max would become a reality for global buyers, albeit under a different name. For now, though, the only way to get it is by ordering from China.
Is the REDMI K90 Max Worth Buying?
A powerful Android smartphone with a fan, Dimensity 9500, 8550 mAh battery, and IP68/69 protection — on paper, this sounds like a device with no obvious compromises. If you’re looking for maximum gaming performance while also wanting decent battery life and a camera — the REDMI K90 Max hits the target.
The only caveat: you can buy the REDMI K90 Max right now only with shipping from China. If you wait for the official global release under the POCO brand, there are no alternatives yet. The POCO X8 Pro Max remains the closest option: a simpler chip, no fan, smaller battery, but it’s officially available and costs less. The choice depends on how important cooling and maximum battery capacity are to you.
