Xiaomi is reportedly planning three separate product launches in September 2026. On September 1, the company is expected to unveil the globally targeted POCO F9 Pro and F9 Ultra. Roughly a week later, the Xiaomi 18 Fold — the first device powered by Xiaomi’s own XRing O3 chip — is anticipated for the Chinese market. Finally, toward the end of the month, the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are expected to debut as the first phones with Qualcomm’s 2 nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, also initially for China. Full specifications and pricing for several of these devices remain officially unconfirmed.
What you need to know
- POCO F9 Pro and F9 Ultra are the only models in this lineup announced for global availability from day one, both powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5.
- The Xiaomi 18 Fold reportedly uses Xiaomi’s in-house XRing O3 chip (3 nm TSMC), which according to the source has scored 5.22 million points in AnTuTu — reportedly the first mobile chip to surpass 5 million.
- The Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to be the first phones with Qualcomm’s 2 nm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, but are currently announced only for China.
Xiaomi is preparing several new smartphones
September 1: POCO F9 Pro and F9 Ultra — global launch
The POCO F9 Pro and F9 Ultra are the only devices in this September wave designed for global availability from the outset. Both are built on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with CPU speeds up to 4.6 GHz, feature Bose-tuned speakers, and carry an IP69 rating. Configuration options include 12 or 16 GB of RAM and 256 or 512 GB of storage. Wired charging is rated at 100 W, wireless at 50 W. According to the source, both models come with a free screen replacement within the first year. Despite sharing a platform, the two models differ significantly.
The POCO F9 series is expected on September 1. Image: POCO
POCO F9 Pro:
- 6.59-inch OLED QHD display, 185 Hz refresh rate
- 6,330 mAh battery
- Triple camera: 50 MP main with OIS, 8 MP ultrawide, 50 MP periscope telephoto with 3× zoom
POCO F9 Ultra:
- 6.9-inch AMOLED display, 2608 × 1200 resolution, 185 Hz, 4,500 nits peak brightness
- 8,050 mAh battery
- Triple camera: 200 MP main with OIS, 50 MP periscope telephoto with 5× zoom, 50 MP ultrawide
- LED notification ring around the camera module — a feature absent from the Pro
One week later: Xiaomi 18 Fold — first phone with the XRing O3 chip
Xiaomi’s foldable is also approaching launch. Image: Xiaomi
The Xiaomi 18 Fold is notable primarily for its processor. The XRing O3 is manufactured on TSMC’s 3 nm process and features a 10-core CPU and a 16-core G2-Ultra NX GPU. The CPU core configuration is as follows:
- 2 × C1-Ultra cores up to 4.35 GHz
- 4 × C1-Premium cores up to 3.68 GHz
- 4 × C1-Pro cores up to 3.15 GHz
According to the source, the XRing O3 has scored 5.22 million points in AnTuTu, making it reportedly the first mobile chip to surpass the 5 million mark. For context, the source states the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 scores around 3.8 million — a gap of roughly 37%. However, full specifications and pricing for the Xiaomi 18 Fold have not been officially disclosed. Sales are expected to begin in September in China, where pre-orders have reportedly opened. No global launch has been announced.
Late September: Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max — first on Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro
The most ambitious entries of the month, the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, are expected to be the first smartphones powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, built on a 2 nm process. The GPU is reportedly the Adreno 850, with the CPU using Oryon cores in a 2+3+3 configuration.
The Xiaomi 18 series is expected in late September
What is reported about the models:
- Xiaomi 18 Pro Max — two 200 MP cameras, including a main sensor at 1/1.28 inches in LOFIC format; approximately 8,000 mAh battery using silicon-anode technology.
- Xiaomi 18 Pro — a secondary display on the rear panel and a possible Privacy Display feature.
- Both models — a dedicated physical AI button for invoking AI functions without unlocking the screen.
According to preliminary information cited by the source, the Xiaomi 18 Pro may be priced at around 6,000 yuan — roughly 20% higher than its predecessor, attributed to rising component costs and the transition to the new chipset. These devices are currently announced only for the Chinese market, with no confirmed timeline for a broader international release.
What remains uncertain
Much of the information about the Xiaomi 18 Fold, 18 Pro, and 18 Pro Max comes from preliminary reports rather than official confirmations. Full specifications, final pricing, and global availability for these China-first devices have not been formally announced. The POCO F9 series is the only lineup in this wave confirmed for a global launch. Prospective buyers outside China should treat the Xiaomi 18 series details as subject to change.
