Xiaomi copies Apple strategy: Xiaomi 18 to launch separately from Xiaomi 18 Pro
It’s nothing new that Android manufacturers like to copy Apple. As we all know, imitation is the highest form of flattery. Samsung is quite fond of doing this as well, and of course, the Californians also frequently take a look at the Android ecosystem for new ideas, which are then “rediscovered” on the iPhone and other Apple products. Apparently, word of this year’s significantly revamped iPhone lineup in September has likely spread to China already, where it appears to have been adopted immediately.
At least that’s what Kartikey Singh is currently suggesting on X. According to his report, it’s very likely that Xiaomi will launch the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 generation with just two new Xiaomi 18 Pro models for the first time: the Xiaomi 18 Pro and the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max. Apple is reportedly pursuing exactly this same strategy starting this fall, with the iPhone 18 set to follow in spring 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2, after the initial September launch of only the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, as well as Apple’s first foldable device, potentially named the iPhone Ultra.
Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max launching globally
In recent days, more and more details have emerged about Xiaomi's global plans, which are likely to differ drastically from what Xiaomi fans were used to in recent years. According to the latest reports, Xiaomi is compensating for the apparently scrapped Xiaomi 18 Ultra with an earlier launch of the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max in global markets such as India—a strategy that will likely apply to Europe as well. Kartikey Singh currently suggests that we probably won’t see the base Xiaomi 18 model until late this year or early 2027, meaning the manufacturer will clearly focus on the two Pro models—at least for the China launch in September.
This makes perfect sense, especially since Qualcomm’s new 2nm chips (the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro) are likely to be very expensive and may be reserved exclusively for the two Pro models. The new entry-level flagships from China, including the Xiaomi 18, could potentially be equipped with upgraded previous-generation chips, as a leaker had hinted in the past. Neither Apple nor Xiaomi have commented on these plans yet, so nothing has been officially confirmed; however, according to analysts like Mark Gurman, these plans are fairly certain—at least in Apple’s case.
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