Xiaomi hasn’t announced the date yet, but in China they’re already taking deposits for the basic Xiaomi 18. The leak also promises a version with 1 TB

Xiaomi hasn’t said yet when the base Xiaomi 18 will be unveiled, but in China you can already reserve a spot for it. Physical retailers have launched so-called blind pre-orders, where you pay a deposit without knowing the price. On the same day, a leak also appeared: according to it, the most expensive version will get 16 GB RAM and 1 TB of storage.

Deposit with no price and no date

A poster being shared on Weibo describes Xiaomi 18 as a flagship with a flat display, Leica cameras, and the HyperOS system. If you’re interested, you message the seller and pay a deposit that will be returned to you if you change your mind. In return, you get to pick the colour first and you also receive benefits from day one of sales. According to GSMArena, the seller didn’t write a single word about the price.

This isn’t an official pre-sale from Xiaomi, but a campaign by sellers who want to have customers earlier than the competition. Such reservations usually appear in China when the launch is close. The M261DB model also already went through 3C certification with 100 W charging on November 6, so the December timeframe mentioned by Chinese bloggers looks realistic.

Top version with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB

Known Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station wrote on Weibo that the more compact model with a 2 nm chip will, in the highest configuration, get 16 GB RAM and 1 TB of storage. According to him, the display should be sharper, a 200 Mpx camera with a large sensor, a more powerful performance, and a bigger one-cell battery, while charging will be at 100 W. He didn’t mention the brand in the post, but XimiTime and other sources link it to the base Xiaomi 18 because the specs match its previous leaks.

The most discussions were sparked by the weight around 200 grams. Under the post, people complained that it’s too much for a smaller phone, and the leaker replied that a big battery and a better camera can’t fit into a lightweight body. Last year’s Xiaomi 17 with a 6.3-inch display weighs 191 g, while the pricier Xiaomi 18 Pro with a rear display starts at 203 g.

What the leaks so far say about the specs

According to older leaks collected by the Spanish site Mundo Xiaomi, Xiaomi 18 will have a flat 6.4-inch display with 1.5K resolution and the same Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip as Xiaomi 18 Pro. Xiaomi is keeping the more powerful version of the chip for 18 Pro Max. The battery is said to have a capacity of 7,200 mAh, which is 200 mAh more than in the China Xiaomi 18 Pro. Charging will be via cable at 100 W and also wirelessly, although sources list different wireless charging power.

The main camera should have a resolution of 200 MP and a 1/1.28-inch sensor. It will be complemented by a 50 MP ultra-wide lens and a telephoto lens with 3x zoom. With the telephoto lens, sources disagree: most say 200 MP, but at least one leak mentions only 50 MP. The back display won’t get from Pro models the base Xiaomi 18, and GSMArena also doubts that it will have the Smart Privacy Display feature.

If the leaks are confirmed, Xiaomi 18 will have a bigger battery than 18 Pro and a flat display with the same chip, but it will lack the rear display. All specs except the 100 W charging from the certification should be treated as unverified until Xiaomi shows them.

Only Pro models for Europe so far

Xiaomi will launch global versions of 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max 17. November, along with the Watch S5 in a size of 41 mm, the Smart Band 11 bracelet, and the Xiaomi Clip earbuds. The manufacturer is keeping quiet about a global base Xiaomi 18 for now, and Mundo Xiaomi estimates it won’t reach Europe until sometime next year.

On the internet, Xiaomi 18T series specifications have already appeared too, so there may be even more models. If you’d rather go for the base model, you’ll be looking at importing the Chinese version after the December launch, but expect a Chinese system without full Slovak and with limited Google services.

To get more updates from the world of Xiaomi, keep following our Xiaomi Planet website. Join our Facebook group, where we build an active community and help each other out. Subscribe to our Telegram as well, where we add the best deals and coupons from China every day.