Google Pixel fans might hate me for saying this, but I don't think the Pixel 11 Pro phones justify their more-than-$1,000 price tag. The only major upgrade you get in this year's Pro models is the addition of the new HiLight, which, in my opinion, offers limited functionality. Our poll results have also made it clear that most of you believe the Pixel 11's biggest upgrade is nothing more than a gimmick.
If the Big G really wanted to add something innovative to the rear panel of its smartphones, it could have taken inspiration from the Xiaomi 17 Pro family, which comes with an interactive rear screen. The lineup is soon going to get its successor, the Xiaomi 18 Pro series, and the company has recently released a teaser video showcasing its brand-new rear screen. Honestly, it looks really amazing.
The Xiaomi 18 Pro series rear screen will be more functional
Lu Weibing, the president at Xiaomi, recently shared a hands-on video of the Xiaomi 18 Pro. Another video has been shared by Xiaomi's official account on Weibo. Both videos mainly focus on the capabilities that the rear display of the Xiaomi 18 Pro series will offer.
The rear screen present in the Xiaomi 17 Pro lineup is already compatible with various functions like media and call controls, flight info, delivery notifications, and more. The smartphone giant is now looking to bring even more features to the table, as the upcoming Xiaomi 18 Pro smartphones will reportedly have a larger rear display, and you will be given the option of creating your own mini apps using AI. These apps can then be displayed on the rear screen.
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Water tracking app in Xiaomi 18 Pro rear display. | Image by Weibo
The shared video showcases various examples of such mini apps. For instance, you could create an app to remind you to drink water or an app that helps you learn new English words. Xiaomi has mentioned in a post that it has collaborated with different brands in China, like Starbucks, to offer custom app cards for the rear screen on its upcoming Pro smartphones.
Do you think a rear display on a smartphone is actually useful?
4 Votes
Other specifications of the Xiaomi 18 Pro lineup
The Xiaomi 18 Pro series is likely to include two models: the Xiaomi 18 Pro and the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max. The devices are rumored to run on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chipset. The wired charging capacity is believed to be 100 W, and the well-known tipster Digital Chat Station claims that the Max variant will pack a battery of more than 8,000 mAh.
You'll likely get a triple-camera setup at the back, with the primary camera reported to be a 200 MP sensor with an f/1.67 aperture. The upcoming Pro phones also sport a 3.2x telephoto lens, which is reportedly going to have an f/2.4 aperture. The ultrawide camera will reportedly be a 50 MP shooter.
Will the Xiaomi 18 Pro family see a global release?
As of now, there is no clarity on this matter. However, it is worth noting that previous Pro smartphones from Xiaomi were not released outside China. Many smartphone enthusiasts and I really hope this changes so we get the chance to try out what appears to be a spectacular device.
User hoping for the global release of Xiaomi 18 Pro. | Image by Reddit
All that said, the tech giant is yet to announce the exact release date, but there is a high possibility that the smartphones could launch anytime in September.
Google should take notes
I really had high hopes for the Pixel 11's HiLight feature, but I was really disappointed after learning that it could only be used for two functions. You definitely have the option to use a third-party application to improve the functionality of HiLight, but officially, its use case is very limited. In comparison, there are smartphones like the Xiaomi 18 Pro that use the rear panel to the fullest.
If you think comparing a smartphone with a rear LED light to one with a rear display is not ideal, then how about putting it next to Nothing smartphones that come with Glyph Light and Glyph Matrix, which also perform the same function as HiLight but in a much better way? Honestly, HiLight looks very basic in front of Nothing's Glyph lights, let alone when compared to the reported capabilities of the Xiaomi 18 Pro's rear panel. I really hope that Google works on the HiLight feature and makes it even more useful in the Pixel 12 family, as a simple notification LED indicator looks totally unacceptable by 2026 smartphone standards.
The Xiaomi 18 lineup also has a foldable, and here are some interesting stories about it:
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Aman Kumar is a news writer at PhoneArena covering Google Pixel phones, Android features, AI-powered smartphone tools, and mobile tech news. Before joining PhoneArena, he spent over five years writing about consumer technology for publications like MakeUseOf, How-To Geek, and Guiding Tech. His current daily drivers are the Pixel 10 and Samsung Galaxy S26 Plus, while his red iPhone SE (2nd gen) remains a personal favorite. Aman also appreciates bold smartphone experiments and still considers the Nokia N-Gage one of the industry’s most iconic designs.
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