We went hands-on with Xiaomi’s  dual-screen 18 Pro phones with Leica cameras

Xiaomi’s 18 Pro and Pro Max are heading for a global launch in Paris on November 17, following their Chinese launch on September 24. We’ve had some time with the phones ahead of that event, so we put together a quick look at the pair.

Both feature 200MP main cameras with Type 1/1.28 LOFIC sensors (74.4mm²) and 200MP telephoto cameras with Type 1/1.56 (50mm²) sensors. The 50MP ultrawides feature smaller 50MP Type 1/2.88 (18.6mm²) sensors. The Pro Max gets larger front and rear displays and a faster processor; our earlier announcement article covers the specifications in more detail.

The Pro Max shares its name with Apple’s flagship, and the maroon finish invites further iPhone comparisons. But the rear display gives Xiaomi’s phones something to set them apart.

First impressions

I’ll be spending more time with the phone over the coming weeks, but thus far, the rear display is the standout feature, as it’s not something I have on my personal Google Pixel. It looks quite nice, even for being so small, and it lets me check information at a glance with the phone face down.

More importantly for my work, it will make filming myself for DPReview considerably easier, since I can record with the higher-quality rear camera, but still see what’s in the frame. It also offers fairly comprehensive camera controls, so I can adjust settings without reaching around to the main screen.

I haven’t had enough time with the phones to draw firm conclusions about image quality, but so far, the photos have the typical smartphone look. There are two Leica-tuned profiles, Vibrant and Authentic, along with a Leica Master Portrait mode.

One interface detail I appreciate is the dedicated shortcut to the 200MP mode at the bottom of the camera app. The phones don’t shoot at full resolution by default, and having that option readily accessible is more convenient than digging through settings when I want the extra resolution.