Summary
- Xiaomi 18 may use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 while Pro model should get the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.
- The shift could be due to the upcoming chip being too expensive to include in the base model without raising prices.
- Xiaomi 18's base model could stick to its compact design, whereas the Xiaomi 18 Pro could feature two 200 MP cameras.
It's been a while since Xiaomi launched its Xiaomi 17 series powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5. Xiaomi flagships have historically been powered by the same flagship Qualcomm processor, but new information suggests that could change with the release of the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.
Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro may not feature in all Xiaomi 18 models
According to fresh leaks from tipster Digital Chat Station, Xiaomi may abandon its one chip for all approach and instead segregate the standard and Pro models of the Xiaomi 18 series by their processors.
The leak suggests the standard Xiaomi 18 will be powered by the regular Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, while the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max could arrive with the superior Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. The Ultra, too, could arrive with the Pro chipset but much later down the line.
The driving force behind this decision appears to be cost. Since the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is reportedly being manufactured on TSMC's 2nm process, and with support for LPDDR6 and UFS 5.0, the processor could demand a significantly higher price tag.
We also learned recently that the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro could adopt HPB (Heat Path Block) to counter the heat generated by its rumoured whopping 6 GHz core clocks. By reserving it for the most expensive models, Xiaomi can avoid a steep price hike for its entry-level flagship base model.
Besides processors, previous Xiaomi 18 Pro leaks point to dual 200 MP cameras – one for the main camera and another for a periscope telephoto unit. This strategy mirrors the push towards fitting in as many high-resolution cameras as possible, and the Find X9s could be the driving force behind it.
Not much is known about the specifications of the Xiaomi 18 series except that the Pro and Pro Max could retain secondary displays at the back. With the launch more than eight months away, more leaks and rumours should start surfacing as we inch closer to launch, so stay tuned.
