Xiaomi Isn’t Dropping the Rear Display — It’s Doubling Down With the 18 Series

Xiaomi isn’t done experimenting with rear screens just yet. Following the launch of the Xiaomi 17 series last month, the company has already started working on its next flagship lineup — the Xiaomi 18 series — and it looks like the secondary rear display is here to stay.

Rear Displays to Get More Practical

Xiaomi President Lu Weibing recently confirmed in a livestream that the company plans to continue developing phones with rear displays, despite the mixed reactions to the feature. The secondary screen first appeared years ago on the Mi 11 Ultra, disappeared for a few generations, and then returned on the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.

Now, according to tipster Digital Chat Station, the upcoming Xiaomi 18 Pro models will take the idea further with expanded software features and more interactive functionality. Instead of being a visual gimmick, the small screen could soon handle notifications, camera previews, or contextual widgets, making it more useful in day-to-day use.

What the Numbers Say

Interestingly, Xiaomi’s own data reportedly shows that the Pro variants with rear screens made up nearly 80% of total 17-series sales, which might explain why the company is doubling down on the idea. The numbers suggest that buyers aren’t just intrigued by the extra display — they’re actually willing to pay for it.

What to Expect From Xiaomi 18 Series

While it’s still early, the Xiaomi 18 series is expected to be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chip. If Xiaomi sticks to its usual launch pattern, the phones could arrive in September 2026, with the standard Xiaomi 18 likely getting a global release, while the Pro and Pro Max variants remain exclusive to China — at least initially.

Lu Weibing hinted that the company wants to improve app compatibility for the rear screens, which may help smooth out integration issues that limit their global rollout. It’s also likely that Xiaomi will add more developer support to make the feature work better across regions and third-party apps.

Still a Niche, But an Evolving One

Rear screens have long divided users — some see them as innovative, others as unnecessary. Xiaomi seems aware of that divide but is betting on refining rather than removing the feature. Given the early sales performance and growing curiosity around non-traditional designs, the rear display might stick around longer than expected.