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  • Xiaomi 18 Tipped to Launch Without Flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro Chip Due to High Cost

Xiaomi 18 Tipped to Launch Without Flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro Chip Due to High Cost

Qualcomm's purported Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is reportedly set to carry a significantly higher price tag.

Written by Sucharita Ganguly, Edited by David Delima | Updated: 12 February 2026 10:50 IST
Xiaomi 18 Tipped to Launch Without Flagship Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro Chip Due to High Cost

All Xiaomi 17 series models run on Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 SoC

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Highlights
  • Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max are tipped to get the Elite Gen 6 Pro
  • Qualcomm may unveil Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chips in September
  • Xiaomi 17 lineup runs Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 with no Pro variant
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Xiaomi's next flagship lineup is already generating early buzz ahead of its anticipated launch in the second half of this year. With Qualcomm rumoured to unveil a new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series later this year, attention is now turning to how major smartphone brands will integrate these chips into their upcoming devices. A fresh leak from China suggests Xiaomi may opt for a tiered approach with the Xiaomi 18 family, potentially making sharper distinctions between the standard and Pro models in terms of performance and pricing.

Xiaomi 18 Series Could Feature Different Chips When Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro Debuts

According to a new Weibo post and accompanying comments from tipster Digital Chat Station, the standard Xiaomi 18 is expected to feature Qualcomm's upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, rather than the more premium Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. The reason, the tipster claims, comes down to cost.

Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro is reportedly set to carry a significantly higher price tag, making it too expensive for the company to include in the base Xiaomi 18 without further raising prices. Instead, Xiaomi is said to be reserving the top-end Pro chipset for its higher-tier models, with the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max likely to feature the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro.

Qualcomm is rumoured to unveil the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series in September, with Xiaomi's 18 lineup expected to follow shortly after. The existing Xiaomi 17 series, including the base Xiaomi 17 as well as the Xiaomi 17 Pro, Xiaomi 17 Pro Max and Xiaomi 17 Ultra models, are all powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset. However, Qualcomm also did not release a "Pro" version of this chip.

Notably, the same tipster previously said Xiaomi is testing two 200-megapixel sensors for a compact 6.3-inch flagship, widely believed to be the Xiaomi 18 Pro. One could be the main camera and the other a telephoto or a periscope unit. If true, Xiaomi 18 Pro may join another Chinese OEM, Oppo, in adopting dual 200-megapixel sensors on upcoming flagships.

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Xiaomi 17 Pro

Xiaomi 17 Pro

  • KEY SPECS
  • NEWS
Display (Primary) 6.30-inch
Cover Display 2.70-inch
Cover Resolution 904x572 pixels
Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Front Camera 50-megapixel
Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 50-megapixel + 50-megapixel
RAM 12GB
Storage 256GB
Battery Capacity 6300mAh
OS Android 16
Resolution 1220x2656 pixels
Xiaomi 17 Pro Max

Xiaomi 17 Pro Max

  • KEY SPECS
  • NEWS
Display (Primary) 6.90-inch
Cover Display 2.90-inch
Cover Resolution 976x596 pixels
Processor Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
Front Camera 50-megapixel
Rear Camera 50-megapixel + 50-megapixel + 50-megapixel
RAM 12GB
Storage 512GB
Battery Capacity 7500mAh
OS Android 16
Resolution 1200x2608 pixels
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Further reading: Xiaomi 18, Xiaomi 18 Series, Xiaomi, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Series, Qualcomm
Sucharita Ganguly
Sucharita Ganguly
Sucharita is a writer with Gadgets 360 and is mostly found playing with her cat in her free time. She has previously worked at breaking news desks across organizations. Powered by coffee, The Beatles, Bowie, and her newfound love for BTS, she aims to work towards contributing to a better media environment for women and queer folk. More
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