Xiaomi 18 already in August, but the summer launch might not make sense

With the launch of the Redmi Note 17 series (even though the flagship model is missing from the lineup), we turn our attention back to the next flagship. Xiaomi 18 is becoming increasingly tangible, and now a new certification raises some doubts: what if the Chinese launch is already planned for the month of August?

However, that wouldn’t be a positive development, and the reason would concern the next flagship chipset in the Snapdragon family.

Xiaomi 18 certification still: rumors of the China release are becoming more tangible

Recently, the CMIIT certification dedicated to Xiaomi 18 has emerged: the device appeared in the database of the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology with the code 26C1166MP017 and the protocol number 2026-14638. This is a very important document, which paves the way for the launch in the Asian market.

All in all, a crucial step for the debut of the flagship, which opens the doors to a new scenario. According to the latest leaks, the device could be launched during the month of August, at least as far as China is concerned.

However this seems to us to be a rather unlikely hypothesis given that the Snapdragon Summit 2026 will be held from September 22 to 24. During the event, the new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 will be announced, which should find space aboard the Xiaomi 18.

Lei Jun’s company and Qualcomm have always had a very close relationship when it comes to the high-end chipset series. For years, Xiaomi’s flagship devices have been among the first to be announced with a new flagship Snapdragon.

Consequently, an August launch would mean that Xiaomi 18 would be powered by a chipset different from the Elite Gen 6. This is an unthinkable situation, despite the period we find ourselves in: we are in the thick of the memory crisis, with significant price hikes for manufacturers who are continually looking for new ways to save.

Global Release

Regarding the Global release, the flagship has been certified by various authorities with the acronyms 2611FPNFAG, 2611FPNFAR and 2611FPNFAI. In all cases the numbers “2611” are present and those who know Xiaomi know well what they mean: the international debut of the Xiaomi 18 should take place as early as November or in the following months (but not too far away in time).

Let’s be honest: this time Xiaomi hasn’t simplified things for anyone. Global certifications seem to lean toward an earlier-than-usual release; on the other hand there are rumors that Xiaomi 18 could even come out in in spring.

The brand could opt for two events, following Apple’s lead: in September the new 18 Pro and Pro Max, while the standard version will arrive later. This is a hypothesis with no solid foundation whatsoever (except the desire to imitate Cupertino), to be taken with extreme caution.

Scheda tecnica presunta

• Dimensioni e peso: /
• Colorazioni: /
• Certificazione: IP68
• Display: Flat OLED 6.4-inch 1.5K, Li-Po, LTPO refresh rate at 120 Hz, touch sampling at 300 Hz, 12-bit color, DC Dimming 2160 Hz and peak brightness up to 3,500 nits
• Security: ultrasonic under-display fingerprint reader
• Raffreddamento al liquido con camera di vapore
• SoC: INEDITO – Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6, 2 nm TSMC (N2p)
• CPU octa-core (2 + 3 + 3)
• GPU: Adreno 850
• RAM: 12/16 GB LPDDR5X
• Storage: 256/512 GB/1 TB UFS 4.1 non espandibile
• Batteria: sopra i 7.000 mAh
• Ricarica: 100W, wireless 50W, inversa cablata/wireless 22.5W
• Camera: triple 200 + 50 + 200 MP (f/?) with Light Fusion, OIS, ultra-wide and periscope telephoto with OIS | Leica optics
• Selfie camera: 50 MP (f/2.2), FOV 90°, autofocus
• Connectivity and more: Dual SIM 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, Dual GPS, stereo speaker, USB-C 3.2 Gen 1
• Sistema operativo: Android 17 con HyperOS 4