Xiaomi Pocket Guitar Turns the Rear Display into a Guitar

Among the many ways Xiaomi is trying to leverage the rear displays of its flagship devices (17 Pro and Pro Max, launched only in China), this latest one could be the most unusual. A new leak shows an accessory called Pocket Guitar, designed to turn the secondary screen of the Xiaomi 18 series and the external screen of the foldable Xiaomi 18 Fold.

Pocket Guitar is Xiaomi’s new leak gadget: how it would work and its limits

The rumor is being spread by developer Kacper Skrzypek, who on X shared the unofficial renders of the product along with an analysis of the files extracted from the HyperOS code. The accessory has been identified within the folder dedicated to secondary displays, so it is likely a gadget designed exclusively for Xiaomi’s flagship phones with rear displays.

According to what emerged from the firmware, Pocket Guitar would be a small foldable controller, available in black and red colors, with its own battery and connected to the smartphone via Bluetooth, with OTA updates support.

The top part of the device includes numbered buttons and a directional pad, while the bottom part integrates two buttons and vertical grooves that simulate the strings of a guitar. The idea, according to the firmware analysis, would be to press the eight buttons to select specific chords, while using the thumb to slide along the grooves to physically simulate the act of playing.

The rear display of the phone, meanwhile, would show lyrics or chord progressions generated by the Chinese app Changba, while the directional pad would allow navigating the menus without touching the secondary screen.

The constraint that could limit it to China alone

The real limit of Pocket Guitar would concern its diffusion: the accessory would obligatorily require the Changba app, a music and karaoke platform that operates exclusively in China, both for linking with the phone and for OTA updates. A requirement that would render the accessory practically useless for users outside the Chinese market.

For now there are no official details: the brand’s next event is set for September 7 (in China), where the new foldable Xiaomi 18 Fold and the tablet Pad 9 Pro Max, linked to the proprietary XRING O3 SoC, are expected to be announced. Xiaomi 18 Fold and the tablet Pad 9 Pro Max, both powered by the XRING O3 proprietary SoC.

And what about the rest of the Xiaomi 18 series? The launch is likely to take place toward the end of September, and it is plausible that the new gadget will find space in the same period.

For all the latest on the Xiaomi ecosystem, you can find our most recent articles in the Xiaomi section of GizChina.it.