Last updated: November 9, 2026. The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max have been on sale in China since September, and Xiaomi has now confirmed that the series is coming to global markets this month. We track these phones from the firmware side, so this article skips most of the spec sheet. It covers the codenames, the HyperOS 4 builds released so far, what to expect from global ROMs and whether you will be able to unlock the bootloader.
Global Launch: What Is Confirmed and What Isn’t
Here is what Xiaomi has officially said:
- The Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max launched in China on September 23, 2026, starting at CNY 5,999 and CNY 6,999 (GSMArena).
- The Xiaomi 18 Fold launched in mainland China earlier, on September 7, 2026 (Gadgets 360).
- On November 2, Xiaomi’s official X account posted: “Xiaomi 18 Pro Series is going global this November.” The post gave no date, no list of markets and no prices (GSMArena, Gadgets 360).
About November 17: not confirmed yet. Several outlets now point to November 17. According to Notebookcheck, Xiaomi Japan is running a “new products” giveaway that closes on November 16, and launches usually follow soon after such giveaways end. Novedades Xiaomi also points out that the teaser posts went out at 11:17, which could stand for 11/17. These are reasonable hints, but Xiaomi itself has only said “November”. We will update this article once Xiaomi announces the event.
Regional reports so far:
- Japan and South Korea: Xiaomi has suggested that the 18 Pro Max will launch alongside the 18 Pro in these markets (Notebookcheck).
- India: Xiaomi has teased the 18 Pro for India and showed it at India Mobile Congress 2026 (Gadgets 360). Local reports suggest only the 18 Pro, not the Pro Max, will be sold there. That is still a rumor.
- South America: according to a Xiaomi video cited by Notebookcheck, Bolivia and Chile get the phones in December 2026 at the earliest. Argentina, Ecuador and parts of Central America follow in early 2027. Brazil was not mentioned.
- Indonesia: there is no official announcement yet. Indonesia does appear among the expected markets in Mi Code, according to XimiTime.
This is a change from last year: the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max never left China (The Verge).
Models and Codenames
When you look for firmware, the codename matters more than the marketing name. Xiaomi publishes builds under the codename. Mi Code findings reported by XimiTime match the China ROMs already in our database:
| Model | Codename | Chipset | China launch | Global status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 18 Pro | hongkong | Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 | Sept 23, 2026 | Confirmed for November |
| Xiaomi 18 Pro Max | madrid | Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 | Sept 23, 2026 | Part of the “18 Pro Series” launch; Japan and Korea suggested |
| Xiaomi 18 Fold | lhasa | Xiaomi XRING O3 | Sept 7, 2026 | China only for now |
| Xiaomi 18 (standard) | venice (reported) | Not announced | Not launched | Rumored for early 2027 |
The Xiaomi 18 Fold runs on Xiaomi’s own XRING O3 chip, not a Snapdragon (Gadgets 360). Xiaomi has not said whether it will ever sell the Fold outside China. Notebookcheck notes rumors that no global launch is planned, and Mi Code lists only China for it.
HyperOS 4 and Android 17
All three phones ship with HyperOS 4 based on Android 17 in China (GSMArena 18 Pro Max specs, GSMArena 18 Fold specs). Xiaomi first showed HyperOS 4 in August, with a new “glass” design and more lock screen customization (GSMArena).
Builds we have seen so far are China only:
- Xiaomi 18 Pro (hongkong): OS4.0.27.0.XFRCNXM (recovery and fastboot, mid-October), then OS4.0.29.0.XFRCNXM in early November.
- Xiaomi 18 Pro Max (madrid): OS4.0.27.0.XEOCNXM, then OS4.0.29.0.XEOCNXM.
- Xiaomi 18 Fold (lhasa): OS4.0.26.0.XPNCNXM.
The three-letter device codes are XFR, XEO and XPN. Global builds usually keep the same code and change the region suffix, for example MIXM (Global), EUXM (EEA), INXM (India) or IDXM (Indonesia). That is how Xiaomi has named builds in the past, but no global build for the 18 series has been published yet. We expect the first global ROMs to appear around the launch or shortly before units ship. They will show up on our firmware hub.
Global units will most likely ship with HyperOS 4 on Android 17 like the China units. Xiaomi has not published global software details, so treat that as expected rather than confirmed.
Global vs China Hardware
The global phones may not be identical to the China models. An Italian retailer’s listing, reported by GSMArena, shows smaller batteries: 6,000 mAh for the global 18 Pro (7,000 mAh in China) and 7,050 mAh for the 18 Pro Max (8,500 mAh in China). The same retailer listed prices from €1,398.90 for the 18 Pro and €1,783.90 for the 18 Pro Max. These are a retailer’s numbers, not Xiaomi’s, and they may change. Xiaomi has confirmed that the global models use the same chipsets as the China ones (Gadgets 360).
Bootloader Unlock: Global Yes, China No
If you want root, custom ROMs or just the freedom to cross-flash, the region of your unit matters more than anything else. Xiaomi’s own Bootloader Lock FAQ says that under HyperOS only accounts registered outside mainland China can apply, and the feature “is only available for non-Mainland China devices”. It also says applications go through the Xiaomi Community app only and that one account can unlock up to 3 devices.
- Global, EEA, India, Indonesia units of the 18 Pro / Pro Max: you should be able to unlock them through the standard process: apply in Xiaomi Community, bind the account and run Mi Unlock. Approval is never guaranteed, and brand-new models often come with longer waiting times. Follow our HyperOS bootloader unlock guide and install ADB, Fastboot and the USB drivers first.
- China units (CNXM), including every Xiaomi 18 Fold sold today: there is no official way to unlock them. Xiaomi removed the China unlock application from the Community app (XimiTime), and the 4PDA firmware threads for the Xiaomi 17 series say the same thing.
Should You Import a China Unit?
For most readers, especially in India, Indonesia and Brazil, our answer is no, unless you are happy with the China ROM forever. Three reasons:
- No bootloader unlock. That means no official way to install a Global ROM, no root and no custom ROMs.
- “Global ROM” listings are usually China units with a modified ROM. They can break on updates, and you must never re-lock them.
- Hardware can differ. With the Xiaomi 17 series, the 4PDA firmware thread reports that China units have no eSIM chip. A global or localized ROM may show eSIM options, but activation fails because the chip is not there. We don’t have confirmed data for the 18 series yet. Still, last year’s case is a good reason to wait for an official local unit.
If you already own a 17-series phone and want to compare, see our Xiaomi 17 HyperOS firmware page.
FAQ
Is the Xiaomi 18 Pro global launch on November 17?
Possibly, but it isn’t official. Xiaomi has confirmed November only. November 17 comes from indirect hints, such as Xiaomi Japan’s giveaway ending on November 16.
Will the Xiaomi 18 Fold launch globally?
Nothing has been announced. Right now it is sold only in mainland China, and reports suggest it may stay that way.
Can I flash the Global ROM on a China Xiaomi 18 Pro?
Not officially. You would need an unlocked bootloader, and China units can’t be unlocked through Xiaomi’s process. Unofficial EDL or “service” flashes carry real risk and don’t change the hardware.
What is the codename of the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max?
madrid. The Xiaomi 18 Pro is hongkong and the Xiaomi 18 Fold is lhasa.
When will global firmware be available for download?
No global build has been published yet. Global ROMs usually appear around launch. We will add them to the firmware section as soon as they reach Xiaomi’s servers.