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Xiaomi 18 appeared in the GSMA IMEI database under the code name “madrid”. There were four regional model numbers in the database: 2611FPNFAR (China), 2611FPNFAG (India), M154FF (Japan), and 2611FPNFAI (global version), so the company is apparently planning to organize a wider international launch than the previous generation received at launch.
The prefix “2611” in the model number usually means the launch time. Therefore, we can assume that the company is planning to release Xiaomi 18 not in September, as previous leaks claimed, but in November 2026. And it seems that this time the lineup will not include the Ultra model.
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Previous leaks indicate that Xiaomi 18 will be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 processor manufactured on TSMC’s 2 nm process technology, will have LPDDR6 RAM and a compact 6.3-6.4″ display. Xiaomi 18 Pro is likely to have a second-generation Magic Back Screen. The largest in the series will be the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max – insiders say it will have a 6.9-inch OLED screen with 2K resolution and an 8500 mAh battery.
Registration with the GSMA IMEI is a mandatory step before any device can be officially activated on a mobile network. The appearance of several regional versions of the device in the database at once suggests that Xiaomi is already undergoing the certification process, and not just at the initial stage of development. Xiaomi 17 Ultra was initially available only in China. The availability of the global and Indian versions of the “madrid” from the very beginning indicates that Xiaomi is planning a wider market coverage for the 18 series than its predecessor.
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Preliminary data indicated that the flagships would be released in September, and such a schedule would make the smartphone compete with the vivo X500 and Redmi K100. If the launch takes place in November, Xiaomi will be able to avoid internal competition with its own Redmi line and enter the market at a time when the main rivals will be Samsung’s Galaxy S26 and iPhone 18 line. This competitive positioning may prove to be more profitable.
The status of Xiaomi 18 Ultra remains in question. Historically, this version was a direct competitor to the Galaxy S Ultra and iPhone Pro Max. Its possible cancellation is associated with the rise in memory prices and the increase in the cost of components to a level that is already becoming problematic for a premium device. How this will affect the perception of the 18 series by buyers in the global market will depend mainly on what characteristics Xiaomi 18 Pro Max will have.
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