Xiaomi 18 Pro Series Rear Display Will Support Google Maps, Spotify, Gemini Live and More

Xiaomi has revealed new rear display features for the Xiaomi 18 Pro series, including Google Maps navigation, Spotify and YouTube Music controls, Gemini Live, Trip.com flight tracking and AI-powered mini apps. Here's everything you need to know ahead of the global launch.

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Xiaomi is about to release its Xiaomi 18 Pro range internationally on November 17, and now, the brand is shining a light on one of the phones' unique elements - the AMOLED secondary screen on the back of the phone. Although the previous Xiaomi 17 Pro range did not get released in the international market, the Xiaomi 18 Pro and Xiaomi 18 Pro Max models are about to be released to the international market with top-of-the-line technology and an advanced rear screen.

Although it is mainly thought of as being used to display the time and notifications, Xiaomi has shared several examples of how users can interact with the rear screen, such as through live activities, control music playback, use navigation and third-party applications.

Xiaomi 18 Pro Series Rear Display

Xiaomi 18 Pro has a 2.7-inch rear AMOLED LTPO screen, whereas the bigger variant Xiaomi 18 Pro Max has a 2.9-inch screen. Both screens have a resolution of 596 x 976 pixels and support a 120Hz refresh rate, making interactions smoother.

As per Xiaomi’s latest social media post, users would be able to see basic things such as time, date, and current weather on the back screen simply by touching it. This means users can look for essential things without turning their phones backward or waking up the front screen.

The rear screen will show daily notifications that you receive on your main screen. Such notifications include calls, emails, SMS messages, alarms, stopwatch, and timer. Apart from this, there can be notifications from other applications that are supported. Users would still have to switch to the front screen to reply to messages.

Google Maps, Gemini Live and Music Controls Coming to the Rear Screen

One of the most interesting features added to the global version of Xiaomi 18 Pro series is the capability of displaying live activities from applications available worldwide. As per Xiaomi, this rear display would be able to show data related to such applications as Google Maps and help users navigate based on these apps without looking into the main display continuously. In addition to that, Gemini Live and music controls have been mentioned as among the capabilities offered by the new device.

Xiaomi is collaborating with some other platforms to enhance the functionality of the rear display. The company is partnering with Spotify and YouTube Music to enable users to play music using the rear display.

Travel features are also included in the device. Thanks to its partnership with Trip.com, users will be able to see real-time flight status and track their travel through the rear display. Turn-by-turn directions will also be available with the help of Google Maps, adding more functionality apart from just notifications and shortcuts.

One interesting point about this device is that the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max on a worldwide scale would offer better compatibility with foreign applications compared to their Chinese variants.

AI-Generated Mini Apps and Custom Rear Display Themes

Customization is yet another segment where Xiaomi is aiming to distinguish itself through the rear display technology. It will offer a number of customization choices, such as pet-themed UIs, exclusive clock faces and wallpapers as well as the possibility to make your photos animated through the use of AI.

What might be even more fascinating, Xiaomi is offering its users the chance to create custom mini-apps, tools and uses of the rear screen display technology through the use of generative AI. This means that there may be a lot more uses of the rear screen beyond what Xiaomi offers from the get-go.

For instance, users could develop a simple app for counting the amount of water you consume during the day, make small games like tic-tac-toe or customize rear screen interfaces themselves. The extent of these opportunities will largely depend on the flexibility of Xiaomi's tools for creating and sharing unique user experiences.

If Xiaomi delivers a straightforward way to create these mini apps, the rear display could become more than a secondary notification panel. It could function as a compact space for quick tasks that do not necessarily require opening a full application on the main screen.

Xiaomi 18 Pro Series Specifications and Camera Highlights

While the rear display is the main feature being talked about in relation to the Xiaomi 18 Pro, it should be noted that Xiaomi is also likely going to outfit this device with components meant for flagship devices. Specifically, the smartphones are rumored to have Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series processors, even though the exact chipset may vary from one model to another.

Cameras are another feature that should be highlighted. According to rumors, Xiaomi 18 Pro will have a main camera with 200MP resolution and 1/1.28-inch sensor, as well as a 200MP periscope telephoto camera with a 1/1.56-inch sensor. In addition, there will be an ultra-wide camera with 50MP resolution. It can be inferred that Xiaomi is focused on photography here.

Batteries may become another big selling point of these smartphones as well because the reported size of the battery may be up to 8,500mAh. With such features as large AMOLED screens and thin bezels on the front of the smartphone, the Xiaomi 18 Pro may attract power users.

Is the Rear Display a Good Reason to Buy the Xiaomi 18 Pro Series?

This secondary display provides the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max an edge in design compared to most flagship phones. Nonetheless, its utility will depend on whether Xiaomi is able to make effective use of applications supported and how often users need to utilize the small display rather than the main screen.

Basic features such as notification viewing, music control and navigation would be quite convenient. In addition, the incorporation of Gemini Live, Trip.com support and AI-based mini applications implies that Xiaomi is looking to turn the rear display into a functional element instead of just an aesthetic one.

Meanwhile, the phones do not rely solely on this rear display. Their reported Snapdragon chips, high-quality camera setups, large batteries and premium front screens make them flagship phones in their own right. This combination could attract the attention of those interested in photography, professionals and those seeking high specification phones but with something more than a typical phone design.

The international launch of the Xiaomi 18 Pro series is scheduled for November 17. Xiaomi has also confirmed an India launch, although the Indian event is rumoured to take place sometime in December. More details about regional availability, pricing and configurations should become clearer as the launch approaches.