Xiaomi 18 Pro series to feature Smart Privacy Display, company says
Xiaomi says the Xiaomi 18 Pro series will include a Smart Privacy Display that cuts side-view brightness at the pixel level while aiming to preserve screen clarity.
According to Android Authority, the display uses 1:1 alternating standard pixels and baffled privacy pixels. Xiaomi says this cuts side brightness to roughly 1% beyond a 60-degree viewing angle. Unlike competitor panels that use Diamond or Pentile subpixel setups, Xiaomi uses a full RGB subpixel arrangement with about 9.5 million subpixels, which the company says maintains clarity without display quality degradation.
The privacy mode can be triggered through Quick Settings, the AI key, voice commands, app and page rules, location triggers, or front-camera shoulder-surfer detection, Android Authority reported.
Xiaomi outlined the mechanics behind the panel in a Q&A and several announcement posts on Weibo. The company is now focusing on the primary display features of the Xiaomi 18 Pro series after previously confirming that the phones will include a secondary rear display with multiple features. Android Authority reported that the Smart Privacy Display had previously leaked.
Android Authority said Xiaomi’s solution operates at the pixel level, much like the Galaxy S26 Ultra’s Privacy Display. It differs from a software overlay or third-party privacy screen protectors, which the report says can degrade display clarity and viewing angles almost permanently.