Xiaomi brings transparent design back to its flagships with Xiaomi 18 Pro series, Watch S5 special editions
Transparent phones have made a comeback in recent years, but the trend has largely been concentrated outside the premium segment. Nothing turned exposed-looking internals into a defining part of its phones, while similar treatments have since appeared across more affordable devices. Xiaomi has now brought the idea back to the flagship end with Transparent Special Editions of the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max after teasing it hours before the event, accompanied by a limited-edition transparent Watch S5.
The launch marks a return to familiar territory for Xiaomi. The company previously offered transparent versions of the Mi 8 and Mi 9 series, followed by the Mi 10 Ultra Transparent Edition in 2020, but hasn’t used the treatment on one of its flagship phones since.
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Xiaomi 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max Transparent Edition price, design and specifications
The Xiaomi 18 Pro Transparent Special Edition costs CNY 9,999 (around Rs 1.43 lakh), while the Xiaomi 18 Pro Max version is priced at CNY 10,999 (around Rs 1.57 lakh). Both come exclusively with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage.
Despite the name, these aren’t simply clear-backed versions of the regular phones. Xiaomi has used a red textured finish created through a micron-level film process to produce a three-dimensional embossed effect. Custom wallpapers on the main and rear displays then recreate the appearance of internal components, extending the transparent theme into the software. Even the bundled charging brick and cable get matching transparent-red treatments. The execution is therefore different from Nothing’s exposed-looking industrial aesthetic. Xiaomi is instead using transparency as a special-edition design theme, while connecting the phones to its older transparent flagships.
Underneath the new finishes, the phones are identical to their standard counterparts. Both feature 1-120Hz OLED displays with rear secondary screens and triple Leica-branded cameras comprising 200MP main, 200MP 3.2x periscope and 50MP ultra-wide sensors. The Xiaomi 18 Pro uses the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and a 7,000mAh battery, while the Pro Max gets the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 and an 8,500mAh battery. Both support 100W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Xiaomi Watch S5 Transparent Edition
The Watch S5 Transparent Edition costs CNY 2,499 (around Rs 36,000) and is limited to 5,000 units. Its transparent treatment is more structural – the 47mm octagonal body uses Xiaomi’s Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0, allowing parts of the internal structure to remain visible through the middle frame. A brushed stainless-steel bezel provides reinforcement and contrast.
Xiaomi says each case requires 20 manufacturing processes, including 240 minutes of CNC machining and 800 minutes of polishing. The glass has a claimed hardness of 810 HV0.05 and is designed to avoid the yellowing associated with some transparent plastics and resins.
These editions are primarily a design purchase rather than a hardware upgrade. Buyers interested purely in specifications lose nothing by choosing the standard models, while the Transparent Editions are aimed at those willing to pay extra for a more distinctive flagship. More broadly, Xiaomi’s return to the concept suggests transparent design may no longer be confined mainly to mid-range phones, especially as brands look for ways to make increasingly similar flagship slabs visually distinctive.
