Xiaomi equips upcoming 18 Pro rear screen with navigation tools and custom AI apps

Xiaomi plans to bring third-party software support to the rear touchscreen on its upcoming Xiaomi 18 Pro series, including the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. The secondary display, situated on the rear camera island, will natively support Google Maps, Spotify, and YouTube Music ahead of the lineup's global debut. [1][2]

The full-color touchscreen will present media playback controls, album artwork, and track names for Spotify and YouTube Music, while Google Maps will display upcoming turn-by-turn directions alongside a navigation progress bar. In addition to these built-in integrations, Xiaomi is introducing an onboard generative AI tool that lets owners build simple custom apps for the secondary display by providing text descriptions of what they want. [1][2]

The expanded software features address a long-standing limitation of secondary smartphone displays, which have traditionally been confined to basic notifications and clock widgets. While the earlier Xiaomi 17 Pro series kept its rear display restricted to select regions, the company plans an international release for the 18 Pro lineup. [1][2]