Xiaomi introduced the rear screen last year with the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, but neither of those devices ever made it to markets outside China, at least not officially. So this year's upcoming global debut of the Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max will be the first we're seeing of the rear screens in international markets.
That puts some pressure on Xiaomi to prove that the rear display isn’t just a gimmick, and that it can actually be useful. So that's exactly what the company is now doing, in the run-up to the November 17 global launch event for the two devices.
Google Maps, YouTube Music, and Spotify on the rear screen of the Xiaomi 18 Pro
As you can see in the images above, the company has already confirmed that Google Maps, YouTube Music, and Spotify will support the rear screen (presumably from day one). YouTube Music and Spotify let you control playback and show you the album art, while Google Maps can actually show you directions on that display.
This is a good start, and obviously you'll also be able to see notifications on there, and use the screen to take selfies with the rear cameras. Xiaomi's Weather app will also be supported, and apparently you will also be able to create "Back Display GenAI apps" by just describing what you want to see. Here's a demo by Xiaomi Group's Chief Marketing Officer Xu Fei.
Three simple descriptions became three Back Display GenAI Apps. Pick 1, 2, or 3. #Xiaomi18ProSeries #BackForMore #XiaomiLaunch https://t.co/l8cK1Ipu5D
— Xu Fei (@XuFei_Xiaomi) November 12, 2026So what do you think? Do these features take the rear screen from gimmick to useful or are they just not enough? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for our full coverage of the Xiaomi launch taking place next Tuesday.
