Xiaomi’s Redmi K-series has operated on a reliable schedule for years – debut in China around October, then resurface internationally under the Poco brand shortly after. The Redmi K100 series appears to be following that same playbook, with two distinct devices now showing up across multiple leak sources. The standard K100 and the K100 Pro Max aren’t simply different sizes of the same phone. They’re targeting separate chipsets, different price brackets, and based on what’s leaked so far, different priorities entirely.
Summary
Two models have been confirmed: the Redmi K100 (codename “Athens,” model Q11) and the Redmi K100 Pro Max (codename “Songyuan,” model Q11X), each built around a distinct chipset. The standard K100 is expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, continuing the K-series tradition of pairing the previous generation’s top chip with a more accessible price tag. The Pro Max, meanwhile, is tipped to run the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro (SM8975) — a 2nm chip with LPDDR6 RAM support, making it the higher-tier variant rather than the standard Gen 6.
On the camera side, tipster Digital Chat Station has leaked a 200MP main sensor in a 1/1.28-inch format for the Pro Max, alongside a 50MP periscope telephoto. Both phones are expected to launch in China in October 2026, with global versions anticipated as the Poco F9 Pro (Redmi K100) and Poco F9 Ultra (K100 Pro Max) sometime in Q1 2027.
The Standard K100: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and a Proven Formula
The Redmi K100, internally codenamed “Athens,” is tipped to ship with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 — the same chip inside the current Redmi K90 Pro Max and a growing number of 2026 Chinese flagships. That’s not a weakness. The K-series standard model has always been positioned as a high-value performance device rather than a spec-ceiling chaser, and this generation looks no different. Any meaningful differentiation from the K90 line will likely come through display and battery upgrades, though neither has been specifically detailed in leaks yet. Xiaomi hasn’t officially confirmed anything about the Redmi K100 beyond its codename and model number.
The K100 Pro Max: The Real Generational Leap
The Pro Max is the headliner. Tipster Digital Chat Station posted a Weibo leak confirming that a Xiaomi sub-brand device — identified across multiple sources as the K100 Pro Max — is currently in testing with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro (SM8975). The distinction between the Pro and standard Gen 6 is worth understanding: the Pro variant is the only 2026 Qualcomm flagship chip confirmed to support LPDDR6 RAM, which delivers roughly double the peak memory bandwidth of LPDDR5X. Paired with up to 1TB of UFS 5.0 storage, the memory subsystem alone marks a clear step forward from anything in the current generation.
Interestingly, Digital Chat Station noted that camera performance isn’t expected to be the headline story here — the emphasis is described as “core performance and upgraded display experience” rather than imaging. That said, an earlier separate leak from the same source pointed to a triple camera system led by a 200MP main sensor on a 1/1.28-inch format, accompanied by a 50MP ultra-wide and a 50MP periscope telephoto. These two leaks aren’t necessarily in conflict — saying the camera isn’t a major upgrade relative to dedicated imaging flagships doesn’t rule out the presence of a 200MP sensor.
Pricing and the Global Rebrand Path
A price leak from the same Chinese source puts the K100 Pro Max starting at roughly CNY 5,000, which works out to around $725 at current exchange rates. That’s a noticeable step up from the K90 Pro Max, reflecting the premium silicon under the hood. Internationally, past K-series rebranding patterns suggest the K100 will arrive as the Poco F9 Pro, while the K100 Pro Max becomes the Poco F9 Ultra, with a Q1 2027 launch window for global markets.
What Remains Unknown
Display size, battery capacity, charging speeds, refresh rate, and software versions are all still unconfirmed for both models. The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Gen 6 Pro haven’t been officially announced by Qualcomm — both designations remain leak-based placeholders for now. Official confirmation from either Qualcomm or Xiaomi isn’t expected until the Xiaomi 18 series launch in September, which will likely serve as the public debut for the Gen 6 platform.
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Robert Haba is the founder and editor-in-chief of Droid Tools. A lifelong gadget enthusiast with over a decade following the Android ecosystem, he built this publication to cut through the noise and give readers honest, real-world coverage of the tech they actually use.
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