A phone that lets you draw glowing patterns on its back using a flashlight. That’s not a gimmick from a concept device nobody asked for. That’s an actual feature Xiaomi is putting into a real phone you can buy. And honestly? It’s kind of brilliant.
Xiaomi has confirmed the full details on the Redmi K100 Pro ahead of its August 11, 2026 launch in China, alongside the already-detailed Redmi K100 Pro Max. The two phones share a design language, including a large rectangular camera housing on the back and a triple rear camera setup. But this is the K100 Pro’s moment, and it has a few things worth talking about.
The standout feature is the “Firefly Chasing Light” green colorway. The rear panel uses a custom glow-in-the-dark material that reacts to light sources, letting users draw temporary glowing patterns on the back of the phone. It’s a physical, tactile trick that doesn’t require an app or a software update, and it looks genuinely fun. A white option is also available for people who prefer their phones boring.
Under the hood, the K100 Pro runs on the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 V Series, with the model number SM8850-1-AB. This is a variant of the chip, not the full-fat version. The K100 Pro Max uses the standard Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and hit 4.55 million points on AnTuTu V11. The K100 Pro scored 4.095 million on the same benchmark. That’s a meaningful gap of roughly 10 percent, and buyers in this price range should know what they’re getting. It’s still a seriously fast chip, but it’s not the top configuration.
The rest of the spec sheet is strong. The display is 6.59 inches with a 185Hz refresh rate, which puts it ahead of most phones in this category. Audio is handled by a Bose-tuned system, which is a nice touch for a phone sitting in the CNY 4,000 bracket, roughly $592 USD. That’s a competitive price point, and Xiaomi is clearly trying to load the K100 Pro with enough premium features to justify it without cannibalizing the Pro Max above it.
Here’s a quick look at what the K100 Pro brings to the table:
- 6.59-inch display with 185Hz refresh rate
- Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 V Series (SM8850-1-AB)
- 4.095 million AnTuTu V11 score
- Triple rear camera setup
- Bose-tuned audio system
- “Firefly Chasing Light” glow-in-the-dark green colorway
- Priced around CNY 4,000 (approximately $592)
This launch fits into a bigger pattern from Xiaomi right now. The brand has been pushing harder on distinctive design and premium audio partnerships, and the Bose collaboration here mirrors what we’re seeing across Chinese Android flagships. There’s real competition in this segment, and features like the glow-in-the-dark finish are one way to stand out in a market where the spec sheets are starting to blur together.
The August 11 China launch date is firm. No word yet on whether the K100 Pro will reach global markets, but given that details on the global Redmi Note 17 Pro Max have also just surfaced, Xiaomi is clearly in a busy stretch. Worth keeping an eye on.