Xiaomi has confirmed that Google Maps, Spotify and YouTube Music will support the rear display on its upcoming Xiaomi 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max smartphones. The announcement comes ahead of the devices’ global launch on November 17, marking the first time Xiaomi’s rear-screen technology will officially reach international markets.

The company introduced the secondary rear display last year with the Xiaomi 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. However, both devices remained exclusive to China, meaning their successors will bring the feature to a much wider audience.

With the upcoming global release, Xiaomi appears keen to demonstrate that the rear display offers more than just an additional screen for decorative purposes.

According to the company, Spotify and YouTube Music will allow users to control music playback and view album artwork directly from the rear display. Google Maps will also support the secondary screen, allowing users to view navigation directions without relying entirely on the main display.

Other confirmed capabilities include notification viewing, taking selfies with the main rear cameras and support for Xiaomi’s Weather application.

Xiaomi is also introducing a more experimental feature called Back Display GenAI apps, which will reportedly allow users to create customised applications for the rear screen simply by describing what they want to see. The company has already demonstrated the feature through a presentation by Xiaomi Group’s Chief Marketing Officer, Xu Fei.

With support for popular applications and additional customisation options, Xiaomi is attempting to make its secondary display more practical and useful in everyday situations. More details are expected during the global launch event on November 17.