Xiaomi is preparing a new privacy-focused display feature that could make it much harder for people nearby to peek at your screen. The feature, reportedly called “Smart privacy display,” is currently being tested in software builds and may arrive with an upcoming Xiaomi flagship, possibly from the Xiaomi 18 series.
The feature is designed to reduce screen visibility when viewed from an angle, helping protect sensitive information in public places such as trains, buses, offices, cafés, and airports. Instead of relying only on a darkened screen or software blur, Xiaomi’s system appears to use pixel-level light control to limit what others can see from the side.
What makes Xiaomi’s Smart privacy display more interesting is its use of the front camera for gaze detection. The phone can reportedly detect when another person may be looking at the display from behind or from the side, then warn the user. This adds an extra layer of privacy beyond the screen-filter effect, making the feature more intelligent and responsive.
According to screenshots shared by leaker Kacper Skrzypek, Xiaomi is testing several ways to control how the feature works. Users may be able to enable Smart privacy display across the entire device, restrict it to selected apps, or apply it only to notifications. For notifications, the system is said to offer partial privacy protection rather than completely hiding them, allowing users to keep some visibility while still reducing the risk of unwanted viewing.
Xiaomi’s privacy statement inside the feature reportedly says that face and gaze detection happens entirely on the device. The company states that this data is not uploaded to Xiaomi Cloud and is not shared with third parties. That could be an important selling point for users who want stronger privacy tools without sending biometric or camera-related data off their phone.
There are some limitations, however. Xiaomi notes that enabling Smart privacy display may slightly increase battery consumption. The feature will automatically turn off when Battery Saver mode is active. It may also pause during HDR content previews, stop working in landscape mode, and then restart when the phone returns to portrait orientation. Some third-party themes may not support the feature either.
The demo was reportedly recorded on a global ROM build, suggesting Xiaomi may be considering a wider international rollout rather than limiting the feature to China-only models. However, because this is still pre-release software, the final version could change before launch. Xiaomi may adjust the feature, rename it, restrict it to certain models, or delay its release.
If it arrives as expected, Smart privacy display could become one of Xiaomi’s most practical software additions for everyday users. With smartphones increasingly used for banking, private messaging, work documents, travel details, and personal photos, built-in screen privacy is becoming more valuable. For users who often check sensitive information in public, Xiaomi’s upcoming privacy display technology could offer a convenient alternative to physical privacy screen protectors.
