Xiaomi announces Pocket Guitar as new magnetic accessory for Xiaomi 18 Pro

Xiaomi has a new accessory for the latest Xiaomi 18 Pro and Pro Max, and it’s designed around their rear display. Because why not. Xiaomi already uses the secondary screen for AI-generated widgets and mini apps, and the new guitar accessory puts that screen to a more unusual use.

The company launched Xiaomi Pocket Guitar, a smart magnetic accessory that comes in black and red. It attaches to the back of the phone with a strong magnet, and sits over the secondary display when folded.

When you open it, the accessory splits into two sections around a hinge. One side has a row of chord buttons, while the other has a textured surface with raised ridges that act as strings. You can also fold it in the opposite direction and use it as a small phone stand.

The guitar works through Changba, a Chinese karaoke and singing app. After connecting it to the phone over Bluetooth, users can open the app’s dedicated performance section and choose between two modes.

In Chord mode, the left hand is used to press the numbered chord buttons, marked I through VII, while the right hand strums the textured panel. Rhythm mode is a little simpler, as it does not require you to select the correct chords. Instead, you just need to keep the strumming in time while the app handles the rest.

How is the rear display useful?

The rear display is an important part of the setup. Since the strumming area sits below the screen, your hand does not cover the display while you play. This lets you see the controls and other information without having to look around your hand.

The back-screen features are limited to the Xiaomi 18 Pro series. On other Xiaomi phones and iPhones running iOS 14 or later, the Pocket Guitar can still connect to Changba, but the rear-screen performance and recording features are not available. Playing, browsing songs, and tuning are handled through the phone’s front display instead.

The accessory itself has a 630mAh battery, which Xiaomi claims offers up to 30 days of use on a charge. It uses a USB Type-C port for charging and connects to the phone over Bluetooth.

The Xiaomi Pocket Guitar is priced at 599 yuan or some $90 in conversion. It’s available for purchase in China via JD.com.

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