Xiaomi has quietly expanded its high-performance smartphone lineup with the introduction of the Redmi K90 Max, a device that leans heavily into raw power and thermal management. Announced for the Chinese market, the phone brings together flagship-grade hardware and a design that reflects the growing demand for sustained performance under heavy use.

At the center of the device is MediaTek’s Dimensity 9500 chipset, paired with configurations that go up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and as much as 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. Xiaomi says the setup has delivered an AnTuTu v11 score of 4,161,374, a figure that places it firmly in the upper tier of current mobile performance benchmarks.

What sets the K90 Max apart, however, is its approach to cooling. The phone incorporates a 6,000mm² vapor chamber alongside a built-in spinning fan, a combination the company claims can lower internal temperatures by up to 10 degrees. Despite this mechanical addition, the device retains IP66, IP68, and IP69 ratings, suggesting no compromise in protection against dust and water.

The display measures 6.83 inches and uses an AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2,722 by 1,280 pixels. It supports 12-bit color depth and a 165Hz refresh rate, with peak local brightness rated at 3,500 nits. The panel, manufactured by TCL using its M10 luminous technology, integrates an ultrasonic fingerprint scanner and houses a 20-megapixel front camera within a punch-hole cutout. Audio is handled by stereo speakers tuned by Bose.

On the rear, Xiaomi has opted for a relatively restrained camera setup. The main sensor is a 50-megapixel unit with optical image stabilization, accompanied by an 8-megapixel ultrawide lens. The focus here appears to remain on performance rather than expanding into multi-camera versatility.

Battery capacity is another area where the K90 Max stands out. It carries an 8,500mAh silicon-carbon battery, paired with 100W wired charging and 22.5W reverse wired charging. Bypass charging support is also included, a feature often associated with gaming-oriented devices as it helps reduce heat during extended sessions.

The phone runs Android 16 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS 3.0 layered on top. It is available in black, blue, and silver, with pricing starting at CNY 3,199 for the 12GB RAM and 256GB storage variant. The highest configuration, offering 16GB RAM and 1TB storage, is priced at CNY 4,699.

Sales have already begun in China. Xiaomi has yet to indicate whether the Redmi K90 Max will be released in other markets.

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The device arrives at a time when manufacturers are experimenting with new ways to balance performance and thermal control. For now, Xiaomi’s latest effort suggests that active cooling in smartphones is no longer a niche idea, but one inching closer to the mainstream.