Redmi K100 Pro Max and K90 Pro Max have a secret second NFC antenna

Xiaomi has confirmed that its Redmi K100 Pro Max and K90 Pro Max carry two NFC antennas — one on the back panel and a second on the top edge. The detail wasn't in the official launch materials; a Chinese blogger spotted it first, and a Xiaomi product manager then confirmed it via ithome.com. It means you can tap to pay by touching the top of the phone to a terminal rather than fumbling to align the back.

Why it matters

The practical case is straightforward: big phones are awkward to flip face-down or angle correctly at a card reader, especially on a crowded subway or at a busy checkout. A top-edge antenna lets you hold the phone naturally in one hand and tap the corner. Xiaomi frames this as an ergonomic improvement, and it's hard to argue otherwise.

What's notable is that Xiaomi isn't alone in doing this quietly. SamMobile confirmed that Samsung's Galaxy S26 series also gained a second NFC antenna on the top edge — and Samsung never mentioned it at its launch event either. Apple has shipped two NFC antennas in every iPhone since the iPhone 12, so both Android makers are now catching up to a standard Apple set years ago.

Gray-import only outside China

Neither the K100 Pro Max nor the K90 Pro Max has an official US or UK launch date. If you want one, you're looking at gray-import routes: Gizmochina lists the K100 Pro Max via Giztop at $799, with UK pricing estimated around £460 through import sellers. The K90 Pro Max starts at $699 for the 12GB/256GB configuration, per Notebookcheck. No local warranty, and firmware is Chinese — factors worth weighing against the spec sheet.

One other thing to know if you're comparing the two models: Xiaomi has said the cases are not cross-compatible despite the phones looking nearly identical. Check the specific model before buying a case.

The bigger picture

The dual-antenna detail raises a reasonable question about spec transparency. Both Samsung and Xiaomi improved their hardware in a way that directly benefits consumers, then said nothing about it publicly. There's no rule requiring them to disclose antenna placement, but for buyers comparing premium phones on paper, it's the kind of spec that arguably should be front and center. As tap-to-pay becomes a daily habit, how an antenna is positioned matters as much as whether one exists at all.