<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

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    <periodOfReport>2017-11-20</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001288469</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>MAXLINEAR INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>MXL</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001509421</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Spice Adam C.</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O MAXLINEAR, INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>5966 LA PLACE COURT, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>CARLSBAD</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>92008</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, Chief Financial Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

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            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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            </transactionDate>
            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6681</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>335738</value>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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                <value></value>
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                </transactionShares>
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                    <value>26.72</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                <value></value>
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                    <value>1108</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
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                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>4247</value>
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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2282</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2282</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>26250</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2072</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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                    <value>D</value>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2072</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>31772</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
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                <value>2017-11-20</value>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
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                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1219</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F6"/>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>1219</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>30385</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Each restricted stock unit (&quot;RSU&quot;) represents a contingent right to receive one share of MaxLinear, Inc. Common Stock.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Includes 172 shares of Common Stock acquired under the Company's 2010 Employee Stock Purchase Plan on November 15, 2017.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Subject to the Reporting Person's continuing to be a Service Provider (as defined in the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan) through each applicable vesting date, one-sixteenth (1/16th) of the 33,979 RSUs subject to the award shall vest on August 20, 2014, and an additional one-sixteenth (1/16th) of the RSUs subject to the award shall vest on each successive November 20, February 20, May 20, and August 20 thereafter, such that the award shall be fully vested on May 20, 2018.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">Subject to the Reporting Person's continuing to be a Service Provider (as defined in the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan) through each applicable vesting date, one-sixteenth (1/16th) of the 70,000 RSUs subject to the award shall vest on August 20, 2015, and an additional one-sixteenth (1/16th) of the RSUs subject to the award shall vest on each successive November 20, February 20, May 20, and August 20 thereafter, such that the award shall be fully vested on May 20, 2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">Subject to the Reporting Person's continuing to be a Service Provider (as defined in the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan) through each applicable vesting date, one-sixteenth (1/16th) of the 63,543 RSUs subject to the award shall vest on February 20, 2016, and an additional one-sixteenth (1/16th) of the RSUs subject to the award shall vest on each successive May 20, August 20, November 20, and February 20 thereafter, such that the award will be fully vested on November 20, 2019.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">Subject to the Reporting Person's continuing to be a Service Provider (as defined in the 2010 Equity Incentive Plan) through each applicable vesting date, one-sixteenth (1/16th) of the 37,397 RSUs subject to the award shall vest on May 20, 2017, and an additional one-sixteenth (1/16th) of the RSUs subject to the award shall vest on each successive August 20, November 20, February 20 and May 20 thereafter, such that the award will be fully vested on February 20, 2021.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Adam Spice</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2017-11-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
