<?xml version="1.0"?>
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    <periodOfReport>2018-02-26</periodOfReport>

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    <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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                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>6390</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0.00</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>348286</value>
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                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>2120</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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            <expirationDate>
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                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
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                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>2120</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>27801</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
        <derivativeTransaction>
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            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
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                <value>2018-02-26</value>
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            <deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
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                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
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            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1135</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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            <exerciseDate>
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            <expirationDate>
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            <underlyingSecurity>
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                    <value>Common Stock</value>
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                    <value>1135</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
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            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>28047</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
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        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <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 3,055 shares of Common Stock withheld by the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations in connection with the net issuance of shares of Common Stock delivered to the Reporting Person on February 26, 2018 for the 2017 performance period under the Company's Executive Incentive Bonus Plan.  The grant of Common Stock was previously reported on the Reporting Person's Form 4 filed February 27, 2018 and subsequently amended on February 28, 2018.</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.  Reporting Person deferred delivery of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting of RSUs on February 20, 2018.  On February 26, 2018, the deferred shares of Common Stock were delivered to the Reporting Person.  Shares withheld by the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations (and the net issuance) is be based on the closing price of the Company's Common Stock in trading on the New York Stock Exchange on February 26, 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.  Reporting Person deferred delivery of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting of RSUs on February 20, 2018.  On February 26, 2018, the deferred shares of Common Stock were delivered to the Reporting Person.  Shares withheld by the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations (and the net issuance) is be based on the closing price of the Company's Common Stock in trading on the New York Stock Exchange on February 26, 2018.</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.  Reporting Person deferred delivery of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting of RSUs on February 20, 2018.  On February 26, 2018, the deferred shares of Common Stock were delivered to the Reporting Person.  Shares withheld by the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations (and the net issuance) is be based on the closing price of the Company's Common Stock in trading on the New York Stock Exchange on February 26, 2018.</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.  Reporting Person deferred delivery of shares of Common Stock issuable upon the vesting of RSUs on February 20, 2018.  On February 26, 2018, the deferred shares of Common Stock were delivered to the Reporting Person.  Shares withheld by the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations (and the net issuance) is be based on the closing price of the Company's Common Stock in trading on the New York Stock Exchange on February 26, 2018.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks></remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Adam Spice</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2018-02-28</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
