On September 7th, Xiaomi plans to officially unveil its new foldable phone, the Xiaomi 18 Fold . This device arrives at a time when the company is looking to position itself as a leader in the foldable segment, just before Apple reveals its first foldable model . Leaks and official teasers have already revealed a design with a red finish, a horizontal camera module with three sensors, and a high-performance proprietary processor.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold takes a middle ground between large and compact foldables, with a 5,38-inch external screen and a 7,58-inch internal screen when unfolded. The company calls it a 'mid-fold' and claims it aims to offer the portability of a regular phone without sacrificing the experience of a large screen. These features make it one of the most anticipated releases of the year.
Design and screens
The Xiaomi 18 Fold's design features a vibrant red color, already seen on other devices from the brand. The back is dominated by a horizontal camera module with three lenses and an LED flash. This style seems designed to differentiate it from other foldable phones on the market and attract users' attention.
The screens are one of the key features. The 5,38-inch outer panel allows for comfortable one-handed use when the device is closed. When opened, the 7,58-inch inner panel offers a more elongated aspect ratio, ideal for multitasking and video playback . The very thin bezels and rounded corners complete the modern look.
The hinge has also been a point of focus. Xiaomi has designed its own system, which has undergone rigorous durability testing , although the specific details haven't been fully revealed. Leaked images show a remarkably thin device, something that's always difficult to achieve with this type of device.
Performance and hardware
The Xiaomi 18 Fold will be the first mobile phone to incorporate the XRING O3 processor, developed by the company itself. This chip has achieved a score of over 5,2 million on AnTuTu , a record no other mobile processor has reached until now. This points to outstanding performance in games, demanding applications, and multitasking.
The memory will also be up-to-date. The device is expected to feature up to 16GB of LPDDR6 RAM, a cutting-edge technology that Xiaomi has confirmed will be included, likely manufactured by CXMT. Furthermore, it will run Surge OS 4, Xiaomi's Chinese version of HyperOS 4 , and will include a proprietary language model called MiMo for artificial intelligence functions.
Another key aspect is the collaboration with Leica for the development of the camera system. Although the full specifications of the sensors haven't been revealed yet, the partnership with the German firm suggests that image quality will be one of the device's strengths .
Launch and competition
The launch event is scheduled for September 7th in China, and it's also expected to feature other devices such as the Xiaomi N70 Pro, N70 Max, and N90 Max, as well as the Xiaomi iPad 9 Pro Max tablet, all powered by the XRING O3 chip. This launch comes just two days before Apple unveils its highly anticipated iPhone Ultra , its first foldable phone, making it a direct competitor.
For now, international availability is not confirmed . Historically, Xiaomi has tended to launch its foldable phones first in the Chinese market and then expand to other territories, but there is no official date for Europe. We will have to wait for the event to find out if the Xiaomi 18 Fold will arrive in our country and under what conditions.
The price hasn't been revealed either, although estimates suggest it could be around €1.500-€1.800 if it's eventually sold outside of China. That would place it in the same price range as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and the upcoming iPhone Ultra, demonstrating Xiaomi's ambitions in this segment.
Everything points to the Xiaomi 18 Fold being one of the most significant releases of the year. Its combination of design, performance, and technical innovations makes it a serious rival to established foldable phones and the imminent iPhone Ultra. The presentation on September 7th will clear up many doubts , and we'll have to keep an eye out for its arrival in Europe.
