Xiaomi has officially unveiled its new foldable phone, the Xiaomi 18 Fold , a device that arrives with a significant shift in philosophy. The company has opted for a more compact, 'mid-fold' format , moving away from traditional book-style foldables to offer an experience closer to that of a tablet when unfolded. Furthermore, this model debuts the XRing O3 processor , the brand's first SoC designed for the premium segment.
The announcement was made in China, where the phone is already available for pre-order, and comes just before the unveiling of Apple's highly anticipated foldable iPhone. Xiaomi is thus aiming to position itself as a serious contender in the foldable phone segment, with a very complete hardware package and a price that, while high, remains in line with its competitors. Below, we review all the features that have made the Xiaomi 18 Fold one of the most significant launches of the year.
A 'mid-fold' format that focuses on compactness
The Xiaomi 18 Fold is characterized by its 5,38-inch external screen and 7,58-inch internal screen, both AMOLED with a 120Hz refresh rate and a maximum brightness of 4.000 nits . This configuration allows the device to measure 117,8 x 83,6 x 10,68 mm and weigh 219 grams when closed, while when open it is only 5,02 mm thick. The next-generation hinge offers improved durability, and the entire device is IP58/IP59 certified.
The inner screen uses a double layer of UTG glass, which improves impact resistance and reduces creasing to a maximum of 30 microns. According to Xiaomi, this mid-fold design solves one of the common problems with foldable phones: their excessive bulk when open. With a wider aspect ratio, content is better suited for both videos and multitasking, allowing up to six apps to run simultaneously.
XRing O3: Xiaomi's own processor
The star of the Xiaomi 18 Fold is the XRing O3 , a SoC manufactured by TSMC using a 3-nanometer process. It integrates ten CPU cores with a maximum frequency of 4,35 GHz, a 16-core GPU, and a quad-core NPU dedicated to artificial intelligence tasks. With 24.000 billion transistors , this chip is designed to compete directly with processors from Qualcomm and Apple.
Furthermore, the XRing O3 supports LPDDR6 memory, which in this case is supplied by the Chinese company CXMT. The phone will be available with 12 or 16 GB of RAM and up to 1 TB of UFS 4.1 storage . Xiaomi has also confirmed that the device will run HyperOS 4 , its Android-based operating system, which includes advanced AI features thanks to the processor's NPU.
Leica cameras and a 6.000 mAh battery
In terms of photography, the Xiaomi 18 Fold features a triple-camera system developed in collaboration with Leica. The main camera has a 200-megapixel sensor with optical image stabilization, accompanied by a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto lens with 3,5x optical zoom and a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens. All lenses allow for 4K video recording at 60 fps with Dolby Vision.
The battery is another of the device's major strengths. With a capacity of 6.000 mAh , it's among the most generous in its class. It also offers 67W wired fast charging and 50W wireless charging, allowing for rapid power recovery. IP58/IP59 certification guarantees water and dust resistance, and the frame is made of aerospace-grade aluminum.
Price and Availability
The Xiaomi 18 Fold has gone on sale in China at the following prices: 10.999 yuan (approximately €1.411 ) for the 12GB RAM/256GB storage version; 11.999 yuan (approximately €1.539) for the 12GB/512GB version; 12.999 yuan (approximately €1.668) for the 16GB/512GB version; and 14.999 yuan (approximately €1.924) for the top-of-the-line 16GB/1TB version. Currently, there is no official confirmation regarding its release in Europe, although it is expected to arrive there at some point.
The company justified the price by citing the increased cost of components, especially memory. Lei Jun, CEO of Xiaomi, stated that memory is "simply too expensive" at the moment, which has driven up the price of phones in general. Despite this, the 18 Fold is positioned as one of the most complete foldable phones on the market, with hardware that rivals its competitors.
In short, the Xiaomi 18 Fold represents a step forward in Xiaomi's strategy to become independent of traditional suppliers and offer a differentiated product. Its compact form factor, powerful processor, and excellent camera make it a very attractive option for those looking for a high-end foldable phone. We'll have to wait and see if it eventually arrives in Spain, but in the meantime, Chinese users can already enjoy this new offering from the brand.
