September has become the premier showcase for mobile technology, and 2026 was no exception. Between Apple's keynote scheduled for the 9th and the launches from Samsung and Huawei, Xiaomi wanted to get ahead of everyone with a move that hasn't gone unnoticed: the official unveiling of its new foldable phone, the Xiaomi 18 Fold, which will be released on September 7th in China. The company has already shared the first official images and some key details, making it clear that its offering isn't a simple update, but rather a change in the design philosophy of its foldable phones.
The term Xiaomi has coined for this device is "mid-fold ," a concept that seeks to find a middle ground between bulky book-style foldables and compact clamshell phones. According to Lu Weibing, president of the company's smartphone division, this decision responds to a real need: large foldables offer plenty of space when open, but are cumbersome to carry; small ones, on the other hand, are very portable but limit the user experience. With the 18 Fold, Xiaomi aims to offer the best of both worlds, and it does so with a design that, when closed, is about the size of a passport.
A format that's here to stay.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold features a 5,38-inch external screen that, when unfolded, reveals a 7,58-inch internal panel. This aspect ratio, wider and less panoramic than that of conventional foldable phones, is designed to improve the experience for everyday tasks such as browsing, multitasking, and video playback. In fact, the company claims that when closed, it can be comfortably operated with one hand, something that isn't always easy with larger foldable phones.
This type of design isn't new to the market. Samsung has already embraced a similar philosophy with its Galaxy Z Fold 8 , and Huawei has also explored this path with its Pura X and Pura X View. However, Xiaomi wants to go a step further, and not just in terms of dimensions. The device comes in a striking red finish, with a horizontal rear module housing a triple-camera system developed in collaboration with Leica. Although the full details of the sensors haven't been revealed yet, leaks point to a very interesting configuration: a main sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, a telephoto lens with 3,5x optical zoom, and an ultra-wide-angle lens equivalent to 17mm.
The heart of the Xiaomi 18 Fold: the XRing O3 processor
But if there's one thing that truly stands out about the Xiaomi 18 Fold, it's its internal components. The device will be the first to feature the XRing O3 processor, developed entirely by Xiaomi and manufactured by TSMC on a 3-nanometer node. This chip, which had already appeared in some leaks and on Geekbench, boasts a ten-core CPU divided into two C1-Ultra cores at 4,35 GHz, four C1-Premium cores at 3,68 GHz, and four C1-Pro cores at 3,15 GHz, all of them high-performance. The GPU, for its part, integrates 16 cores, and the NPU reaches 200 TOPS, a figure designed to run artificial intelligence models locally.
The XRing O3 stands out not only for its raw power but also for its efficiency and the strategy behind it. Xiaomi is looking to reduce its reliance on external suppliers for key components, and to this end, it has partnered with CXMT, the Chinese memory manufacturer, which will supply LPDDR6 memory. This will be one of the first commercial applications of this standard, which offers speeds of up to 14,4 Gbps per pin and more efficient power management. The combination of its own processor and advanced memory will allow Xiaomi to offer tailored performance, optimized for its HyperOS 4 customization layer , which will also debut on this device.
A sturdy hinge and a record-breaking battery
Another aspect Xiaomi has highlighted is the new hinge, internally dubbed the "dragon bone." The company claims it has undergone advanced durability simulations and that the mechanism is designed to withstand daily use without losing its sturdiness. While no specific figures for folding cycles have been provided, it appears this will be one of the device's strongest features.
Regarding battery life, leaks point to a 6.000 mAh battery with 67W wired and 50W wireless fast charging, which would make it one of the foldable phones with the highest battery capacity on the market. This figure, combined with the efficiency of the XRing O3 processor, promises more than respectable battery life for a device of this type. Furthermore, the phone will come with integrated artificial intelligence features, called MiMo, which will run locally thanks to the power of the NPU.
Price and availability: Will it arrive in Europe?
One of the biggest questions surrounding the Xiaomi 18 Fold is its price and availability outside of China. According to several Chinese media outlets, the device could have a starting price of 12.000 yuan, which is equivalent to about €1.542. This would make it the most expensive phone Xiaomi has ever released, surpassing even the Xiaomi 18 Ultra Leica Edition. However, it's worth noting that European versions of the brand's phones are usually more expensive than their domestic counterparts, so if it does eventually arrive in Spain, the price could be even higher.
For now, Xiaomi hasn't confirmed whether the 18 Fold will be sold outside of China. In fact, no foldable phone from the company has ever been released outside of China, and all indications suggest this one won't be either, at least initially. Production, according to some estimates, will be limited to around 300.000 units, reinforcing the idea that this is a product designed for a very specific audience. Even so, the September 7th presentation could hold surprises, and it wouldn't be surprising if Xiaomi announced an international expansion in the coming months.
With this launch, Xiaomi positions itself at a key moment in the foldable phone market. Apple's iPhone Ultra, expected on September 9th, has increased interest in these types of devices, and Chinese brands are taking advantage of this to get ahead. Samsung has already made its move with the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Huawei has presented its Pura X, and now Xiaomi joins the battle with a device that, while we await all the details, promises to generate a lot of buzz. It remains to be seen whether the 18 Fold will live up to expectations and whether it will manage to win over European users, but what is clear is that the foldable phone war has just begun.
