Xiaomi has unveiled its new flagship foldable: The Xiaomi 18 Fold combines a 200-megapixel Leica triple camera with the company’s in-house Xring-O3 chip and a strikingly wide form factor. The device was unveiled on September 7, 2026, just two days before Apple’s iPhone event. For now, however, it will be sold exclusively in China.
For a foldable phone with this level of specs, that’s no big surprise—but it’s still a bit of a disappointment for anyone who had been hoping for a global model. A look at the technical specs reveals what makes the 18 Fold interesting nonetheless.
Design: Wider than Most Foldables
With the 18 Fold, Xiaomi is opting for a so-called “wide format”—a form factor that’s more reminiscent of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 than of classic, narrow foldables. When folded, the device measures 117.8 x 83.6 x 10.68 millimeters; when unfolded, it’s just 5.02 millimeters thick. Despite the two displays and the large battery, the device weighs 219 grams.
In addition to its IP59 water resistance certification, the phone comes in four color options: black, red, a warm gold, and a limited-edition ceramic special edition.
Two displays with 4,000 nits of peak brightness
When unfolded, the Xiaomi 18 Fold features a 7.58-inch main display with a resolution of 2,364 x 1,672 pixels. The outer cover display measures 5.38 inches with a resolution of 1,712 x 1,168 pixels. Both panels have a 120 Hz refresh rate and, according to Xiaomi, are capable of reaching a peak brightness of up to 4,000 nits. This would put them ahead of even some current non-foldable models.
Xring O3: Xiaomi’s In-House Processor Takes Center Stage
Instead of relying on Qualcomm or MediaTek, Xiaomi is once again equipping the 18 Fold with a chip it developed in-house: the Xring O3. The ARM SoC features ten CPU cores and a 16-core GPU, with a clock speed that is said to boost up to 4.35 GHz. Xiaomi touts the Xring O3 as offering 52 percent more performance than its predecessor, the Xring O1, and even ranks it above Apple’s A19 Pro. Independent benchmarks will have to show how valid this comparison is in practice. Xiaomi has not yet released official figures on this.
On the software side, the device runs HyperOS 4 based on Android 17, combined with 12 or 16 GB of RAM and a choice of 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB of storage.
200-MP Leica Camera as the Highlight
For the camera system, Xiaomi continues its collaboration with Leica, which has already shaped models such as the Leitz Phone 3. The 18 Fold’s main camera has a resolution of 200 megapixels with an f/1.7 aperture and is mounted on a comparatively large 1/1.56-inch sensor. It’s joined by a 50-MP ultra-wide-angle lens with an f/2.4 aperture and a 50-MP periscope telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom and an f/2.8 aperture. The front camera has a resolution of 16 megapixels.
According to the spec sheet, video recording is possible in 8K at 24 fps, and 1080p at up to 960 fps is available for slow-motion footage. If you want to know just how much Leica optics are packed into this device without the smartphone itself, check out our review of the Leica Lux Grip.
Battery, Charging, and Other Features
The 6,000-mAh battery uses a silicon anode and is designed to deliver decent battery life despite the device’s slim profile. Wired charging supports up to 67 watts, while wireless charging supports up to 50 watts—impressive figures for a foldable of this thickness.
Pricing and Availability
For now, anyone looking to buy the Xiaomi 18 Fold will have to do so directly in China. Prices there are as follows:
| Model | Price (China) | Price (converted, approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 12 GB RAM / 256 GB | 10,999 yuan | 1,400 euros |
| 12 GB RAM / 512 GB | 11,999 yuan | 1,530 euros |
| 16 GB RAM / 512 GB | 12,999 yuan | 1,660 euros |
| 16 GB RAM / 1 TB | 14,999 yuan | 1,920 euros |
| Ceramic Edition, 16 GB / 1 TB | 15,999 yuan | 2,040 euros |
Xiaomi has not yet confirmed an official global launch. Both GSMArena and Android Authority expect that, like its predecessors, the 18 Fold will remain a China-exclusive product.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi 18 Fold shows the direction in which foldables are currently evolving: thinner, more powerful, and with a camera that can now compete with traditional flagship models. Together with the Galaxy Z Fold 7, Xiaomi is making the wide form factor the new standard for foldables. Whether and when the 18 Fold will be available outside of China remains to be seen. Based on the history of Xiaomi’s Fold series so far, however, I wouldn’t bet on it.
