During IFA 2026, Xiaomi introduced the Xiaomi 18 Fold, describing it as the company’s first-ever “mid-size” foldable smartphone. Positioned to compete with upcoming rivals, the device is launching in China just as Apple is expected to announce its own entry into the foldable market.
The 18 Fold features a distinct passport-style chassis with a 7.68-inch inner display and a 5.38-inch outer screen. Both panels utilize a unified A4 aspect ratio to create a seamless visual experience when transitioning between folded and unfolded states. Weighing in at just 219 grams, it is the lightest foldable Xiaomi has produced to date. The design stands out with an asymmetric notepad aesthetic, featuring curved corners on the right edge and square corners near the hinge.
Both displays are equipped with Xiaomi’s new HyperRGB panel, boasting a full RGB subpixel structure, a peak brightness of 4,000 nits, and a 1-120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate. Durability is addressed through a reinforced aluminum alloy frame, Shield Glass 3.0 protection, and a new three-link proprietary hinge that wraps around the screen. During initial handling, the hinge felt notably robust compared to competitors, though the device is slightly thicker than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 due to its larger battery capacity.
A key highlight of the 18 Fold is its move into custom silicon. It is the first Xiaomi flagship to run on the XRING 03 chip, manufactured on a 3nm process. This System on Chip (SoC) combines a 10-core all-big-core CPU and a 16-core GPU, and is claimed to be the first to support LPDDR6 RAM. Xiaomi states the chip offers 45% faster on-device NPU decoding performance compared to its previous flagship processor.
Powering the device is a substantial silicon-carbon battery, currently the largest capacity available in a foldable form factor. It supports 67W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Photography enthusiasts may note the inclusion of a Leica triple-camera system, featuring a 200MP main sensor with a 1/1.56-inch sensor and a 50MP periscope telephoto lens. However, the main sensor is smaller than that found on the Xiaomi 17 Ultra, and Xiaomi has not yet disclosed an IP rating for water or dust resistance.
Launch options include a striking red finish, alongside black and white variants. A special edition made from silicon nitride ceramic, which is approximately 50% lighter than traditional zirconia ceramic and offers enhanced resistance to bumps and scratches, was teased but was not available for public viewing at the event. The Xiaomi 18 Fold starts at 10,999 yuan (approximately $1,640) and is currently available only in China. Availability for other regions remains unconfirmed.
219 grams is impressively light for that battery size. Curious how the hinge holds up over time though.
Wait, no IP rating? For a foldable at this price point? That feels like a major oversight.
The custom XRING chip and LPDDR6 RAM are huge for Xiaomi. Finally taking on Apple in silicon!