Xiaomi has officially shown off the design of the Xiaomi 18 Fold ahead of its launch in China on September 7, 2026. This flagship foldable is clearly positioned to go head-to-head with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, as well as Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone, widely expected to carry the name iPhone Ultra.
Before its official launch, the Xiaomi 18 Fold will make an appearance at IFA 2026 in Berlin, Germany. According to a post from Xiaomi’s official account on X, the device will be showcased alongside its new Xring O3 chipset on September 3, 2026, at 10:30 AM Berlin time (3:30 PM Western Indonesia Time).
That said, its appearance at IFA 2026 doesn’t confirm a global rollout just yet, the official launch is still scheduled to happen in China first.
Timing-wise, the Xiaomi 18 Fold is set to launch just two days before Apple’s own event on September 9, 2026, which is widely expected to be the stage where the rumored iPhone Ultra makes its debut, putting these two foldable flagships on a near-collision course for attention.
What Does the Xiaomi 18 Fold Look Like?
The design was revealed through renders and video shared by Lu Weibing, President of Xiaomi’s smartphone business, on Weibo. Xiaomi is calling its new design approach a “mid-fold” form factor.
Unlike typical book-style foldables, the Xiaomi 18 Fold features a shorter, wider body. When closed, its dimensions are said to resemble a passport, making it noticeably more comfortable to hold and use one-handed.
The outer display measures 5.38 inches, while unfolding reveals a 7.58-inch main display with an aspect ratio optimized for multitasking and video viewing.
Around back, the phone features a horizontal camera module housing three cameras and an LED flash. The camera system was co-developed with Leica, though Xiaomi has yet to reveal specific sensor resolutions or types.
Xiaomi has also equipped the foldable with its latest-generation “Dragon Bone” hinge, tested using a simulation-based system designed to evaluate the structural durability of the device.
This wide-screen approach mirrors the Galaxy Z Fold 8, which features a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch main display with a 4:3 aspect ratio when unfolded. Huawei previously explored a similar format with its Pura X Max, which uses a 5.4-inch outer display paired with a 7.7-inch main screen.
Xiaomi 18 Fold Specifications
The Xiaomi 18 Fold will be powered by the Xring O3, Xiaomi’s latest self-developed chipset, built on a 3nm fabrication process as the successor to the Xring O1.
According to a Reuters report, the Xring O3 is manufactured by TSMC. Developing its own chipset gives Xiaomi greater control over hardware and software integration, while reducing reliance on suppliers like Qualcomm and MediaTek.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold is also confirmed to use LPDDR6 RAM manufactured by ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT). Xiaomi and CXMT have confirmed this partnership, though the exact RAM capacity has yet to be announced.
The device is expected to run HyperOS 4, equipped with Xiaomi’s MiMo AI model. Several AI functions are expected to be processed directly on-device, without always relying on cloud services.
As for the battery, current leaks point to a roughly 6,000mAh capacity, a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, and a telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom, though Xiaomi has not officially confirmed any of these details yet.
When Is the Xiaomi 18 Fold Launching?
The Xiaomi 18 Fold is set to launch in China on September 7, 2026. The same event will also serve as the launch stage for the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max, along with electric vehicles Pengcheng N70 Pro, N70 Max, and N90 Max.
Two days later, Apple will host an event titled “Surprise and Shine” on September 9, 2026. Apple hasn’t confirmed which devices will be unveiled, but Reuters reports the company is expected to reveal its first-ever foldable iPhone.
The name “iPhone Ultra,” which has circulated widely, still hasn’t been officially confirmed by Apple. As a result, a direct comparison between the Xiaomi 18 Fold and the iPhone Ultra will have to wait until Apple’s official announcement.
Pricing for the Xiaomi 18 Fold has not yet been announced, and Xiaomi has not confirmed a global sales timeline or availability in Indonesia.
With a self-developed 3nm chipset, a Leica-co-developed camera system, and a passport-sized closed form factor aimed squarely at one-handed usability, the Xiaomi 18 Fold is shaping up to be one of the most ambitious foldables of the year. Whether it can truly go toe-to-toe with Samsung’s Z Fold 8 and Apple’s rumored foldable debut will become clearer once both companies make their moves in the coming weeks.