Xiaomi has officially lifted the curtain on its newest foldable, the Xiaomi 18 Fold, showing it off at IFA 2026 in Berlin ahead of a launch next week. This model adopts a wide design similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, and clearly signals the direction Xiaomi is taking with its foldable lineup. The device will run on the company’s in-house ORING 3 chipset and is set to be released in China on September 7.
Design and Display Specs
The most notable change is the foldable’s proportions. The exterior display is about 5.38-inches, while the larger inner display measures approximately 7.58-inches. These dimensions give it a wider aspect ratio than older foldables, making it more akin to a compact tablet when opened. Along with that, Xiaomi has opted for rounded edges throughout, which gives it a softer profile than some competitors with more angular frames.
Chipset, Launch Details, and What Remains Unknown
Powering the Xiaomi 18 Fold is the ORING 3 chipset, though details beyond that (RAM, storage, camera hardware, battery size) remain scarce. The company confirmed the China launch date—September 7—but hasn’t yet released information on international availability or pricing. With this reveal coming at IFA 2026, Xiaomi is giving just enough insight to build anticipation without revealing everything.
The close resemblance to the Galaxy Z Fold 8 isn’t accidental. Xiaomi appears to be leaning into the trend of wider foldables that combine large internal screens with more usable outer displays—something recent Samsung designs have emphasized. This shift suggests a broader trend where foldables are moving away from super-narrow outer shells toward more versatile “tablet when opened, phone when closed” hybrid form factors.
Overall, the Xiaomi 18 Fold marks a key evolution for the company’s foldables. With the hardware aesthetics and core specifications now public, what remains to be seen is how performance, software, durability, and pricing stack up in comparison to its peers—especially models like Samsung’s Fold series. For users and tech watchers, the real test will be how these broader, rounded designs function in everyday usage, and whether Xiaomi plans to bring this variant globally or keep it confined to China.
