Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 18 Fold at IFA 2026, launching a short, wide foldable device featuring the company’s proprietary Xring O3 processor and a 6,000 mAh battery. According to on-the-ground reporting by Ole Magnus Kinapel, the device adopts a passport-sized “mid-fold” format with a 5.38-inch cover screen and a 7.58-inch interior display designed to rival competing hardware from Samsung and Apple.
Xiaomi 18 Fold Specifications and Form Factor
The Xiaomi 18 Fold measures 5.38 inches on its exterior cover screen and expands to a 7.58-inch inner display in a 4:3 aspect ratio, according to Kinapel’s reporting from the Berlin trade show. Unlike competitors that maintain sharp corners and straight edges, Xiaomi rounds the entire profile of the device, creating an asymmetrical shape when closed.
Observers who handled the device on-site estimate its thickness at roughly 7 to 9 millimeters when folded and about 5 millimeters when unfolded. For comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 measures 9.7 millimeters folded and 4.5 millimeters unfolded. The Xiaomi model integrates a “Dragon Bone” hinge, “Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0” for the cover, IP68 water and dust resistance, and a side-mounted fingerprint reader.
Did you know? Xiaomi brought over 380 products to IFA 2026, marking the company’s largest trade show presence outside of China to date, spanning electric scooters, vacuum cleaners, televisions, automobiles, and smartphones.
Proprietary Xring O3 Silicon and Memory Performance
Under the hood, the Xiaomi 18 Fold relies on the Xring O3, marking the first time Xiaomi has deployed its own custom system-on-chip in a flagship device, departing from previous reliance on Qualcomm and MediaTek. The processor is paired with 16 GB of LPDDR6 memory supplied by Chinese manufacturer CXMT.
According to hardware data from the launch, this configuration achieves transfer speeds of up to 12,800 Mbps, making the Xiaomi 18 Fold the first smartphone globally to utilize this specific memory standard. This shift mirrors Apple’s strategy of designing custom silicon to tightly integrate hardware and software performance.
Camera System and Battery Comparison
The rear camera module utilizes a Leica Summilux setup housed inside a horizontal visir strip. The configuration includes a 200-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilization, a 50-megapixel ultravidvinkel camera, and a 50-megapixel telephoto lens offering 3.5x optical zoom across a 17 to 80 millimeter focal length range.
Power is supplied by a 6,000 mAh battery, which supports 67W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. By comparison, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 relies on a two-camera rear array and a smaller battery capacity in order to achieve its thinner profile, having dropped support for stylus input entirely.
Stylus Support and Market Availability
Promotional material released by Xiaomi demonstrates user interaction with the interior display using a physical pen, a feature Samsung omitted from the Galaxy Z Fold8 in pursuit of a thinner chassis. Samsung representatives have indicated that the company is exploring a potential return for stylus support in future iterations.
Xiaomi scheduled the domestic release of the 18 Fold for September 7 in China. As of the IFA exhibition, company representatives have not confirmed an international rollout to European markets, leaving regional availability uncertain despite industry rumors surrounding competing releases from Apple.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the screen size of the Xiaomi 18 Fold?
The device features a 5.38-inch cover screen and a 7.58-inch interior display configured in a 4:3 aspect ratio.
Does the Xiaomi 18 Fold use a custom processor?
Yes. The phone is powered by the Xring O3, which is Xiaomi’s first internally designed system-on-chip for a flagship mobile device.
What camera specifications does the Xiaomi 18 Fold feature?
The rear camera array includes a 200-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilization, a 50-megapixel ultravidvinkel lens, and a 50-megapixel telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom under Leica branding.
Is the Xiaomi 18 Fold available globally?
Xiaomi released the device in China on September 7, but has not yet announced plans for a European or international release.
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