Xiaomi launched the Xiaomi 18 Fold in China the same week Apple revealed its first foldable. The timing makes the comparison impossible to avoid, and on paper, Xiaomi holds up well.
Powered by Xiaomi's own silicon
The 18 Fold does not use Qualcomm. It runs on Xiaomi's in-house XRING O3 chip, which has a 10-core CPU, a 16-core GPU, and an NPU built around Xiaomi's own AI model architecture. Designing its own flagship chip puts Xiaomi in a small club alongside Apple, Google, and Huawei.
Thin and light
- 5.02mm unfolded (thinner than the iPhone Duo's 5.2mm)
- 10.68mm folded
- 219 grams (35 grams lighter than the iPhone Duo)
Displays
| Screen | Size | Refresh rate | Peak brightness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer | 5.38 inches | 120Hz | 4,000 nits |
| Inner | 7.58 inches | 120Hz | 4,000 nits |
Reviewers describe it as a "mid-size" foldable with a wider shape than older, narrow designs, so the outer screen feels more like a normal phone.
Cameras
Leica-tuned triple camera system:
- 200MP main (f/1.7)
- 50MP ultrawide
- 50MP periscope telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom
- 16MP front camera
That telephoto lens is something the iPhone Duo does not have.
Battery and charging
A 6,000mAh battery with 67W wired and 50W wireless charging.
Price
| Version | Price (China) |
|---|---|
| Base model | CNY 10,999 |
| Top-tier ceramic edition | CNY 15,999 |
There is no word yet on an international release.
Why it matters
Foldables are getting thinner, lighter, and better equipped every year, and Chinese brands are setting the pace. The 18 Fold shows Xiaomi can now compete at the top end with its own chip, not just its own design.
Sources: SoyaCincau, Engadget, TechNode
