The Xiaomi 18 Fold has been teased as a direct rival to Apple’s rumoured iPhone Ultra, arriving just as the wide foldable form factor gains momentum. Foldable smartphones remain exciting, yet the traditional tall design has begun to feel familiar. Samsung and Huawei have already shifted towards a shorter, wider frame, and Apple is expected to unveil its own take with the iPhone Ultra on 9 September.
Xiaomi lifted the lid on the device at the IFA trade show. The Xiaomi 18 Fold resembles the upcoming iPhone Ultra more than the Galaxy Z Fold 8, featuring rounded corners and a horizontal camera bar. It is the first flagship phone to run on the company’s home-grown XRING O3 chipset.
First impressions of the wide foldable
The device was seen from a distance rather than examined hands-on, though it proved difficult to spot any visible crease on the display. Its close similarity to the renders and dummy units of the iPhone Ultra that have circulated so far was hard to ignore.
Xiaomi will share more details on 7 September, when it launches the device in China. That timing places it two days ahead of Apple’s announcement. China is the second-largest iPhone market, and by reaching buyers first, Xiaomi positions itself to gain an early advantage in that region.
Chipset, cameras and pricing
The in-house XRING O3 chipset outperformed current top flagships in a benchmark test. Beyond raw performance, Xiaomi is promising efficiency and strong on-device AI capabilities.
The handset carries a triple-camera system, giving it one additional lens over the iPhone Ultra, and initial sample shots have looked impressive. On price, the Xiaomi 18 Fold is expected to stay below the equivalent of roughly £1,600, unlike the iPhone Ultra. The device also arrives in a striking scarlet finish.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold adds to the growing evidence that manufacturers are keen to capitalise on the passport-style form factor, a design that has already proved popular for Samsung. The Xiaomi 18 Fold will not be available in every market.
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Image: phonearena.com
