A new foldable contender emerges in Berlin
More than a month after Samsung announced the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Xiaomi has officially unveiled its first passport-style foldable phone. The new device, named the Xiaomi 18 Fold, was showcased at the ongoing IFA 2026 event in Berlin, Germany.
Attendees at the technology trade show were given an early look at the upcoming wide-screen foldable. This early preview in Europe comes just ahead of the device's official launch in China, which is slated for next week.
As industry observers have noted regarding the sudden influx of devices, folding phones are often like buses; consumers wait all year and then three arrive at once. The Xiaomi 18 Fold marks a significant new entry in this rapidly expanding mobile category, aiming directly at the premium market.
Design and build: Wider and rounded
The Xiaomi 18 Fold departs from the company's earlier foldable designs by utilizing a noticeably wider aspect ratio and more rounded corners. The outer body sports a 5.38-inch cover display, which opens to reveal a substantial 7.58-inch inner screen.
During the IFA presentation, the hardware took the stage in a striking cherry red finish. This distinctive aesthetic is paired with a prominent camera visor that accommodates an additional rear camera compared to previous iterations.
Recent reports and leaks suggest the overall aesthetic of this new model brings it closer to the design of an iPhone Ultra.
Xiaomi 18 Fold specs and performance
While Xiaomi did not share the complete specifications during the Berlin showcase, the company confirmed major processing details. The company has confirmed that the 18 Fold will be the brand's first flagship phone built around the new in-house XRing O3 processor.
To maximize multitasking capabilities, this flagship chip is paired with next-generation LPDDR6 RAM. This advanced memory is rated for speeds up to 12,800Mbps, ensuring it is fast enough to keep up with demanding mobile applications.
Power users will be able to configure the hardware with high-end memory options. The device includes configurations with up to 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of onboard storage.
Price and availability
The Xiaomi 18 Fold carries a starting retail price of 8,999 CNY, which converts to approximately $1,239. Additional retail listings indicate the price starts at $2,111 in certain configurations or markets.
This aggressive pricing strategy positions the passport-style foldable firmly as a direct rival to Samsung. It aims to challenge the newly announced Galaxy Z Fold 8 in the premium foldable segment following its upcoming regional launch.