Xiaomi’s New Foldable Offers Superior Performance Compared to Samsung’s Model

Xiaomi has just unveiled its latest short, wide foldable phone, the 18 Fold, right as Apple is gearing up for a similar release. I had the chance to check out the 18 Fold at IFA last week, and while it shares a familiar look and feel with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, its superior specifications make it feel like the device I wish Samsung had created.

This marks Xiaomi’s first book-style foldable since the Mix Fold 4 in 2024, and the company has opted for a compact, squat design similar to those from Huawei and Samsung. However, Xiaomi takes it a step further: the 18 Fold is both shorter and wider than Samsung’s offering, featuring a 1.4:1 aspect ratio on its 7.58-inch inner and 5.38-inch outer displays. This design aligns closely with international paper sizes and IMAX screens, suggesting it could be the ideal phone for watching The Odyssey without any letterboxing.

In practice, the 18 Fold feels quite similar to the Z Fold 8. It’s compact and easily pocketable when closed, and the cover screen is comfortable for one-handed use. However, I anticipate some apps may struggle with the shorter screen. When opened, it provides a natural experience for watching movies or reading eBooks, though it might not be as well-suited for multitasking. Still, Xiaomi has included features like split-screen apps and floating windows to enhance productivity.

Samsung may have an edge in build quality. The 18 Fold looks fantastic, available in black, white, and a striking red, along with a limited pink ceramic edition of just 1,500 units. However, it is slightly heavier and thicker than the Z Fold 8, and Xiaomi has not disclosed any IP rating for it. The crease is also more noticeable compared to this year’s Samsung foldables. Oppo has nearly eliminated the foldable crease with its Find N6, and it will be interesting to see how Apple approaches this challenge.

While my initial experience with the 18 Fold focused on its form factor, the phone truly shines with its specifications. It’s the first Xiaomi device to feature the new Xring O3 chipset, promising performance on par with the Snapdragon 8 Elite. It also debuts Arm’s Mali G2-Ultra NX GPU, which supports mobile-first graphics acceleration similar to DLSS on Android.

Beyond the chipset, the 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery is significantly larger than the Samsung’s 4,800mAh, supporting 67W wired and 50W wireless charging. The dual OLED displays can reach up to 4,000 nits of peak brightness. Most notably, it boasts a triple rear camera system enhanced by Xiaomi’s long-standing partnership with Leica, featuring a 200-megapixel main camera with a 1/1.56-inch sensor, a 50-megapixel 3.5x periscope telephoto, and a 50-megapixel ultrawide lens.

I was impressed with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 during my review, quickly adapting to its design. My main concern was its lack of a triple camera, which I expect from a phone priced around $2,000. By addressing this and improving battery life and display quality, Xiaomi has crafted a compelling contender in the foldable market. However, the absence of an IP rating does give me some pause.

The foldable landscape is set to shift dramatically if Apple announces its anticipated foldable iPhone soon. In the meantime, Xiaomi has made a bold statement with the 18 Fold, which is available for preorder in China starting at ¥10,999 (approximately $1,600), with official sales beginning on September 10th. However, it remains unclear if this device will ever launch internationally.