Xiaomi 18 Fold Launched With 200MP Leica Camera and 6,000mAh Battery

Xiaomi has launched the 18 Fold in China as its first wide-format book-style foldable. It features a 7.58-inch 120Hz AMOLED display, 200MP Leica camera, Xring O3 chipset and 6,000mAh battery.

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It can now be said that Xiaomi has unveiled its first book-style foldable called the Xiaomi 18 Fold in China. The phone was introduced after its first official unveiling during the IFA 2026 event held in Berlin this month, which gained some traction because of the device’s compact passport-style design and unique maroon-red coloring. This has brought about a more comprehensive look into Xiaomi’s new foray into the foldable smartphones category.

This launch has come at a time when there has been increased popularity of wider book-style foldables. There has also been the development of a wider phone from Samsung dubbed the Galaxy Z Fold 8, as well as the imminent arrival of a wider foldable iPhone with a passport style look from Apple. Xiaomi has opted for a unique approach by going for the compact design with a huge battery capacity and an in-house designed Xring O3 processor.

Xiaomi 18 Fold Price and Availability

Starting at a price point of CNY 10,999, the Xiaomi 18 Fold retails for approximately Rs 1.55 lakh for its 12GB RAM and 256GB storage model. The 12GB + 512GB model comes with a price tag of CNY 11,999, which is Rs 1.69 lakh, whereas the 16GB + 512GB model costs CNY 12,999, which amounts to approximately Rs 1.83 lakh.

The premium 16GB + 1TB model will be available for a starting price of CNY 14,999, which is about Rs 2.11 lakh. Xiaomi has also launched a ceramic special edition 18 Fold with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage for a cost of CNY 15,999, or around Rs 2.25 lakh. All these prices are based on a direct currency conversion and must not be taken as any indication of the Indian launch price.

Xiaomi 18 Fold is available in the colour variants of Black, Nishino Red and Warm Gold White, and its ceramic special edition as well. Sales have already begun in China with pre-orders having been opened. However, there has been news that Xiaomi does not intend to release its 18 Fold anywhere except China.

The red variant has been the most prominent version showcased by Xiaomi so far. Its deep red finish gives the foldable a distinctive appearance and also bears some resemblance to the cherry-red colour reportedly associated with Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone.

Xiaomi 18 Fold Design and Display

On the cover side, Xiaomi 18 Fold has 5.38 inches AMOLED panel while on the folding part, there is 7.58 inches folding AMOLED panel. Both screens offer 120Hz refresh rate and can produce maximum of 4,000 nits peak brightness. That should enable this device to be used from everyday use to HDR content watching.

Inner screen operates based on power-saving Pol-less technology, while the cover screen is protected with the help of Xiaomi Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0. Compact cover screen and big inner screen give passport-like proportions to this smartphone.

Although the device is folding, it is quite slim. The Xiaomi 18 Fold has 10.68mm thickness when it is folded and only 5.02mm thickness when it is opened. The weight of the smartphone is 219 grams. At its presentation during IFA, the device was shown in the deep maroon red glass case, which made it difficult to assess the feel of the phone in hand. However, the compactness of the device was quite obvious.

Xring O3 Chipset Powers the Foldable

Processor is one of the most outstanding features of the Xiaomi 18 Fold smartphone. The smartphone is equipped with Xiaomi's new 3nm deca-core Xring O3 chipset, which is the first smartphone by the company that uses the newest in-house processor by Xiaomi. It is a huge step for Xiaomi as the company aims at gaining more control over the hardware and software of its flagships.

The chipset is combined with up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.1 storage. All 16GB versions have LPDDR6 memory that gives an opportunity to use a lot of memory for multitasking and heavy workloads. In terms of the software, the smartphone is based on HyperOS 4 running Android 17.

Xiaomi 18 Fold Gets Leica-Backed 200MP Camera

Another key aspect covered in the Xiaomi 18 Fold is photography. Indeed, the device is equipped with a triple camera system for the rear of the device, supported by Leica. The triple camera is comprised of the 200 MP primary camera with optical image stabilization, while a 50 MP periscope telephoto camera boasting 3.5x optical zoom and up to 7x optical-quality zoom.

Finally, the rear cameras include a 50 MP ultrawide camera, while the front includes 16 MP selfies cameras for both screens.

6,000mAh Battery and 50W Wireless Charging

Notwithstanding its thin and foldable form factor, Xiaomi has been able to pack in a decent 6,000 mAh battery capacity in the Xiaomi 18 Fold, which is one of the main selling points of the gadget especially considering that the battery capacity is still crucial when it comes to foldable smartphones.

This battery can be charged wirelessly up to 50 W and with a cable to 67 W. In addition to the above features, the Xiaomi 18 Fold has a dust and water resistance rating of IP58 and IP59.

In theory, the Xiaomi 18 Fold makes for a very intriguing blend of the wide-foldable form factor, high-resolution Leica cameras, a large 6,000mAh battery and the recently unveiled by Xiaomi Xring O3 chipset. The small size of the smartphone in comparison to the typical book-foldables that tend to feel rather bulky when folded also adds to its intrigue.

The device is clearly positioned as a possible challenger to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. The problem is that its reported limited distribution to China only severely undermines this possibility. If Xiaomi does not change its mind, international buyers should probably look for local alternatives.

Nevertheless, the Xiaomi 18 Fold is still an exciting glimpse into the future foldables made by the company. With its in-house flagship chipset, 200MP Leica camera and a surprisingly big battery, the device seems like more than just a simple foldable with a flexible display.