Xiaomi Unveils First Foldable Phone in Flagship Line, Introduces Mid-Fold Design Xiaomi has officially revealed its new foldable smartphone, marking a significant shift in its product strategy. The device, named the Xiaomi 18 FOLD, will debut in China on 7 September 2026, alongside the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max and the company’s first extended-range SUVs, the Sky Nomad N70 Pro, N70 Max, and N90 Max. This launch represents Xiaomi’s first foldable phone to be branded under its numbered flagship series rather than the previous Mix Fold line. The Xiaomi 18 FOLD is designed as a compact, wide foldable, differing from traditional long-form foldables. When closed, the phone measures as a squat rectangle, roughly the size of a passport, and is light enough to be held in one hand. Xiaomi has described this design as “mid-fold,” positioning it between the book-style foldables and flip designs. Lu Weibing, Xiaomi’s president, stated that this design is expected to become the standard for future foldables. The mid-fold concept builds on earlier innovations by other manufacturers. In December 2021, OPPO introduced the Find N, the first foldable to open into a landscape orientation rather than a square. The device featured a 5.49-inch cover screen and a 7.1-inch inner display. Google followed in 2023 with the Pixel Fold, which had a 5.8-inch cover screen and was dubbed “passport-shaped” by reviewers. Samsung, however, maintained a taller 21:9 cover screen until its Galaxy Z Fold 8 launch in July 2026, which introduced a 5.5-inch cover screen at 10:16 and a 7.6-inch inner display at 4:3. Xiaomi’s 18 FOLD closely matches Samsung’s Fold 8 in dimensions, with a 5.38-inch cover screen and a 7.58-inch inner display. This similarity suggests a competitive push toward more compact, versatile foldable designs.#xiaomi #xiaomi_18_fold #lu_weibing #opposite_find_n #samsung_galaxy_z_fold_8
