Understanding why the Xiaomi 18 Fold is a carrot on a stick
Although what is arguably the biggest phone launch of the year is happening this week, Xiaomi is trying to steal some of the limelight.
Barring some kind of huge turnaround, Apple will unveil its first foldable smartphone on Wednesday. It’s obviously a huge deal as, although the firm is years behind Android rivals, when the iPhone does something, people take notice.
The big question, aside from the price, is whether Apple can perfect the form factor on its first attempt. The iPhone Ultra, iPhone Fold – or whatever it will be called – is rumoured to come in a widescreen ‘passport-style’ shape.
Android makers have already been getting ahead of this shift with the recently announced Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (below), which dramatically changed the aspect ratios of the screens compared to its predecessors.
Luke Baker
It’s been a huge hit, despite the trials and tribulations of the tech world in 2026, and Xiaomi is the next in the widescreen foldable queue.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold launches in earnest today. Oddly, it hasn’t been comprehensively leaked ahead of time in the usual fashion.
The launch date, just two days before the big Apple event, is no coincidence. However, there’s a big problem here.
It’s all very well having Xiaomi make a big song and dance about its iPhone Ultra rival on the same week, but I believe this is a carrot on a stick for many prospective buyers.
Xiaomi
Like many of its other flagship phones – the Xiaomi 17 Pro Max, for example – I doubt the 18 Fold will launch outside of China.
We’ll have to wait to find out for sure, but I would put money on it, with only an outside chance it launches more widely at a later date, especially after Xiaomi posted on X saying the phone will “launch in the Mainland China” [sic].
This is particularly odd, and carrot-dangling, since Xiaomi chose IFA 2026 to unveil the 18 Fold. IFA is Europe’s biggest technology convention, which takes place annually in Berlin and this year was Xiaomi’s first time exhibiting.
The 18 Fold caused quite a stir and was the standout smartphone of the show, but it’s a real shame if Xiaomi is simply showing Europe (and the UK) what it can’t have. I hope I’m wrong, but sadly I don’t think I am.
Update: Xiaomi has concluded its launch event for the 18 Fold, alongside the Pad 9 Pro Max tablet, and didn’t make any mention about the phone launching outside of China.
It said the foldable phone is available to pre-order now with a release date of 10 September. It costs from CNY10,999 (around £1,200/$1,600) for the cheapest model (12/256GB) and also comes in a special ceramic model costing CNY15,999 (around £1,700/$2,400), which is limited to 1500 units.
We’ll keep you up to date on whether the Xiaomi 18 Fold will get a global launch of any kind.
