Xiaomi’s next premium foldable may have just shown up in the wild. Live photos have surfaced online that reportedly show the Xiaomi MIX Fold 5 running Xiaomi HyperOS 4, and according to Ximitime, the device’s internal codename ‘lhasa’ and an OS version string beginning with 4.0 are clearly visible in the images. If the photos are genuine, this is the first time both the MIX Fold 5 and HyperOS 4 have appeared together on a working device.
One image shows the front display with Xiaomi’s standard lock screen layout. Another shows a software information page in Chinese, where the key details are visible. The Android version shown is Android 17, which puts this well ahead of current consumer software and suggests Xiaomi is deep into internal testing.
This matters because earlier reports had already pointed to the MIX Fold 5 as the likely launch device for HyperOS 4. These photos now give visual support to those claims, moving the story beyond code references and text-only leaks.
The software page, if authentic, confirms a few specific details about where this device sits in development:
- Device codename: lhasa
- Software version: starts with 4.0, indicating HyperOS 4
- Android version: Android 17
- Form factor: matches expectations for a book-style foldable
That Xiaomi is testing HyperOS 4 on a foldable first makes sense. Foldables put more pressure on software than standard phones do. They need strong multitasking, good screen continuity, and efficient resource handling across two displays. Using the MIX Fold 5 as the first platform for HyperOS 4 gives Xiaomi a way to show what the new software can actually do in a demanding context.
HyperOS 4 is expected to bring several improvements that would be especially useful on a foldable:
- Improved large-screen multitasking
- AI-powered system applications
- Cross-app intelligence and productivity tools
- Better resource management for foldable displays
- Tighter integration between hardware, chipset, and system features
On the hardware side, earlier leaks have outlined an ambitious spec list for the MIX Fold 5. The phone is expected to come with Xiaomi’s own XRING O3 chipset, which would mark a significant step in the company’s push toward in-house silicon. Other reported specs include UWB support, an independent N79 band, a 200MP camera, a 6000mAh-class battery, wireless charging, a self-developed hinge, and a high level of water resistance.
For context, the MIX Fold 4, which launched in July 2024, started at 8,999 yuan (around $1,330). It ran a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, had a 7.98-inch inner display and 6.56-inch outer display, used a Leica Summilux quad-camera system, and packed a 5100mAh battery. The MIX Fold 5 is expected to start above 10,000 yuan, which is roughly $1,480 or more, reflecting the jump in components and software ambition.
That price gap, combined with a new chipset, a new OS, and Android 17, means the MIX Fold 5 is shaping up to be more than a routine annual update. Whether Xiaomi can deliver on that potential depends on how HyperOS 4 performs in practice, and how the XRING O3 holds up against Qualcomm’s top silicon. With live photos now in circulation, a formal announcement likely is not far off.