Samsung had the passport foldable space to itself for about five weeks. That’s over now. Xiaomi just unveiled the 18 Fold at IFA 2026 in Berlin, and while it isn’t a carbon copy of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, it’s clearly playing in the same arena. Same form factor, similar screen sizes, but with its own personality, for better or worse.
The screens and what protects them
The 18 Fold has a 5.38-inch cover display and a 7.58-inch inner foldable screen. That inner panel gets a punch-hole cutout tucked into the corner for the selfie camera, which is a clean enough solution. Xiaomi is using its own Dragon Crystal Glass 3.0 on the cover screen, and the foldable display gets dual-UTG protection. So the glass story sounds solid on paper, though we’ll need hands-on time to know how it actually holds up day to day.
That corner situation needs talking about
Here’s the thing that stands out most about the design. The 18 Fold has rounded corners when it’s open, but when you fold it shut, only two corners stay rounded while the other two go sharp. It looks a bit awkward, honestly. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 keeps a consistent boxy shape whether it’s open or closed, and that consistency just looks more intentional. Xiaomi’s approach isn’t ugly, but it’s the kind of detail that’ll bug some people once they notice it.
Specs we know so far
Xiaomi hasn’t dropped everything yet, but here’s what’s confirmed heading into the official China launch on September 7, 2026:
- 67W fast wired charging
- 50W fast wireless charging
- Android 17 with HyperOS 4 out of the box
- IP68 dust and water resistance rating
- An additional rear camera compared to some rivals in the same class
The chip, RAM, storage tiers, and battery size are still unconfirmed. That’s a lot of blanks to fill in, and the September 7 launch in China should answer most of them.
Why this actually matters
Competition in the passport foldable space is good news for everyone buying one. Samsung basically owned this format coming into 2026, and a credible rival from Xiaomi, especially one showing up at a major global event like IFA, puts pressure on pricing and pushes both companies to keep innovating. But the big question is whether the 18 Fold ever leaves China. Xiaomi has been expanding its global footprint, but it’s inconsistent, and foldables are a tough sell in markets where Samsung and Google already have loyal bases.
If Xiaomi does bring this phone to global markets, pricing will make or break it. A foldable that undercuts the Z Fold 8 by a meaningful amount could actually shift some buying decisions. But if it lands at a similar price point without matching Samsung’s software polish or after-sales support, it becomes a much harder sell. Worth watching closely when those final details land next week.