Berlin, Germany – With the tech world’s eyes fixed on the upcoming Apple event, Xiaomi used IFA 2026 to fire a major salvo in the next chapter of the foldable phone war. The Chinese electronics giant gave journalists behind-closed-doors access to its new Xiaomi 18 Fold—a book-style foldable that ditches the tall, narrow form factor of earlier models for a short, wide design reminiscent of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8. Hand-on reports quickly branded it as the foldable Samsung could have made, and a serious contender for Apple’s much-rumored entry into the category.

A bold new shape for foldables

The standout feature of the Xiaomi 18 Fold is its squat, broad silhouette. According to early impressions from The Verge, the device is both shorter and wider than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, offering a roughly 1.4:1 aspect ratio on its 7.58-inch internal display and 5.38-inch external screen. That makes the cover display easier to use one-handed—a key ergonomic shift that many reviewers have been asking from the category since its inception. It follows Huawei and Samsung in adopting this so-called “wide foldable” form, but Xiaomi appears to have pushed the design even further.

“Superior specs make it feel like the phone I wish Samsung had made.” — The Verge, hands-on preview

Xiaomi’s decision to go short and wide is a direct response to years of criticism about cramped cover screens and unwieldy aspect ratios. The 18 Fold is Xiaomi’s first book-style foldable since the Mix Fold 4 launched in 2024, and the company has clearly taken note of industry-wide feedback. Android Headlines described it as “Xiaomi’s first wide foldable,” positioning it as a direct competitor to the Galaxy Z Fold 8. The phone was on display at IFA, where multiple outlets—including MSN and NBC News—confirmed the device’s design and hands-on feel.

A market rushing toward the same form factor

The launch could not be timelier. According to NBC News, Chinese tech giants Huawei and Xiaomi both debuted new foldable smartphones ahead of Apple’s September event, widely expected to include Apple’s first foldable iPhone. For Beijing-based companies, the timing is strategic: claiming design leadership in the foldable space before Apple enters the market establishes mindshare and technical credibility. Huawei, which introduced its own wide foldable earlier, has been followed by Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series. Xiaomi’s 18 Fold targets the same design language with aggressive specs that, as Forbes notes, makes you wonder what Apple’s projected ‘iPhone Ultra Fold’ can bring to the table.

Forbes’ hands-on feature branded the 18 Fold as a benchmark for Cupertino to study: “I tried the Xiaomi 18 Fold, and this is what I want from Apple’s foldable iPhone Ultra.” The piece highlights the larger outer display, thinner profile, and polished hinge mechanism—features that could set expectations for Apple’s first attempt. Similarly, MSN’s coverage called the phone a “Galaxy Z Fold 8 competitor” that was “shown off at IFA 2026,” while another MSN writer applauded its “compact” feel in daily use.

More than a display: The Xring chip and the Xiaomi ecosystem

Xiaomi did not stop at the foldable itself. Gizmochina notes that the company is also teasing a new Xring chip and a burgundy-colored Xiaomi MIX Ultra, deepening its in-house silicon efforts and premium hardware lineup. While the 18 Fold did not feature the Xring chip, its presence in Xiaomi’s roadmap signals that the company intends to compete not only on form, but on core processing power. The 18 Fold is expected to bundle top-tier Snapdragon silicon, upgraded cameras, and the latest Xiaomi software on the larger inner screen—specs that sources like Digitimes point to as a direct challenge to Huawei and Samsung’s premium foldable flagships.

Digitimes frames the 18 Fold as Xiaomi’s attempt to solidify its position in a race that is increasingly defined by screen aspect ratio and app compatibility. “Xiaomi debuts the 18 Fold to challenge Huawei and Samsung in the wide-screen foldable race,” the outlet noted, underscoring the supply chain implications of a third major vendor adopting this form factor.

“The launch of Xiaomi’s 18 Fold is all about timing, engineering, and saying to Apple: ‘You’re entering a game we already lead.'” — Industry analyst cited by NBC News (paraphrase)

What this means for consumers and Apple

The Xiaomi 18 Fold demonstrates that the foldable market is entering a maturity phase where design differentiation is shrinking and execution is everything. Samsung popularized the book-style foldable with a tall-aspect external screen; Huawei and now Xiaomi are pioneering the wider alternative; and Apple is expected to arrive with a version that, if Forbes is any guide, may need to match Xiaomi’s exterior ergonomics to win over enthusiasts.

From a consumer standpoint, the benefits of the 18 Fold’s orientation are clear: the outer screen can be used normally like a conventional candy-bar phone, while the unfolded interior remains plenty large for multitasking and media consumption. The Verge noted that while it looks and feels similar to Samsung’s effort, Xiaomi’s spec sheet pushes harder—better resolution, faster charging, and a more refined crease experience. Reviewers also praised the brightness and color accuracy of the internal panel, though full camera assessments are pending final retail units.

Key takeaways from the IFA hands-on

  • Form factor: 7.58-inch inner / 5.38-inch outer displays, ~1.4:1 aspect ratio.
  • Design: Shorter and wider than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, easier one-handed use.
  • Market context: Launches in the same week as expected Apple foldable announcement; follows Huawei’s move to wide format.
  • Ecosystem: Xiaomi simultaneously teases Xring silicon and MIX Ultra, reinforcing its high-end strategy.

The frame game: How outlets see the story

The coverage differs across publications. Tech blogs like The Verge and Android Headlines focus on hardware and spec comparisons against Samsung. Forbes injects a more consumer-forward angle, using the 18 Fold as a wishlist for Apple. NBC News and mainstream media treat the launch as part of a broader geopolitical contest between Chinese tech firms and Western rivals ahead of an anticipated Apple event. Meanwhile, trade publication Digitimes analyzes component supply chains and the manufacturing implications of an industry-wide shift to wide foldable displays.

No matter the lens, one theme recurs: Xiaomi is no longer following in the foldable race—it is setting a pace that even Apple may have to respect. Whether the upcoming iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra lives up to the new bar set by the 18 Fold is the industry’s next big question. But for now, Xiaomi has the momentum, the hands-on praise, and the unexpected form factor to claim a defining moment at IFA 2026.