Xiaomi has previewed the 18 Fold, a wide aspect ratio foldable phone positioned as the most premium handset in company history. The hardware debuts the new Xuanjie O3 AI processor alongside next generation CXMT LPDDR6 memory. But prospective buyers will face a steep price tag with retail costs expected to start around 12,000 to 13,000 Chinese Yuan (CNY) is approximately $1,785 to $1,934 USD.
Xiaomi founder and chief executive Lei Jun showcased the physical hardware in a video reveal, highlighting a bold red chassis and a wide horizontal camera bar. The phone uses a wide fold profile rather than a narrow book style form factor. While the overall chassis appears slim in hand, the camera housing features a prominent raised island on the back panel.
Under the hood, the 18 Fold runs on the new Xuanjie O3 AI flagship processor. The handset also secures the global debut of ChangXin LPDDR6 memory. Disclosures from ChangXin Technology indicate this memory standard reaches peak data rates of 12800Mbps and offers single chip capacities up to 16GB, representing a major speed upgrade over previous LPDDR5X modules. Xiaomi previously teased its internal silicon efforts with a cooling test prototype capable of 10W heat dissipation.
According to early reports, Xiaomi told major retail distributors that every configuration of the 18 Fold will cost over 10,000 yuan. A starting price near 12,000 yuan would make it the first standard retail phone from Xiaomi to break that pricing threshold. Software teams are already preparing the ecosystem for the launch. Xiaomi Auto application also received an interface update to properly display full 3D vehicle models on wide foldable displays.
The full unveiling takes place during the upcoming Xiaomi autumn launch event next week. The company will also introduce the Pad 9 Pro Max tablet and debut its new Pengcheng N70 and N90 series hardware.
