Xiaomi’s wide foldable promises more power than Samsung’s
What's happening
Xiaomi has unveiled its 18 Fold, a wide foldable phone that competes directly with Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8. The Chinese manufacturer's device boasts superior specifications, arriving just as Apple is expected to enter the foldable market.
Who's involved
Xiaomi, a Chinese multinational technology company and the world's third-largest smartphone seller, is challenging Samsung, a South Korean conglomerate that leads the foldable phone market. The launch also comes amid anticipation of Apple's entry into the category.
Why it matters
The proliferation of premium foldable phones from major manufacturers signals the technology's transition from niche to mainstream, intensifying competition and driving innovation in form factors and hardware. Xiaomi's competitive specs suggest the foldable market will see price and performance pressure, potentially accelerating adoption and forcing rivals to differentiate further.
The story
Xiaomi has joined the growing wave of manufacturers betting on wide foldable smartphones, unveiling its 18 Fold at a time when the category is rapidly expanding. The device emerges just as Apple is widely expected to announce its own foldable offering, signaling that the form factor has moved beyond early adopter territory into mainstream consumer electronics.
According to The Verge, the 18 Fold shares a similar design and feel to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, the current market leader in the space. However, Xiaomi's device distinguishes itself through superior specifications that give the Chinese manufacturer an edge in raw performance and capability. A closer inspection at IFA last week revealed a phone that, while cosmetically familiar, packs more power under the hood than Samsung's latest flagship foldable.
Xiaomi, the world's third-largest smartphone seller behind Apple and Samsung, has been aggressively expanding its premium product lineup in recent years. The company operates on its proprietary HyperOS software platform and boasts 754.1 million global monthly active users as of December 2025, giving it a substantial installed base to market the new device to. For Xiaomi, the 18 Fold represents an opportunity to capture foldable enthusiasts who might otherwise default to Samsung's established ecosystem.
Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series has dominated the wide foldable category since its introduction, setting the standard for both design and performance. By arriving with demonstrably stronger specs, Xiaomi signals its intent to undercut Samsung's premium positioning and capture market share in what has been a relatively exclusive segment. The timing of Xiaomi's launch alongside Apple's anticipated entry suggests the foldable market is reaching an inflection point where multiple players can sustain viable businesses.
The competitive landscape for foldables is intensifying just as the technology matures. Where foldable phones once represented experimental devices for early adopters, they are increasingly becoming serious alternatives to traditional smartphones for consumers willing to pay premium prices. Xiaomi's specs-first positioning contrasts with Samsung's design-centric approach, offering consumers a choice in what matters most to them in a high-end foldable.