Huawei led the way, Samsung is following in July, and Apple’s take is reportedly on the horizon. Now a new leak suggests Xiaomi is testing its own wide foldable. Tipster Kartikey Singh shared images and details of a prototype on X this week, indicating the device is currently referred to as the Xiaomi 18 Fold in internal discussions, though it may ultimately be released under the Mix Fold name or a different product family.
According to the leak, Xiaomi’s prototype departs from the taller, narrower silhouette of the Mix Fold 4 and instead adopts a more compact, passport-style layout. That wider, squarer aspect is similar to the direction Huawei took with the Pura X Max and appears to be the approach Samsung is preparing to take with its rumored Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide. The shift reflects a broader industry trend toward wider inner displays that prioritize multimedia, multitasking, and a more tablet-like internal experience while remaining pocketable when folded.
Singh’s post also described early hardware details spotted on the prototype. The unit pictured reportedly features a triple camera array co-engineered with Leica, with a 200MP main sensor cited among the preliminary specs. The tipster cautioned that these camera specifications, and other hardware notes, are provisional and may change before any official announcement. Xiaomi has not confirmed the leak, and there’s currently no official release date or pricing information to verify the claims.
Xiaomi’s Foldable Strategy Is Evolving
The timing of this leak is notable. Xiaomi effectively paused its traditional book-style foldable strategy in 2025, and the company recently canceled two anticipated devices—the MIX Flip 3 and the MIX Fold 5—before they reached market. Those cancellations appear to have prompted a rethink of the foldable roadmap, suggesting Xiaomi has used the intervening time to refine form factor choices and hardware priorities rather than iterate on the previous designs.
Reports now point toward a potential second-half 2026 launch in China, and some rumors indicate that the device could run on Xiaomi’s in-house Xring O3 processor. If accurate, an in-house chipset could give Xiaomi tighter integration between hardware and software and allow more control over power efficiency and performance tuning for a novel foldable display format. Still, these are early reports and should be treated as speculation until Xiaomi offers confirmation.
There are also open questions about branding and global availability. A prior database listing referenced a Xiaomi foldable under model number 26023PN08C. Historically, Mix Fold devices have used “PX” model identifiers, while the “PN” sequence could imply a different naming convention or product line. That detail raises the possibility that Xiaomi’s wider folding design may launch under a new name rather than as a direct successor to the Mix Fold series.
Global distribution remains uncertain as well. In recent years, several Xiaomi foldable models stayed exclusive to the Chinese market, and there’s no clear indication that this prototype will be offered worldwide. Market positioning, pricing, and carrier partnerships would all factor into any decision to expand availability beyond China, and those choices typically depend on projected demand and manufacturing considerations.
From a design standpoint, a passport-style inner display could deliver better landscape video playback, wider toolbars and multitasking panes, and a more natural experience for creative apps and documents. Camera hardware, if it follows the leaked 200MP rumor, would also underline Xiaomi’s push to remain competitive in mobile imaging while working with partners like Leica to refine color tuning and optics. Yet it’s important to remember that prototypes often evolve significantly before production, and manufacturers frequently swap sensors, lenses, and other components in later development stages.
For now, the Xiaomi wide foldable remains an intriguing rumor: a possible move away from taller book-style clamshells toward broader, more versatile inner displays that better suit today’s media and productivity use cases. Until Xiaomi confirms details, prospective buyers and industry watchers should expect more leaks and rumors in the coming months as the company finalizes its approach to the next generation of foldable smartphones.