Xiaomi has shared a teaser video titled "This is the Xiaomi 18 Fold," confirming the launch of its next foldable smartphone. The video, posted by Ice Universe—a well-known tech leaker—was described as official communication from Xiaomi. The device is said to feature a "passport" design, with a nearly square external screen and a compact form when folded, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. Xiaomi refers to it as a "mid-fold," designed to be held comfortably in one hand when closed. The official launch event is set for September 7, 2026, in China. Lu Weibing, president of Xiaomi's mobile division, called the Xiaomi 18 Fold "the most powerful and innovative flagship in the entire series," predicting it will become "the dominant choice" in the next generation of foldable phones. Xiaomi's founder, Lei Jun, shared this statement on Weibo. The phone will be powered by Xiaomi's in-house Xring O3 chip, manufactured using 3-nanometer technology at TSMC. This chip will also support LPDDR6 memory, marking a shift from Xiaomi's usual use of Qualcomm processors. The device will run on HyperOS 4, with the MiMo AI model executed locally for enhanced performance. The Xiaomi 18 Fold is expected to have a 7.58-inch internal LTPO OLED screen and a 5.38-inch external screen. In terms of photography, it will feature three 50-megapixel sensors, including a main lens with optical stabilization, an ultra-wide-angle OV50M lens, and a 3.5x periscope telephoto lens that offers an 80 mm equivalent focal length. Xiaomi claims the phone will have the largest battery ever seen on a large foldable, though the exact capacity is not yet known. Some reports suggest it could be around 6,000 mAh. Xiaomi's planned release date of September 7, 2026, is just two days before Apple's scheduled event on September 9, where the iPhone Ultra is expected to be unveiled. This timing could be a strategic move to capture media attention before Apple's announcement. Previously, Xiaomi faced confusion when images of its foldable were mistakenly linked to the iPhone Ultra. The Xiaomi 18 Fold highlights features such as the 3.5x telephoto lens, which is not available on competing models like the Galaxy Z Fold 8. However, it remains unclear whether the phone will be released outside of China, as no European certifications have been reported so far.