Xring O3 Chipset-Powered Xiaomi 18 Fold Launch Set in September; Check Expected Specifications

Xiaomi is set to disrupt the foldable smartphone market with the official announcement of its next-generation device, the Xiaomi 18 Fold. Breaking away from its previous 'Mix Fold' nomenclature, the company has confirmed the 'Xiaomi 18 Fold' name and a September 2026 launch window, with pre-orders already open in China. This new foldable will be powered by Xiaomi's in-house developed Xring O3 chipset, a successor to the XRING O1, which promises groundbreaking performance.

Unveiling the Xring O3 Chipset

The star of Xiaomi's latest announcement is undoubtedly the Xring O3 chipset, which the company has positioned as a direct competitor to high-end mobile processors like the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 and upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro. Built on TSMC's advanced 3nm process, the Xring O3 packs 24 billion transistors within a 133 sq mm die area. It features a 10-core CPU configuration, consisting of two C1-Ultra cores running at up to 4.35 GHz, four C1-Premium cores at up to 3.68 GHz, and four C1-Pro cores at up to 3.15 GHz. Graphics are handled by a robust 16-core G2-Ultra NX GPU, which Xiaomi claims delivers 85% better graphics performance and 64% improved efficiency compared to its predecessor or a reference baseline.

In terms of raw power, the Xring O3 has reportedly achieved an astonishing AnTuTu score of 5.22 million points, making it the first mobile System-on-Chip (SoC) to break the five-million-point barrier. Geekbench benchmarks also show impressive results, with a single-core score of 3,945 points and a multi-core score of 15,221 points. The chipset is also the first Xiaomi mobile processor to support LPDDR6 memory, boasting a bandwidth of up to 113.8GB/s. Furthermore, Xiaomi has highlighted the Xring O3's significant advancements in AI, with 200 TOPS of tensor performance, 3.13 TFLOPS of vector performance, and a 45% faster NPU, alongside AI acceleration spread across the CPU, GPU, ISP, DPU, and ADSP. Xiaomi Xring O3, Xring O100 and Xring D100 Announced; Chinese Tech Giant Reveals New Proprietary Processors and AI Chips; Details Here.

Xiaomi 18 Fold: Design, Display, and Camera Innovations

The Xiaomi 18 Fold is confirmed to be a wide-format foldable, adopting a design similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8, and marks Xiaomi's first book-style foldable since the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4, launched in 2024. While full official specifications are still under wraps, multiple reports and leaks paint a picture of a premium device. It is tipped to feature a 7.76-inch inner display with a 2713x1920 resolution, complemented by a 6.56-inch outer display. Both screens are expected to incorporate LTPO technology, offering adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz.

For photography enthusiasts, the Xiaomi 18 Fold is rumoured to sport a powerful camera system, spearheaded by a 200-megapixel Leica main sensor, accompanied by two telephoto cameras. Powering this hardware will reportedly be a substantial 6,000mAh battery, supported by 100W wired and 50W wireless charging. The device is also expected to integrate Xiaomi's sixth-generation self-developed seamless waterdrop hinge and boast an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. A recent sighting of Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun holding a burgundy-colored foldable has hinted at one of the available color options, suggesting a sleek design.

Market Impact and India Availability

The launch of the Xiaomi 18 Fold with the Xring O3 chipset underscores Xiaomi's ambition to solidify its position in the premium and foldable smartphone segments. The company's continued investment in in-house silicon, alongside the Xring O100 AI accelerator and Xring D100 for intelligent driving systems, signals a strategic push for greater control over its technology ecosystem. Details were provided by GSMArena report. Xiaomi 18 Pro Launch in September 2026 With Larger AI-Powered Rear Display, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6; Check Expected Details.

While pre-orders have commenced in China, specific launch details for the Indian market, including pricing across variants, additional color options, and any potential launch offers, are yet to be officially announced. Given Xiaomi's strong presence in India, the Xiaomi 18 Fold is highly anticipated to make its way to the region, although the exact timeline remains unconfirmed at this time.

Disclaimer: AI tools assisted in compiling the foundational data and research for this report. The final content was reviewed, edited and verified by human editors at LatestLY.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 24, 2026 09:14 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).