News
Xiaomi 18 Fold is the next foldable to go WIDE
Just days before the official launch of Apple’s first foldable iPhone
From the HUAWEI Pura X Max to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8, it seems like WIDE foldables are inevitable at this point.
The latest to enter the battlefield is none other than the Xiaomi 18 Fold.
A fold of firsts
First teased inside a glass casing at IFA 2026 in Berlin, Germany, the Xiaomi 18 Fold finally makes its official debut — just days before the official launch of Apple’s highly anticipated foldable iPhone.
While it’s not the first WIDE foldable to exist, it’s still the first WIDE foldable made by Xiaomi. They even skipped two years and a generation of the very last MIX Fold to welcome this transition.
And by that, it’s also their first device to run the Xiaomi XRING O3 SoC built on a 3nm process with a 10-core CPU plus a 16-core G2-Ultra NX GPU.
This chip promises 52% faster CPU and 84% greater GPU performance than Apple’s A19 Pro chips. All while drawing less power.
Meanwhile, there’s a newer 4-core NPU that can deliver 45% faster on-device decoding performance compared to Xiaomi’s first-gen chip.
This second-generation chipset is also the first SoC that supports the all-new LPDDR6 RAM interface.
This new foldable also packs a 6000mAh battery, the largest in any WIDE foldable so far. Its Pura and Galaxy rivals are capped at 5300mAh and 4800mAh respectively.
Filling it up fast will all depend on Xiaomi’s 67W HyperCharge and 50W wireless HyperCharge standards.
Another first in the Xiaomi 18 Fold lies on the back of its special Ceramic Edition colorway.
The use of Silicon nitride ceramic marks the first time for this material to be used as a smartphone’s back panel.
ICYMI, Silicon nitride is an advanced ceramic material that is widely used in automotive and aircraft engines especially for its high-temperature resistance.
This material combines a warm yet smooth ceramic feel but with a high amount of hardness. All while weighing approximately 50% less versus a traditional zirconia ceramic.
Pretty inside and out
Other than its powerful core and mechanism, the Xiaomi 18 Fold is pretty both inside and out.
When folded, it features a 5.38-inch cover display. Unfolded, it has an expansive 7.58-inch flexible screen. They feature Xiaomi’s new HyperRGB screen technology that uses a full RGB subpixel structure to make complete use of red, green, and blue subpixels.
Both screens also have an adaptive 1~120Hz LTPO AMOLED displays with a maximum brightness of 4000 nits.
This passport-like form factor adapts a √2:1 aspect ratio close to a standard A4 paper. Both create higher screen utilization when consuming content regardless if one is reading, watching, or even gaming.
Xiaomi 18 Fold’s inner screen also boasts minimal creasing all thanks to its double-layer UTG (Ultra-Thin Glass) where the surface UTG is 50µm while its support layer underneath is at 30µm.
There are also organic flexible insulating materials that are 6x more ductile than rigid materials alongside a stronger impact resistance.
Flipping to its back, the Xiaomi 18 Fold boasts a triple Leica camera system.
Specifically, it packs a 200MP f/1.7 main camera based on Samsung’s 1/1.56-inch ISOCELL HP5 sensor. Additionally, there’s a 50MP f/2.4 UWA and a dedicated 50MP f/2.8 periscope telephoto module with 3.5x optical zoom capabilities.
All cameras come with Leica’s Summilux optics that are also found on the last Xiaomi 17 Ultra.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold is the second WIDE foldable to pack a triple camera setup that its current Korean counterpart and the upcoming American contender both lack.
Now that we’re here, the chassis is made from a 7000-series aluminum alloy frame with Xiaomi’s very own Shield Glass 3.0 glass protection for both the outer display and back panel (not to be confused with the exclusive Ceramic Version).
The cover glass is further strengthened through ion implantation for improved drop resistance.
Also, Xiaomi’s new-gen hinge also has a patented three-link design that wraps around the screen and provides more protection.
While we’re already at it, the Xiaomi 18 Fold relies on IP58 and IP59 water and dust resistance ratings.
Pricing and Availability
The Xiaomi 18 Fold is available in Black, White, Red, and a special Ceramic Version.
Pricing and configuration are as follows:
- 12+256GB = CNY 10,999 (US$ 1640 / EUR 1410 / GBP 1215 / SG$ 2075 / MYR 6615 / PhP 102,330 / INR 154,680)
- 12+512GB = CNY 11,999 (US$ 1785 / EUR 1540 / GBP 1325 / SG$ 2265 / MYR 7220 / PhP 111,630 / INR 168,740)
- 16+512GB = CNY 12,999 (US$ 1935 / EUR 1665 / GBP 1435 / SG$ 2455 / MYR 7820 / PhP 120,935 / INR 182,810)
- 16+1TB = CNY 14,999 (US$ 2235 / EUR 1920 / GBP 1655 / SG$ 2830 / MYR 9020 / PhP 139,540 / INR 210,930)
- 16+1TB Ceramic Version = CNY 15,999 (US$ 2380 / EUR 2050 / GBP 1765 / SG$ 2425 / MYR 9625 / PhP 148,845 / INR 225,000)
Unfortunately, several outlets have already reported that Xiaomi does not plan to bring the 18 Fold outside China.
Accessories
Samsung joins the clip-on earbud trend with the Galaxy Buds On
But it’s exclusive to South Korea for now.
Audio wearables have been getting makeovers as of late. Besides the traditional form factors, the segment is experimenting with bone conduction and clip-on headphones. Today, Samsung is joining that trend with the Galaxy Buds On.
Debuting in South Korea, the Galaxy Buds On is Samsung’s first-ever clip-on earbuds. You’re likely familiar with how these earbuds look like, having seen them grace the ears of many a passerby today. Instead of plugging right into your ear canals, they actually do clip onto your earlobes. Samsung’s take, however, is a little bit heftier, which the brand claims gives it a wider surface area to balance the weight for your ears.
Additionally, the new earbuds has a TwinBoost speaker system. While the system adds better bass to the earbuds, it also adds automatic voice adjustments to better attune the sound according to your environment. It also has an Audio Leakage Reduction feature, so others won’t be able to hear what you’re listening to.
The Galaxy Buds On has a charging case almost identical to the Galaxy Buds4 case. Powered by the Snapdragon S7 Gen 1 Sound Platform, the earbuds can reportedly last up to 9.5 hours on a single charge.
Right now, the wearable is exclusive to South Korea, but Samsung says that a global rollout will happen in the future. In South Korea, the Galaxy Buds On costs KRW 299,000 (or approximately US$ 220).
SEE ALSO: Galaxy Buds4 Pro review: I thought I was done with in-ears
News
vivo X Fold6 makes global debut with 200MP camera and 6900mAh battery
With 200MP camera and 6900mAh battery
vivo has officially launched the X Fold6 globally. It combines a slim foldable design with productivity features, flagship imaging, and a large 6900mAh battery.
The X Fold6 runs OriginOS 7 Fold, which introduces Multi-Task Workbench with Origin Workbench and Multi-Split Screen. Users can display and resize up to four windows simultaneously, while AI Cross-App Drag allows content to move directly between apps.
Productivity with AI
The foldable also includes AI-powered productivity tools. AI Meeting Assistant provides speaker transcription and summaries through AI Recorder, while AI Captions adds real-time subtitles during online meetings. AI File Manager organizes files with features such as Topics, Smart Naming, AI Summary, and Column View. There’s also AI Reader Mode that reformats PDFs into an eBook-style layout.
vivo also equips the X Fold6 with Jovi, an AI agent designed to handle tasks across smartphones and PCs. It can search and understand materials, generate content, and complete office workflows through voice commands. It also supports scheduled and recurring tasks.
For users who want to replace a computer for lighter workloads, vivo Office Kit enables cross-device collaboration. Desktop Mode turns the foldable into a desktop-like workspace when connected to a compatible monitor or TV.
6900mAh large battery
The X Fold6 packs a 6900mAh BlueVolt Battery with 80W FlashCharge, 40W Wireless FlashCharge, and wireless reverse charging. Its 5th-Gen Silicon Anode Technology allows vivo to fit the large battery into a slim foldable body, while its 3rd-Gen Semi-Solid-State Battery is designed to maintain performance in temperatures as low as -20°C.
Despite its battery capacity, the X Fold6 measures as little as 4.4mm when unfolded and weighs 228g in Prism Black. The Horizon Blue version measures 4.8mm and weighs 235g. Both variants feature a 2.5D flat-edge metal frame and ultra-narrow bezels.
For photography, the foldable features a 200MP ZEISS main camera with a Samsung HPB large sensor, ZEISS T* coating, and optical image stabilization. It is paired with a ZEISS APO telephoto camera with a Sony LYTIA 602 sensor, 3x periscope design, telephoto macro capability, and up to 100x ZEISS HyperZoom.
The camera system also introduces Stage Mode for telephoto concert and live performance photography. It supports 4K 60fps Dolby Vision video, while Motion Portrait 2.0 uses subject tracking and portrait processing to capture moving subjects.
Powered by MediaTek
The X Fold6 uses the Dimensity 9500 Super Edition flagship platform and features an 8.02-inch inner display alongside a 6.51-inch cover display. Both screens use 8T-LTPO technology with a 1–120Hz adaptive refresh rate, adaptive dimming, up to 5,000 nits local peak brightness, and a minimum brightness of 1 nit.
The foldable also carries IPX8 and IPX9 water resistance and IP5X dust resistance. Its 1+4 Communication Chipset is designed to improve cellular and Wi-Fi connectivity, while Data Store allows users in select markets to purchase local data plans directly on the device across 129 countries and regions.
Gaming
The regular PlayStation 5 is getting an AI upscaling feature
The feature debuts with Wolverine and Ghost of Yotei.
If you’re an owner of a regular PlayStation 5, watching a PS5 Pro owner might touch you with a tinge of jealousy. Besides the upgraded console’s better hardware, it also has something called the PlayStation Spectral Super Resolution (PSSR), which uses AI to improve resolution and framerate. Unfortunately, that feature isn’t available on the regular console. But Sony is throwing the classic console a bone today by adding Quick Spectral Super Resolution (QSSR), which does the same as PSSR but on the older machine.
Since the introduction of PSSR, fans and developers alike have asked whether the older console can have a version of the technology. Developed with AMD, QSSR is an AI upscaling feature that improves performance for modern games on the PlayStation 5. For now, the feature is debuting first on Ghost of Yotei and Marvel’s Wolverine via a set of patches. Moving forward, Sony will also allow its developers to add the feature for their respective games.
Now, the choice of games is deliberate. Marvel’s Wolverine is still fresh on everyone’s mind. Meanwhile, Ghost of Yotei has just released a Complete Edition, which packs in a new story expansion and a roguelike mode. You don’t even need to Complete Edition or the corresponding paid upgrade to enjoy the new feature.
SEE ALSO: Ghost of Yōtei Complete Edition review: More of a great thing
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