Xiaomi has given the first public look at the Xiaomi 18 Fold at IFA 2026 in Berlin, confirming that its upcoming foldable flagship will be the first Xiaomi smartphone to use the company’s new in-house XRING O3 chip. Xiaomi says the processor will help power AI features across its ecosystem.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold marks another step in Xiaomi’s push to develop its own silicon for flagship devices. The company introduced its latest XRING chips at IFA 2026 as part of its broader AI strategy, with the XRING O3 positioned as the processor for its next-generation flagship products.
Xiaomi says its in-house XRING chips will help power AI across its complete ecosystem. The approach puts more of the underlying hardware and AI processing stack under Xiaomi’s control, from the smartphone itself to other connected devices.
The XRING O3 will sit at the heart of the Xiaomi 18 Fold when the foldable launches in China on September 7. Xiaomi has yet to reveal the phone’s complete specifications, but the company has already confirmed support for next-generation LPDDR6 memory.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold also gives Xiaomi a new form factor for its flagship lineup. Early views from IFA show a wider book-style foldable with a shorter and broader profile than traditional foldables. The rear panel carries a triple-camera setup with Leica branding, while Xiaomi has shown the phone in a striking red finish.
The bigger story, however, sits under the hood. The XRING O3 represents Xiaomi’s continued effort to build its own application processor instead of relying entirely on third-party chip platforms. Its integration with the 18 Fold could give Xiaomi tighter control over CPU, GPU, NPU and on-device AI workloads.
Xiaomi has already put its XRING silicon at the center of its broader AI ambitions. At IFA, the company also highlighted other XRING chips designed for AI and intelligent driving, which shows that its silicon strategy goes beyond smartphones.
For now, Xiaomi is keeping some cards close to the chest. Full specifications, pricing and details about global availability remain unclear ahead of the September 7 launch. The IFA showcase nevertheless gives the Xiaomi 18 Fold its first major public appearance and confirms its XRING O3-powered foundation.
Source: @Xiaomi on X
