Xiaomi’s wide foldable promises more power than Samsung’s

<figure> <img alt="" data-caption="" data-portal-copyright="" data-has-syndication-rights="1" src="https://platform.theverge.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/09/xiaomi-18-fold-hands-on-impressions-10.jpg?quality=90&#038;strip=all&#038;crop=0,0,100,100" /> <figcaption> </figcaption> </figure> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">Xiaomi is the latest manufacturer to release a short, wide foldable phone, in the same week <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/983407/apple-iphone-launch-event-2026-date">Apple is expected to do the same</a>. I got to try the 18 Fold behind closed doors at <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/986178/ifa-2026-the-biggest-tech-and-gadget-announcements">IFA</a> last week, and while it looks and feels similar enough to <a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/972387/samsung-galaxy-z-fold-8-review">Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8</a>, superior specs make it feel like the phone I wish Samsung had made.</p> <p class="wp-block-paragraph">The 18 Fold is Xiaomi's first book-style foldable since <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2024/7/19/24201791/xiaomi-mix-fold-4-flip-smartphone-china-water-resistance">2024's Mix Fold 4</a>, but the company has followed Huawei and Samsung in moving to a short, squat design. Xiaomi's phone goes further though: it's both shorter and wider than Samsung's, with a roughly 1.4:1 aspect ratio on both the 7.58-inch inner and 5.38-inch ou …</p> <p><a href="https://www.theverge.com/tech/991008/xiaomi-18-fold-hands-on-impressions-specs-wide">Read the full story at The Verge.</a></p>