Xiaomi Will Release The Xiaomi 18 Fold and Xiaomi 18 Pro Separately
Technology-Portfolio.Net - Xiaomi is preparing different strategies for the launch of its two latest flagship phones, the Xiaomi 18 Fold and Xiaomi 18 Pro. The two will not be introduced simultaneously in September 2026.
Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun said September will be a “big month” for the company because a number of new products will be launched in succession.
The launch series will begin with the Xiaomi SkyNomad, a family SUV lineup based on the Kunlun platform. After that, the Xiaomi 18 Fold is confirmed to be on the company’s launch agenda.
Xiaomi 18 Fold Becomes The Opener
Xiaomi 18 Fold is expected to be one of the major technology products introduced earlier in September.
The device is also said to use the XRING O3 chip, the latest chipset developed by Xiaomi itself.
XRING O3 is claimed to have scored 5.22 million points on AnTuTu, making it the first smartphone chipset to surpass the 5 million point mark.
The chip is said to use a 3nm fabrication process with around 24 billion transistors in a 133 mm² die. Compared to the XRING O1, its size is said to have increased by around 26 percent.
In terms of performance, the XRING O3 features a 10-core CPU that is reportedly capable of scoring more than 15,000 points in multi-core testing.
Xiaomi has also equipped this chipset with the G2-Ultra NX GPU. The GPU is claimed to offer up to an 85 percent increase in graphics performance with 64 percent lower power consumption compared to the previous generation.
Xiaomi 18 Pro To Follow In Late September
Unlike the Xiaomi 18 Fold, the Xiaomi 18 Pro is expected to launch toward the end of September.
This time gap gives Xiaomi two different moments to promote its flagship devices. While the 18 Fold relies on a self-developed chipset, the 18 Pro is instead expected to use the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6.
The Qualcomm chip is reportedly manufactured using a 2nm fabrication process, more advanced than the 3nm process used in the previous generation.
The shift to 2nm could increase transistor density while also providing better power efficiency and performance. The impact is expected to be especially noticeable when the phone is used for demanding tasks over extended periods.
The Xiaomi 18 Pro is also expected to support 100W fast charging, 5G N79, and UWB connectivity.
The separation of the launch schedules for the Xiaomi 18 Fold and 18 Pro is interesting because Xiaomi seems to position both as flagships with different technological characteristics.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold serves as a showcase for Xiaomi’s in-house chipset development through the XRING O3, while the Xiaomi 18 Pro relies on a new-generation Snapdragon chipset based on 2nm technology.