Apple’s foldable iPhone Duo doesn’t even come out until Oct. 23, but it already has a lookalike. That’s because the iPhone Duo wasn’t the only short and wide foldable device announced this week.
A day or two before Apple’s major announcement, where the Duo was unveiled along with the iPhone 18 Pro and other products, Xiaomi brought out its own rival device, according to PhoneArena. The new phone is named the Xiaomi 18 Fold, and the images make it clear that it closely resembles the iPhone Duo. Instead of the square corners found on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which appeared over the summer, it has the curved edges and D-shape of the Duo.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold’s Full Spec List
The phone’s primary screen spans 7.58 inches, while its exterior carries a 5.38-inch secondary display. Inside, it’s powered by an XRING O3 processor paired with 12 or 16GB of RAM. Storage choices run from 256GB all the way up to 512GB or 1TB. The device houses a 6,000mAh battery.
The camera system is built around a main shooter with 200 megapixels, paired with a 50 megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 50 megapixel telephoto lens. That configuration sits inside a phone whose Chinese price works out to about $1,600 USD when converted.
| Spec | Xiaomi 18 Fold |
|---|---|
| Main display | 7.58-inch |
| Cover display | 5.38-inch |
| Processor | XRING O3 |
| RAM | 12/16GB |
| Storage | 256/512GB/1TB |
| Battery | 6,000mAh |
| Main camera | 200MP |
| Ultra-wide camera | 50MP |
| Telephoto camera | 50MP |
The Leica Camera Advantage
One clear strength the Xiaomi 18 Fold holds over the iPhone Duo is its camera setup. The device packs three cameras into it, and all of them carry the Leica name. Among those, there’s a true telephoto lens alongside a 200MP main shooter.
No details about the iPhone Duo’s camera hardware appear in the source material, so a direct comparison cannot be made. What can be said with certainty is that a triple-camera arrangement with a separate telephoto lens stands out as a noteworthy feature for a foldable device.
Why the Design Looks So Familiar
Reports prior to the Galaxy Z Fold 8’s launch suggested that Samsung picked that form factor because of what Apple was doing. It’s very possible Xiaomi did the same.
The rounded shape and D-form mark a clear break from the squared design of the Galaxy line. Xiaomi seems to have taken the same rumored route Apple reportedly went down with the Duo, producing a foldable phone that looks more like an iPhone than a Samsung.
This particular shape is officially a thing now. In just a few months, two other major manufacturers have followed Apple’s reported choice of short and wide dimensions for the Duo.
The Import Problem for US Buyers
American buyers will not be able to purchase the device domestically, so they would need to import it from abroad, just like they do with’s sure to drive the cost up into iPhone Duo territory. At that point, you might as well just get one of Apple or Samsung’s.
Most people in the States will find the $1,999 iPhone Duo to be the simpler, more secure choice, despite the Xiaomi 18 Fold’s attractive specifications. That roughly $1,600 USD Chinese price is not what a US buyer would end up paying.
When you bring in a phone from somewhere else, the final cost usually goes well past what the device itself says on the label. You pay shipping fees, customs charges, and lose any local protection that would normally come with a purchase made nearby.
No figure is given for how much importing would add to the final price. Still, the core claim holds firm: what Chinese consumers pay is not the true cost faced by Americans.
Competition in the Chinese Market
When the iPhone Duo launches in China, the Xiaomi 18 Fold could provide some competition for Apple. The Chinese price of the Xiaomi Fold works out to roughly $1,600 USD, compared with an iPhone Duo starting price of $1,999.
It is still unknown whether the price difference will actually change which products people buy. The report does not include any estimates of future sales or data on how much of the market each company holds.
The positioning is plain: Xiaomi has placed its foldable in direct competition with Apple’s upcoming device. Both devices share the same shape, the same release timing, and now the same target audience.
Current Foldable and Phone Deals
If the $1,999 iPhone Duo isn’t in your budget, this is a great time to take advantage of discounts on previous-generation iPhones and Android devices. Samsung’s Galaxy S26 FE comes with a $200 Amazon gift card at $799.99, down from $999.99.
Both flagship phones have seen price cuts. The Google Pixel 11 Pro has dropped to $1,019.70, down from $1,099. The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra sits at $1,049.99, down from $1,299.99. The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has also moved, now priced at $1,649.99, down from $1,899.99.
Shoppers can save money on high-end phones through these deals, whether they bend or not. The discounts also give buyers a good reason to hold off on the Duo until its release instead of spending the full amount right away.
What This Means for the Foldable Market
The Xiaomi 18 Fold is an iPhone Duo lookalike with one huge advantage. That advantage is the Leica camera system.
But unless you’re in China or willing to import, the Duo remains the more practical choice. The short, wide form factor is now shared across Apple, Xiaomi, and Samsung, and that’s a sign of where the market is heading.
Folding devices are becoming smaller in height and larger in width, and they look increasingly similar to one another. Whether the Xiaomi 18 Fold ever reaches American stores remains uncertain, but its mere existence shows that the Duo’s design is no longer Apple’ is no longer the only folding phone on the market.
Source: mashable.com