Xiaomi’s new foldable phone packs its own chip—and takes direct aim at Apple and Huawei

Chinese tech giant Xiaomi launched a wave of new products on Monday, including a flagship foldable phone with its own in-house processor and a new version of its premium Skynomad SUV. The move signals the Beijing-based company’s escalating fight for market share against rivals such as Tesla, Apple, and Huawei. The new device, called the 18 Fold, features a 7.58-inch inner screen and runs on Xiaomi’s proprietary Xring O3 system-on-chip (SoC)—a single chip that powers core computing tasks. The phone also uses LPDDR6 memory chips made by ChangXin Memory Technologies (CXMT), a Chinese supplier that is part of the country’s drive to reduce reliance on foreign semiconductors. By using its own chip, Xiaomi aims to differentiate itself in a crowded high-end phone market, where Apple’s iPhone and Huawei’s Mate series dominate. The move also comes as Beijing pushes domestic tech firms to develop home-grown components amid ongoing export controls from the United States. Xiaomi did not provide a specific release date or price for the 18 Fold. The company, best known for affordable smartphones and consumer gadgets, is also expanding into electric vehicles. The updated Skynomad SUV, which targets buyers in the premium segment, is part of that broader push to compete directly with Tesla in China’s fiercely competitive EV market. Analysts say Xiaomi’s dual focus on advanced phones and cars reflects a strategy to build a connected ecosystem—where users can seamlessly switch between devices and vehicles. Whether that bet pays off will depend on how well the 18 Fold performs against established foldable rivals from Samsung and Huawei, as well as how quickly Xiaomi can scale up its EV production.