Xiaomi 18 Fold Mirrors iPhone Duo

Marques Brownlee noted this device debuted merely two days prior to Apple's official announcement of the iPhone Duo, raising immediate questions about the nature of such close design parallels.

Apple implements stringent secrecy protocols for unannounced products to prevent such leaks, yet these efforts become challenging once third-party suppliers are involved in manufacturing components.

While software development largely remains internal and thus harder to leak, hardware specifications frequently make their way to other companies, which can then accelerate their own product development and market entry, as Xiaomi appears to have done.

The Xiaomi 18 Fold weighs 30 grams less than the iPhone Duo, which at 254 grams is considered the heaviest iPhone ever, making Xiaomi's device much closer to the weight of a standard large slab phone.

This lighter design significantly reduces user fatigue during extended use, achieved through the integration of a 6,000 mAh silicon carbon battery that also supports 67-watt fast charging capabilities.

Xiaomi integrates a high-capacity 6,000 mAh silicon carbon battery, ideal for folding phones that demand significant power for large internal screens, contrasting with Apple's more conservative approach, which estimates the iPhone Duo's battery at 5,000 mAh.

Folding devices, like the Samsung Z Fold 8 with its 4,800 mAh battery, face challenges in maintaining all-day power due to their expansive displays, making silicon carbon batteries with their thinner profile and greater energy density a strategic choice for managing space constraints and power needs.

Xiaomi's main sensor is significantly larger at 1/1.56 inch compared to the iPhone's 1/2.55 inch sensor, providing superior hardware specifications on paper, especially considering the iPhone relies on an older, iPhone 17-era main camera sensor.

The camera bar on the Xiaomi device also doubles as a practical handle when the phone is held in portrait mode, enhancing usability.

In contrast, the iPhone Duo utilizes an under-display camera, creating a cleaner, uninterrupted screen surface, albeit potentially sacrificing some image quality for aesthetic continuity; the Xiaomi Fold's crease received a 7/10 rating from Brownlee, indicating it is visible but does not impede daily use.

Additionally, Android devices prevent accidental touches by disabling the back screen when using primary cameras for selfies, a feature the iPhone Duo reportedly lacks.

The desk pad is 4mm thick, features edge stitching, and includes a rubberized non-slip base, offered in two textures: 'smooth' for a traditional mouse pad feel and 'rough' for enhanced precision.