After years of rumours, the foldable iPhone looks set to finally become a reality this week.
Whatever Apple calls it – the ‘iPhone Ultra’ or simply ‘iPhone Fold’ – its release will be huge news for what remains an incredibly niche product category.
But I’m finding it hard to get excited about the iPhone Fold, and not just because I’m deep in the Android ecosystem.
Even if it stays exclusive to China, Xiaomi’s new 18 Fold looks set to be a superior wide foldable phone. It beats the foldable iPhone (based on current rumours) and Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 in three key areas.
Camera compromises are inexcusable
The iPhone 17 Pro Max is already one of the best camera phones in the world — a stellar, versatile device for both photos and video — and the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro Max should push those camera improvements even further.
By contrast, Apple seems willing to make major camera compromises on its most expensive device yet. All signs point to the iPhone Ultra ditching the rear telephoto lens entirely, sticking with just a 48MP main camera and 48MP ultrawide.
By ditching the telephoto lens, Apple is essentially telling customers that zoom isn’t important on a smartphone camera. I’d guess the people I’ve sat alongside in the cheap seats at London’s O2 Arena, straining to zoom in on the stage, would beg to differ.
Xiaomi has rightly decided the telephoto lens is too important to leave out. The 18 Fold packs a 50MP periscope telephoto lens, delivering a solid 3.5x optical zoom. Combined with high-quality main and ultrawide sensors, it makes for a far more versatile camera system overall.
In fact, no other mainstream foldable phone currently has a dedicated telephoto lens. Until that changes, none of them can claim to be better than the Xiaomi 18 Fold’s camera setup.
A dream battery and charging combo
In foldable phones, internal space for components is always at a premium. Sacrificing battery capacity is often seen as the only way to maintain a thin, lightweight design.
Not so on the Xiaomi 18 Fold. Despite being just 5.02mm thick when unfolded and weighing only 229g — less than the iPhone 17 Pro Max — it packs an impressive 6000mAh battery. If that doesn’t last a full day of even heavy usage, I’d be shocked.
How? Silicon-carbon tech, which allows for far greater energy density, meaning higher capacities within the same total footprint.
Crucially, that battery is paired with fast 67W wired charging, so a full charge shouldn’t take long. 50W wireless charging is mightily impressive, too.
Then there’s the foldable iPhone’s battery. According to regulatory filings, it’ll use a dual-cell design with a total capacity of 4883mAh, though Apple never officially reveals battery capacities. Apple’s hardware and software integration usually means iPhone batteries go further than the numbers suggest — but can that same efficiency handle two screens at once? I have my doubts.
As for charging speeds, the rumoured 45W isn’t bad by Apple’s usual standards, but it’s still a clear step down compared to the Xiaomi 18 Fold. That said, it’s worth noting the iPhone Ultra will offer the added convenience of Qi2-based MagSafe charging, something the Xiaomi 18 Fold doesn’t have.
But it’s pretty clear which device is the winner here, and it ain’t the foldable iPhone.
The price issue
It’s hard to directly compare pricing here, given that the Xiaomi 18 Fold looks set to remain exclusive to China.
Its ¥10,999 starting price converts directly to around £1,200/$1,600, but currency conversions like this rarely reflect what a phone would actually cost if it launched in the UK or US.
However, the iPhone Ultra could blow the Xiaomi 18 Fold out of the water on price — and not in a good way. Its starting price is expected to be at least £1,999/$2,099, but could end up even higher.
Pricing remains the biggest reason more people aren’t using foldable phones. And until Apple can price the iPhone Ultra below the combined cost of an iPhone flagship and a decent iPad, it’ll remain a tough sell for most people.
Now, if Xiaomi could hurry up and bring the 18 Fold to Europe, it could cement its position as the best foldable phone on the market. Until then, it’ll remain unattainable for most people, which is a huge shame.
