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Marques Brownlee - Xiaomi 18 Fold: How Does This Happen?

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Community upload. AI output has not been independently verified.
Author: Marques Brownlee
Categories: Technology Home & DIY
Tags: technology, home-diy
Views: 2 · Last viewed: 2026-10-16 08:09 UTC

Short Summary

Main recommendation: The video explores how the Xiaomi 18 Fold ended up nearly identical to the rumored iPhone Duo, noting it appears to beat it on weight, battery, and zoom on paper, while the iPhone Duo's software polish and crease handling are expected to be stronger, pending reviews. The video explains that the near-identical designs likely leaked through Apple's parts supply chain, while Xiaomi moved quickly to launch first.

Key Points

  • Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 18 Fold on September 6-7, 2026, two days before the expected iPhone Duo unveiling on September 9, 2026.
  • Apple's secrecy holds up internally, but hardware leaks through suppliers that must be contacted for parts like foldable OLED panels, hinges, and chassis dimensions, whereas software leaks much less.
  • The Xiaomi Fold is about 30 grams lighter than the iPhone Duo, which MKBHD says is the heaviest iPhone ever at 254 grams (based on his hands-on impressions, not described as a rumor), and it uses a 6,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery.
  • Xiaomi offers a dedicated 50-megapixel 3.5x zoom camera alongside a 200-megapixel primary and ultra-wide, while the iPhone Duo has only two cameras (primary and ultra-wide, no zoom).
  • Xiaomi uses a corner hole-punch selfie camera, while the iPhone Duo hides its selfie camera under the display, and the Xiaomi's crease is more visible than the Duo's expected crease.
  • Software differences include Android folds' more windows at once and disabling the back screen during selfies, which the speaker expects Apple may eventually add.

Details Worth Noting

  • Concrete instructions: No step-by-step instructions were given. The only actionable item is the speaker's call to get the MKBHD desk pad from mkbhd.com, choosing between smooth (normal mousepad feel) or rough (textured for more precise movements), and to share photos on Twitter.
  • The speaker estimates the iPhone Duo's battery at around 5,000 mAh combined, smaller than the 18 Pro Max's battery, and notes the Z Fold 8 has a 4,800 mAh battery that drains faster when its 7.5-inch screen is open (a limitation the Duo shares).
  • The Xiaomi's 200-megapixel primary sensor is 1/1.56-inch, much larger than the iPhone Duo's likely 48-megapixel 1/2.55-inch sensor carried over from the iPhone 17E.
  • On a crease scale, the speaker rates the Duo and Find N6 at 9/10 for crease elimination and the Xiaomi at 7/10 because it lacks an anti-glare finish.
  • The speaker cites Samsung's S25 Edge, teased months before the iPhone Air's September announcement and released first, as a precedent for rivals beating Apple to market.

Bottom Line

Xiaomi's fold matches Apple's rumored design almost exactly but wins on weight, battery, and zoom, while the iPhone Duo's expected software polish and crease performance remain the main open questions until reviews arrive.