Xiaomi has cloned Apple's naming and timing again, releasing an 18 Fold explicitly designed to destroy the iPhone Duo.
The two phones are uncannily alike: the same size to a tenth of a millimetre, the same 5.4 inch cover display, the same 1.4 to 1 aspect ratio opening to a 7.6 inch inner screen, and a crease the reviewer calls 98% erased.
On hardware Xiaomi wins outright — 219 grams against Apple's 254, 5.02 mm against 5.2, a 6,000 mAh silicon carbon battery against roughly 4,700, 67 W charging against 60, 4,000 nits against 3,000, a third 50 MP telephoto with 3.5x zoom, two SIM slots, and a starting price equivalent to $1,640 against Apple's $2,000.
Software is the bigger flex: where Apple boasted two-app multitasking, the reviewer runs six apps plus two floating windows at once, grouped so they can be swiped away and restored with one tap.
Even so the verdict is no — Xiaomi ticked boxes but shipped phone-and-tablet software into an unusual shape, with empty side margins, broken first- and third-party apps, an aluminium frame that failed a 3DMark stress test by overheating in under 10 minutes, and a weaker ultra wide camera and hinge.
Brief overview
Xiaomi's 18 Fold beats the iPhone Duo on specs and price but loses on software and thermals.
Xiaomi wins the spec sheet by a whitewashLighter at 219 g, thinner at 5.02 mm, a 6,000 mAh battery, 4,000 nits, an extra telephoto and $1,640 versus Apple's 2Gs.
Multitasking is the real software advantageSix apps and two floating windows run together as one swipeable group, against the Duo's two-app limit.
Optimisation and heat undo the advantageEmpty margins, broken app layouts, and a 3DMark run that overheated and force-closed twice in about 10 minutes.
Questions this recording answers
8 questions, each answered where it is said
How does the Xiaomi 18 Fold compare in size and display to the iPhone Duo?
The Xiaomi 18 Fold is literally the same size as the iPhone Duo—height matches to the tenth of a millimeter—and features the same 5.4-inch cover display with identical outline, flat left edge, large-radius corners on the right, and the exact same 1.4:1 aspect ratio. Its inner display opens to a 7.6-inch screen that’s the same rectangle, just larger.
What are the key hardware advantages of the Xiaomi 18 Fold over the iPhone Duo?
The Xiaomi 18 Fold is thinner (5.02 mm vs. 5.2 mm), lighter (219 g vs. 254 g), has a larger 6,000 mAh silicon carbon battery (vs. ~4,700 mAh), faster charging (67 W vs. Apple’s 60 W—though their charger is actually only 40 W scaling briefly to 60 W), brighter displays (4,000 nits vs. 3,000 nits), triple cameras including a 50 MP telephoto with 3.5x optical zoom, dual physical SIMs, IR
How does multitasking on the Xiaomi 18 Fold compare to the iPhone Duo?
The Xiaomi 18 Fold supports six full-screen apps plus two floating windows (e.g., calculator and dial pad) simultaneously, with four-finger swipe to see all running apps, drag-to-resize windows, edge-tap switching, and tablet-style app expansion—while Apple’s iPhone Duo only offers basic two-app multitasking.
What major software shortcomings does the Xiaomi 18 Fold have compared to the iPhone Duo?
Unlike the iPhone Duo’s deeply custom software—redesigned dock, compact status icons, optimized gestures, and seamless animations—the Xiaomi 18 Fold uses generic smartphone/tablet software with unused side margins, uneven black bars in its own camera app, low-res stretched UI elements (e.g., weather app), and inconsistent third-party app behavior (e.g., YouTube splits poorly, Netflix glitches on rotation, Play Store text jumps).
What thermal and durability trade-offs does the Xiaomi 18 Fold make?
It uses aluminum instead of titanium for weight savings, reducing scratch resistance and long-term appearance; under stress (e.g., 3DMark), it overheats and force-closes tests within 10 minutes, with thermal imaging showing extreme localized heat on the chip side and poor heat redistribution—raising longevity concerns.
How do the cameras on the Xiaomi 18 Fold compare to the iPhone Duo’s?
The Xiaomi’s 200 MP main camera has the same sensor size as the base iPhone 17 and produces noticeably worse output; its ultra-wide shows grain even in well-lit scenes; and it lacks the iPhone Duo’s stylus support, nano-texture anti-reflective coating, hinge refinement, and crease-hiding layer.
What is the price difference between the Xiaomi 18 Fold and the iPhone Duo?
The Xiaomi 18 Fold starts at $1,640, while the iPhone Duo costs $2,000—making Xiaomi’s device a 'pretty big saving' despite not being cheap.
Does the Xiaomi 18 Fold have face unlock, and how does it compare to the iPhone Duo’s biometrics?
Yes—it has face unlock that’s less secure than Face ID (not suitable for banking) but more convenient than the iPhone Duo’s Touch ID, which users must resort to since the Duo lacks Face ID.
Key Quote
“Well, this year, they are coming for Apple's throat.”
— Narrator
Key Quote
“That's the difference between Xiaomi being one of the lightest foldables of the year”