Xiaomi 17 Fold: The Groundbreaking Foldable Phone Set to Challenge Apple and Samsung
It seems Xiaomi has not abandoned foldable smartphones but only took a short break to rethink them. Recall, the last such model — Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 — was released in 2024, and in 2025 there was no continuation. But if you were expecting a new foldable Xiaomi flagship in the coming weeks, we have two pieces of news: the release is slightly delayed, but the technical characteristics promise something grandiose.
According to fresh data from insider Kartikey Singh, the next foldable novelty from Xiaomi will be released later than initially planned. And, it seems, we are not just looking at an update, but a full rebranding.
When to expect and what will it be called?
It was initially assumed that the foldable smartphone would debut in May together with The Xiaomi 17 series will include the Max model with an 8000mAh battery and a periscope camera. However, now insiders point to early July 2026.
But the most interesting part is the name. Xiaomi might drop the "Mix Fold" brand in favor of Xiaomi 17 Fold — such a decision logically links the foldable model with the main flagship line Xiaomi 17 into a single ecosystem and further simplifies the smartphone's positioning. The name change is indicated by the "PN" index in the IMEI registries, which is usually assigned to the main digital series, while Mix Fold always had the "PX" index.
Xiaomi's next generation Foldable Phone was expected to get announced alongside Xiaomi 17 Max next month, but it seems it might be pushed back with now the new date is tentatively around early July~
— Kartikey Singh (@That_Kartikey) April 6, 2026
What is known about the new product
According to leaks, the Xiaomi 17 Fold will receive a top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor, which will provide maximum performance and improved energy efficiency. The gadget will be equipped with a cool camera unit with a main module of 200 MP (Samsung S5KHP5 sensor) and a battery with a capacity of 8000 mAh.
Other specifications are not yet known, but it is expected that the new foldable Xiaomi will offer an even thinner design and an almost imperceptible fold on the display.
But the most important thing is that the Xiaomi 17 Fold will be released before ambitious devices from Samsung and Apple and will become a serious competitor to iPhone Ultra (Fold) and Galaxy Wide Fold.
Source: Gizmochina
