A new hands-on image has surfaced online, fueling speculation that Xiaomi’s next foldable smartphone is approaching release. The photograph, first shared by X user @sunny1583 and later republished on Ximitime alongside a heavily edited screenshot, appears to depict a working Chinese-market test unit.
Software and hardware indicators
The device reportedly runs HyperOS 4 based on Android 17, a detail that aligns with earlier rumors suggesting Xiaomi’s upcoming foldable—likely to be called the Xiaomi Mix Fold 5—will debut the new operating system. Leaks also point to a fresh proprietary chipset, tentatively named the Xring O3, powering the handset. The rear camera array is said to adopt a horizontal Leica-branded module built around a 200-megapixel main sensor, and a 6,000 mAh battery is expected to keep the phone running.
A design shift toward a wider format
Visually, the photographed device marks a significant departure from the existing Mix Fold series. It adopts a more compact yet wider body, following a design language that the Huawei Pura X Max introduced in China this year. Within days, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 is expected to bring a similar wider form factor to global markets, and the Apple iPhone Ultra is anticipated to join this category in September. Past leaks indicate that Honor and Oppo are also developing wider foldables of their own, suggesting an industry-wide pivot toward this more pocketable, broad-aspect layout. There is also speculation that the new Xiaomi model could launch under the Xiaomi 18 family umbrella.
Sources: x.com, ximitime.com