Xiaomi rolls out 18 Fold and Pad 9 Pro Max with new gaming chip
Xiaomi has launched the 18 Fold smartphone and Pad 9 Pro Max tablet, positioning them as mobile gaming powerhouses driven by the company’s new in-house Xring O3 processor. The flagship silicon features Arm‘s advanced neural rendering technology to significantly boost graphical performance across both premium devices.
At the heart of the new hardware lineup is the 10-core Xring O3 chip, which reaches a maximum clock speed of 4.35GHz. Its gaming capabilities stem directly from a 16-core G2-Ultra NX GPU built on Mali architecture.
By integrating Arm neural rendering, the processor leverages artificial intelligence to upscale images, delivering high-fidelity visuals and improved framerates for demanding mobile titles without rapidly draining the battery. The hardware supports LPDDR6 memory alongside configurations offering up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
A wider approach to foldable design
Moving away from traditional book-style proportions, the 18 Fold adopts a wider and shorter «middle foldable» footprint. The device pairs a 5.38-inch outer display with a 7.58-inch internal screen. Both 120Hz LTPO OLED panels are calibrated to take full advantage of the Xring O3’s enhanced visual processing during intense gaming sessions.
Photography is handled by a Leica-tuned triple-camera system featuring a 200-megapixel main sensor, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with 3.5x optical zoom. The handset is equipped with a 6,000mAh battery that manages sustained performance loads and handles 67W wired and 50W wireless charging. Additional specifications include an IPX8 water-resistance rating, the HyperOS 4 operating system and a premium ceramic special edition.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold is available in four colours: Warm Gold White, black, Xiye Red and ceramic Pink.
Expanding the productivity ecosystem
The Pad 9 Pro Max is the first Xiaomi tablet to use the brand’s proprietary flagship silicon. While the Arm neural rendering caters heavily to gamers, it also serves creative professionals equally well. It boasts a 13.3-inch 3.4K display with a 3:2 aspect ratio and a swift 144Hz refresh rate. The panel achieves 1,000 nits of peak brightness, and buyers can opt for a glare-reducing Soft Light finish on higher-tier models.
Weighing 645 grams and with a sleek 5.67mm profile, the tablet houses a 12,000mAh battery that supports 120W wired charging to minimise downtime. It includes an eight-speaker audio array with Dolby Atmos support and six internal microphones.
Running on HyperOS 4, the tablet software permits the simultaneous operation of up to six applications. A full-function USB-C port allows the device to act as an external monitor for computers or compatible gaming consoles. It also integrates seamlessly with the Focus Stylus Pro and TourBox controller for complex creative workflows.
Pre-orders and prices
Pricing in China for the Xiomi Pad 9 Pro Max:
- 8GB + 256GB: $715
- 12GB + 256GB: $790
- 16GB + 256GB: $850
- 12GB + 512GB: $894
- 16GB + 512GB: $969
- 16GB + 512GB Nano Texture: $1043
- 16GB + 1TB Nano Texture: $1177
The separately sold floating keyboard costs $164.
Xiaomi has not confirmed international availability, pricing or a global launch timetable.
Xiaomi 18 Fold prices:
The 18 Fold is priced in China from $1639 to $2235.
Pre-orders for both devices started with the announcement. They will be available for regular purchasing starting on September 10 in China.
