Xiaomi made an iPhone Duo. It’s Unhinged.

Product reviewed (implied)

Xiaomi “18 Fold” (a foldable smartphone), compared directly against Apple’s iPhone “Duo” / similar foldable (referenced throughout as the iPhone’s fold).

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Key points (unique)

1. Packaging / included accessories (Xiaomi-friendly)

   • Ships with phone + charging brick + official phone case.
   • Compared to Apple shipping only the phone and a cable.

2. Design similarity / form factor (very iPhone-like)

   • Same overall size to within a tenth of a millimeter (height match).
   • Cover display: 5.4-inch, matching iPhone’s outline/flat left edge/rounded corners.
   • Aspect ratio: both share 1.4:1 (described using a scaling analogy similar to A4/A5).
   • Cover display expands to 7.6-inch inner display with a similar rectangle—apps “optimized” for one screen are theoretically optimized for both.

3. Fold/crease experience

   • Crease is ~98% erased and is hard to notice most of the time.

4. Size and weight advantages

   • Thinner: 5.02 mm vs 5.2 mm (iPhone).
   • Folded thickness: 10.7 mm vs 11.3 mm.
   • Much lighter: 219 g vs 254 g.
   • Battery capacity cited: 6,000 mAh (Xiaomi) vs about 4,700ish mAh (iPhone), framed as “more than any iPhone/Galaxy/Pixel.”

5. Battery life + charging speed

   • Described as the longest-lasting foldable the reviewer has used.
   • Charging: 67W vs 60W, with an asterisk that Apple’s “60W” sold charger behaves like ~40W initially and briefly scales toward 60W.

6. Display brightness

   • Xiaomi: “super sunlight panels” at 4,000 nits vs Apple at 3,000 nits.

7. Camera hardware improvements vs Apple

   • Layout is broadly similar (horizontal camera array), but Xiaomi adds a third camera.
   • Main camera: 200MP (reviewer notes megapixels aren’t everything).
   • Ultrawide: 50MP (later criticized).
   • Telephoto: 50MP with 3.5x optical zoom (highlighted as a key feature other comparable folds skipped).

8. Other hardware extras

   • Dual physical SIMs: Xiaomi has two; iPhone has zero.
   • IR blaster for TV remote functionality.
   • Pre-installed screen protector on the cover display.
   • Face unlock: said to be less secure than Face ID and not for banking; described as less hassle than the iPhone’s Touch ID-style unlocking approach.

9. Price

   • Starting price: about $1,640 equivalent.
   • Presented as a “pretty big saving” versus Apple’s fold pricing (described as “Apple’s straightup 2Gs,” ~$2,000+).

10. Software: strengths—multitasking

    • Demonstrated heavy multitasking, including:
      • 6 apps running as a group.
      • Floating calculator / floating window behavior.
      • Resizing windows, switching via tapping edges, app switching with a 4-finger swipe, reordering, and jumping to specific apps.
    • Reviewer claims it “keeps up” and feels “mentally reassuring” that limits depend on user capability rather than arbitrary app restrictions.
    • Apps can be stretched to tablet-like sizes while keeping quick access.

11. Software: weaknesses—UI not well optimized

    • Even with smoother animations than a previous Xiaomi fold, the reviewer argues the software feels like “standard phone software stretched” rather than fold-optimized.
    • Empty margins due to apps not using space well.
    • Specific issues mentioned:
      • Camera app: uneven/awkward black bars.
      • Weather: low-resolution-looking numbers when opened (stretching artifacts).
      • YouTube: poor behavior in split-screen.
      • Netflix: UI breaks/messes up when rotating.
      • Pokémon: menu button appears in the wrong place (under the selfie camera).
      • Google Play Store: text jumps; feels laggy.
    • Reviewer emphasizes this isn’t limited to third-party apps—pre-installed apps also show issues, even in a China launch context.

12. Overall comparison conclusion

    • On paper, Xiaomi “whitewashes” Apple in specs (weight, battery, brightness, extra camera, pricing).
    • But the reviewer ultimately says Xiaomi does not deliver a better overall experience.
    • Reason: Xiaomi emphasizes “ticking boxes” rather than Apple-style, deeply optimized software.

13. Durability / materials trade-off

    • Lighter weight attributed to aluminum frame rather than titanium.
    • Reviewer expects worse long-term scratch/wear.

14. Thermal problem (major downside)

    • Claims:
      • A Xiaomi-designed chip with large performance/power claims.
      • In practice, stress tests fail: 3DMark couldn’t finish, phone overheated, and the test was forced to close in ~10 minutes (repeated twice).
      • Thermal camera: chip area is searing hot, while the rest warms much less—suggesting poor heat redistribution.
    • Suggested risk: potential longevity issues.

15. Camera performance concerns

    • 200MP claim tempered: sensor size compared to a base iPhone 17 (reviewer implies limited real sensor advantage).
    • Ultrawide video: grain appears even in well-lit conditions.

16. Missing fold refinements

    • No stylus support on either screen.
    • Hinge quality criticized: scratchy sound and random click at points.
    • Less premium “nano texture” anti-reflective quality than iPhone; fingerprints everywhere.
    • Crease less hidden than Apple’s due to lacking an extra layer designed to disguise it.
    • Speakers described as harsh/grating.

17. Final verdict setup (sponsor aside removed from product evaluation)

    • Reviewer frames the choice as:
      • “That’s the iPhone. That’s the Xiaomi.”
    • Reinforces the conclusion that Apple’s overall experience wins.

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Pros (as stated)

• Lighter and thinner; better pocketability
• Strong battery life and charging speed
• Much higher claimed display brightness
• Better camera hardware on paper: extra telephoto lens + 3.5x optical zoom
• Better bundled value: charger + case included
• Strong multitasking capability and UI controls (when they work)

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Cons (as stated)

• Software not fully optimized for the fold shape:
  • Empty margins; multiple app UI failures/bugs in split/rotation states
• Thermal throttling/overheating under stress tests
• Durability concerns from aluminum frame (expected scratch/wear over time)
• Camera quality concerns, especially ultrawide video grain
• Fold hardware feel: hinge sound/quality issues; crease/finish less premium
• Speakers harsh; fingerprint-prone surfaces
• No stylus support

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Comparisons made

• Against Apple’s foldable iPhone/Duo

  • Xiaomi wins on: weight, thickness, battery, charging, brightness, extra camera, dual SIM, bundles, and claimed multitasking power.
  • Apple wins on: overall software optimization, app integration/consistency, materials/durability vibe, premium display anti-reflectiveness, fold refinement, and speaker/overall polish.

• Indirect comparisons

  • Samsung Z Fold 8 hinge sound used as a contrast reference for quality.
  • Mentions Pixel Fold corners preference/dislike (aesthetic comparison only, not a performance test).

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Overall verdict / recommendation

Despite major spec advantages, the reviewer does not think Xiaomi’s 18 Fold delivers a better overall experience than Apple’s foldable. The decisive issues cited are software optimization shortcomings and a serious thermal problem under stress, plus other premium-experience gaps (hinge/finish/speakers).

Recommendation: If you prioritize paper specs (brightness, battery, charging, telephoto camera), Xiaomi looks attractive. But for a polished, well-integrated fold experience, the reviewer leans toward Apple.

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Speakers / perspectives

• A single main speaker/reviewer provides the core hands-on impressions, tests (including stress testing + thermal imaging), and app-specific observations.
• No additional viewpoints are clearly attributed beyond occasional narration/music cues.