Xiaomi is reportedly developing a unique accessory called the “Xiaomi Pocket Guitar,” designed to pair with the rear subscreen of its upcoming Xiaomi 18 Fold and Xiaomi 18 series phones. The discovery comes from developer Kacper Skrzypek, who shared internal code and renders showing a mini controller with guitar-like features.
Design and Functionality of the Pocket Guitar
The Pocket Guitar accessory features a flip-cover design and comes in black and red color options. The upper section has eight buttons labeled with Roman numerals and a directional control pad. The bottom part includes a music button and several vertical grooves that imitate guitar strings. This suggests the device functions as a virtual guitar controller for casual entertainment.
Importantly, the device’s configuration files are stored in a folder named “subscreen,” confirming it is explicitly intended to work with the rear subscreen on Xiaomi’s foldable and flagship phones. Unlike typical gamepads, the Pocket Guitar relies on close integration with this secondary display.
Software Requirements and Market Limitation
The accessory depends heavily on the Chinese app “Changba,” a popular karaoke and music platform, for pairing and OTA firmware updates. The system requires the Changba app to be installed and updated in order to connect the Pocket Guitar properly.
This strong software dependency means the accessory is unlikely to be usable outside China, limiting its appeal primarily to Xiaomi’s domestic market. Without Changba integration, users abroad would not be able to pair or update the device.
Potential Usage Scenario and Connectivity
The Pocket Guitar appears to connect to the phone via Bluetooth and requires its own battery power for operation. Users would likely hold the phone so the rear subscreen faces them, allowing them to view lyrics or chords via the Changba app. The Pocket Guitar would serve as a physical rhythm controller.
By pressing the Roman numeral buttons, users can select music chords, while sliding their thumb on the grooved bottom section simulates strumming guitar strings. Additionally, the directional keys and music button can be used to navigate menus or switch songs without touching the phone’s subscreen.
This combination of a physical controller paired with a rear subscreen effectively creates a virtual guitar experience tailored to Xiaomi’s foldable and flagship devices.
Current Status and Outlook
Xiaomi has not officially announced the Pocket Guitar accessory yet, and available details come solely from leaked internal code and renders. The integration with the Xiaomi 18 Fold and Xiaomi 18 series phones suggests it will launch alongside these models, all of which feature a rear subscreen.
This innovative accessory marks an interesting experiment in expanding smartphone usage beyond typical input methods by leveraging the secondary display and specialized peripherals.
