The era of the small clamshell foldable may be pausing at Xiaomi. According to recent insights from prominent leaker DigitalChatStation and corroborated by internal firmware tracking, Xiaomi has officially suspended its small foldable product line, pulling the plug on the MIX Flip 3. Instead, the tech giant is shifting its focus and supply chain resources toward a revived large foldable series, slated to launch in the fourth quarter of this year under the new naming convention: Xiaomi 18 Fold.
Shifting Strategies and Unreleased Hardware
The cancellation of the MIX Flip 3 (model number P8, internally codenamed pixiu) marks a massive shift, particularly because the device was nearing its final release window. Technical leaks reveal that pixiu was engineered to be a compact powerhouse, equipped with the next-generation Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 processor. Interestingly, the previous large foldable generation, the MIX Fold 5 (model O18, codenamed nirvana), met a very similar fate when it was axed just before its scheduled launch last year.
While official statements from Xiaomi remain pending, early indications suggest that these abrupt portfolio adjustments are rooted in supply and demand dynamics. With the clamshell foldable market becoming increasingly crowded, Xiaomi appears to be reassessing its manufacturing priorities, opting to invest heavily in the premium, large-screen foldable format where they can showcase proprietary tech.
Affected Devices & Codenames
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Cancelled Device: Xiaomi MIX Flip 3
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Codename: pixiu
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Model: P8
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Hardware: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5
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Cancelled Device: Xiaomi MIX Fold 5 (old)
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Codename: nirvana
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Model: O18
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Upcoming Device: Xiaomi 18 Fold
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Codename: lhasa
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Hardware: XRING O3 Chipset
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Historically, Xiaomi’s foldable lineup has remained heavily localized. The current Xiaomi MIX Flip 2 was originally scheduled for a June 2025 release with a starting price of 5,999 yuan (approximately $878 USD), introduced strictly as a China-exclusive. The previous large foldable, the MIX Fold 4, debuted in July 2024 starting at 8,999 yuan (approximately $1,317 USD), which also remained in the domestic market.
With the upcoming Xiaomi 18 Fold (codenamed lhasa), this regional exclusivity trend will continue. Our sources confirm that lhasa is developed as a China-only device. However, it represents a major leap in Xiaomi’s proprietary silicon capabilities, as it is confirmed to be powered by the advanced XRING O3 chip.
