3 Minutes
New leaks suggest Xiaomi may rebrand its next foldable as the Xiaomi 17 Fold, pushing a major camera upgrade and a shifted launch window. Details so far hint at flagship-level hardware, satellite connectivity, and a China-first rollout.
A switch in naming and a new timeline
Insider reports point to a device codenamed pecan with model number 26023PN08C. The "PN" in that model string looks different from past MIX Fold identifiers, implying the phone could join Xiaomi's main numbered flagship family rather than the MIX subseries. In short, the MIX Fold 6 might arrive under a new badge: Xiaomi 17 Fold.
The launch timing also appears to be changing. While previous foldables typically debuted in June, the latest leaks place this model in February 2026. A related identifier, P18S, has been spotted too — the "S" is widely interpreted as denoting satellite connectivity. Notably, there’s no plain P18 listing, which could mean Xiaomi plans to ship only a satellite-enabled variant at first. As with many of Xiaomi’s top-tier foldables, an initial China-only release remains likely.
Camera system: a bold move to 200MP
The most eye-catching rumor is the imaging setup. The alleged specification list borrows elements rumored for other upcoming Xiaomi models and would include:
- 200MP main sensor (Samsung S5KHP5)
- 50MP ultra-wide (OMNIVISION OV50M)
- 50MP secondary front camera (OV50M)
- 16MP inner selfie camera (OV16F)
Putting a 200MP main sensor into a foldable would be a first for Xiaomi and signals an emphasis on photography on larger-format phones. That said, the leaked spec list does not show a dedicated telephoto module, which could disappoint users who prefer optical zoom. Xiaomi may instead lean on high-resolution cropping and computational techniques for longer-range shots.
If tuned correctly, the 200MP sensor could close the gap between traditional flagship camera performance and foldable convenience, positioning the Xiaomi 17 Fold as a serious alternative to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold line.
Performance, connectivity, and who should watch this
Performance is expected to match the phone's flagship intent, with the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 reported as the likely chipset. That would ensure top-tier processing, gaming, and photo processing headroom on a device that also needs to manage a larger flexible display.
Satellite connectivity via the P18S tag would be a useful addition for users who need emergency comms or off-grid messaging, and may become a differentiator if Xiaomi makes that a standard option. For buyers, the key trade-offs to watch will be whether Xiaomi sacrifices telephoto capability, how well the 200MP sensor is tuned, and whether the company chooses a China-first approach again.
Conclusion
The rumored Xiaomi 17 Fold represents more than a simple spec bump — it could reflect a strategic shift, folding the high-end foldable into Xiaomi's main flagship family. A 200MP main camera, satellite-ready model, Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5, and a February 2026 debut would make this one of Xiaomi's most ambitious foldable launches yet. If the leaks hold, expect strong imaging focus and flagship performance, even if some zoom features are traded off in the process.
Source: gizchina
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