China is getting first access to a new British technology that could change how mobile games are made and played. On Monday, Xiaomi officially launched the Xiaomi 18 Fold in mainland China with an Arm Mali G2-Ultra NX graphics processor inside its custom Xring O3 chip.
This new GPU is part of a larger shift toward bringing PC-level features to mobile devices, according to The Verge. By following Nvidia’s approach, phones using Arm’s new GPU can run supported games at higher resolution and with advanced lighting techniques without using more power than before.
These improvements won’t be limited to Chinese phones but will spread to other markets as well. The Verge reported that Arm expects the technology to roll out globally in 2027.
Arm’s new Mali G2-Ultra NX GPU is designed to support AI-powered graphics enhancements that improve performance and efficiency, according to a report from CNET. The chip integrates AI directly into the graphics pipeline, reducing energy use and processing delays.
It uses three main AI methods: neural super sampling, neural frame rate upscaling, and denoising to enhance visual quality. These techniques allow for smoother gameplay and better image clarity, especially in demanding scenes like ray-traced reflections.
The improvements also lead to a 24% boost in benchmark performance and a 14% gain in gaming performance.
Arm has also upgraded its CPU clusters for AI agent processing, introducing new C2 cores that offer faster performance while using less power. These new cores can handle complex tasks like speech processing and web browsing more efficiently than previous versions. Xiaomi’s Xring O3 uses Arm C1-family CPU cores rather than the new C2 cluster. Arm says the C2-Ultra can deliver up to 15% greater single-thread performance while using up to 38% less power at the same performance level.
The Xring O3 is part of the Xiaomi 18 Fold, making it the first phone powered by Xiaomi’s O3-generation in-house silicon, Engadget reported. The phone features a 3nm chip with a 10-core CPU and a 16-core GPU, along with support for the latest LPDDR6 RAM.
Xiaomi claims that this chip delivers 45% faster on-device decoding performance compared to its previous flagship processor. The device also includes a large 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery.
It supports fast charging with up to 67W wired and 50W wireless power delivery.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold has a dual-screen design with both displays supporting 4,000 nits peak brightness and adaptive refresh rates from 1 to 120Hz. The phone’s hinge uses a three-link structure that wraps around the screen, making it feel sturdy and durable.
It weighs 219g and is lighter than many other foldables on the market. The front screen has an asymmetric design with curved right edges and square corners near the hinge.
The phone also comes with a Leica triple-camera system, including a periscope telephoto lens. It is available in red, black, and white, starting at 10,999 yuan, or about $1,640.
The device is only available in China for now, though Xiaomi may expand its release later. This launch comes just before Apple is expected to reveal its own foldable iPhone.
Xiaomi is also offering a special ceramic version of the phone made with silicon nitride ceramic that is about 50% lighter than traditional zirconia ceramic and more resistant to bumps and scratches. However, this variant was not shown during the company’s IFA event.
Arm’s new chip technology is not just for gaming but also for improving AI processing and overall performance in mobile devices. Several game developers are already working to integrate these new features into their titles.
Games like Neural Dawn and others will showcase the new graphics capabilities of this technology. The technology allows for high-quality gameplay at 1080p resolution with 60 frames per second for extended periods without draining battery quickly. Arm says Neural Dawn demonstrates the technology in a production-scale mobile game, while Where Winds Meet, Infinity Nikki and Arena Breakout: Infinite are among the games adopting or demonstrating parts of Arm Neural Technology.