Alleged images of Xiaomi's foldable device leak online

The photo also shows what clearly appears to be MIUI 12, Xiaomi’s customised Android skin, running on the foldable device.

From the images, it appears that the device folds in half with a hinge that looks inspired by the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2. (MyFixGuide)

Alleged images of a Xiaomi-made foldable device have appeared online, giving us what is probably our first glimpse of the company's first attempt at building a Galaxy Fold 2 competitor.

Images of the device were reportedly captured on a subway in China, then posted to social media. While the photos were promptly deleted, tech blog MyFixGuide managed to grab copies before they were taken down.

From the images, it appears that the device folds in half with a hinge that looks inspired by the Samsung Galaxy Fold 2. The photo also shows what clearly appears to be MIUI 12, Xiaomi's customised Android skin running on the device. The device also seems to have massive bezels, but it's possible that these will be reduced by the time the device is ready for production.

The device also has a huge depression where the hinge is located, which clearly indicates it isn’t ready for production. (MyFixGuide)

The device also has a huge depression where the hinge is located, which clearly indicates it isn’t ready for production. (MyFixGuide)

What is inexplicably missing on the device is a front-facing camera - so either this is an extremely early prototype that doesn't yet include a camera, or Xiaomi is finally set to debut a camera under the display, after spending months working on the technology. The device also has a huge depression where the hinge is located, which clearly indicates it isn't ready for production, keeping in mind the potential issues with apps that require a relatively flat display.

Xiaomi is clearly looking to compete with Samsung, who is clearly leading the pack when it comes to foldable devices, ahead of the Moto Razr and the Microsoft Surface Duo. It remains to be seen what sort of foldable product Xiaomi finally brings to the market as a competitor to this year's crop of devices, including the upcoming Samsung Galaxy Fold 3.