Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: Introduction
In the fast-moving smartphone market, real innovations have become a rarity. It almost seems as if the climax has been reached a long time ago. But far from it – there is a real rush of innovation, especially in China. There, the technology giants like Xiaomi, Huawei and BBK duel in a breathless race, always on the hunt for the next big thing.
Xiaomi has established itself as a real heavyweight in this competition. Even though the Mix Fold 3 may not be intended for the average user, Xiaomi impressively demonstrates with releases like this that they don't have to hide from industry giants from the West.
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: Design and display
With a narrower profile (5,26mm unfolded) and a lighter weight (255g), Xiaomi's new Mix Fold 3 goes a step further than its predecessor. While these external changes are rather subtle, it presents itself with significantly improved hardware compared to its predecessor.
External display: 6,56 inch diagonal, resolution of 2.520 x 1.080 pixels and a peak brightness of 2.600 nits.
Let's first take a look at the display: A 6,56-inch LTPO Samsung E6 OLED screen is installed on the outside, while an 8-inch Samsung AMOLED LTPO panel awaits us on the inside. The crease in the middle remains, but it is less deep than, for example, on the Google Pixel Fold or the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and therefore less annoying.
External display: 8,03 inch diagonal, resolution of 2.160 x 1916 pixels and a peak brightness of 2.600 nits.
A really big plus is the new hinge function: the hinge of the Mix Fold 3 can now be fixed at any angle, a function that was missing from the Mix Fold 2. This allows the smartphone to be used in “tripod mode”. With the smartphone placed on the table, the function is ideal for taking time-lapse photos or taking hands-free selfies.
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 folds up seamlessly.
However, there is also a small catch that reminds us of the OPPO Find N series: the position of the selfie camera. This is located on the left side of the display, while the main camera system is located on the right side. Unfortunately, this means that you have to keep turning the device when switching between selfies and front camera shots, which is quite inconvenient. Here Xiaomi could really have taken an example from the Galaxy Z Fold 5, where this arrangement is solved better.
With this foldable, the usual center crease is barely visible and only minimally noticeable.
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: camera equipment
A lot has happened with the cameras, especially when it comes to the zoom capabilities of the Mix Fold 3. Here we find a 10 megapixel 3,2x phone zoom lens that shoots at a focal length of 75 millimeters and a 10 megapixel 5x periscope zoom lens that shoots at a 120 millimeter -Focal length allows.
These improvements address the Mix Fold 2's biggest weakness, whose single 8-megapixel 2x zoom lens was mediocre even by foldable phone standards. With the Mix Fold 3, users get focal lengths that most other foldable smartphones cannot offer.
Xiaomi's cooperation with Leica also comes into play in the Mix Fold 3.
The further improvements to the camera can be seen in the 50-megapixel main camera. Although Xiaomi had announced a flagship camera with Leica optics in its advertising campaign, raising some hopes for the Sony IMX989 sensor in the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the Sony IMX800 sensor was ultimately installed. This is undoubtedly powerful, although not quite at the level of the IMX989.
The ultra-wide-angle camera appears to be the same as the Mix Fold 2, with a resolution of 12 megapixels. Interestingly, three of the four cameras have optical image stabilization (OIS); only the ultra-wide-angle camera has to do without this function. However, this is less dramatic, as stabilization is not particularly important for wide-angle shots.
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: processor and software
Inside the Mix Fold 3 there is a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor with a high clock frequency of 3,36 GHz, which is the same chip that is also used in models such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. The special “Snapdragon for Galaxy” name at Samsung is more likely to be understood as branding in relation to the technical data.
In terms of software, there are a few aspects of the Mix Fold 3 that should be mentioned. The smartphone is currently only sold in China and therefore uses a Chinese version of MIUI Fold. As a result, the integration of Google Apps is not optimal.
An example: When using YouTube in split-screen mode, only vertical splitting is possible, not horizontal. Gboard's split keyboard, a feature that many users are familiar with, is also not available in this ROM version.
The Mix Fold 3's hinge combines steel with carbon/ceramic in a three-part construction.
The Galaxy Fold 5 from Samsung offers some differences in terms of software integration, but that doesn't mean that the Mix Fold 3 doesn't also have its advantages. It would be interesting to see how the Mix Fold 3's software develops. Especially if an international version of the device is released, which may be better aligned with Google Apps.
Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: Final word
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 presented itself in hands-on as a device with impressive features, but also some teething problems. It reveals enormous potential and with further adjustments and optimizations could become a serious competitor to the established players on the global market.
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is not available to buy outside of China and there are currently no official plans for global sales. Anyone who is already excited about the new Xiaomi foldable has the option of purchasing the smartphone via import platforms such as Trading Shenzhen to order. The prices there start at a proud 1500 euros.
