Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 Review: A Foldable Contender in the Smartphone Arena

Xiaomi has been making waves in the smartphone industry with its innovative designs and affordability. One of its recent offerings, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, is making headlines as a strong competitor in the foldable phone market. Check the key features and specifications of the Mix Fold 3 and see how it stacks up against its counterparts, such as the Samsung Z-Fold 5.

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 Specifications

Specification	Details
Design and Build	Slim 5.3mm profile, 255g weight
Display (Cover)	6.56-inch OLED, 1080p, 120Hz, Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Display (Main)	8.03-inch Foldable LTP0 OLED, 1916×2160, 120Hz
Water Resistance	No official IP rating
Hinge Mechanism	New hinge with multiple angles
Biometrics	Side-mounted fingerprint reader
Performance	Snapdragon 8HN2, UFS 4.0 storage, LPDDR5x RAM
Software	MIUI (Chinese version), limited Google services
Battery	4,800mAh, 67W wired charging, wireless charging
Audio	Stereo speakers with balanced sound
Camera System	50MP main, 10MP 3.2x zoom, 10MP 5x zoom, 12MP ultra-wide
Low-Light Performance	Excellent with night mode processing
Video Recording	Up to 8K resolution, electronic stabilization
Stylus Support	Not available
Availability	Primarily for the Chinese market
Price Range	Varies based on storage options

Also Read: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 and Z Flip5 – Features & Design

Design and Build

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is designed to impress. It boasts a slim profile, measuring just 5.3 millimeters when unfolded, and it weighs in at a mere 255 grams. The textured back, reminiscent of vegan leather, adds a touch of elegance while providing a comfortable grip. The phone’s frame, constructed from aluminum, ensures sturdiness and durability, making it stand out in the crowd of foldable devices.

Comparing it to the Z-Fold 5, the Mix Fold 3’s thinner form factor is immediately noticeable, offering a more comfortable grip both when closed and open. However, it’s important to note that the Mix Fold 3 lacks official Ingress Protection, unlike the Z-Fold 5’s IPX8 rating, which makes it less resistant to water.

The Mix Fold 3 introduces a new hinge mechanism, promising improved durability and versatility. It allows the phone to remain open at various angles, enhancing user experience. Whether it’s watching videos or using the camera, this hinge offers flexibility that sets it apart.

Display

The Mix Fold 3’s display is a standout feature. It features a 6.56-inch OLED cover display with a 1080p resolution, Gorilla Glass Victus 2 protection, and a 120Hz refresh rate. This wider and more comfortable cover screen outperforms the Z-Fold 5’s narrower counterpart.

When unfolded, the Mix Fold 3 reveals its main 8.03-inch foldable LTP0 OLED display with a resolution of 1916×2160 and a 120Hz refresh rate. It outshines the Z-Fold 5 in terms of screen size, but it does have a punch hole for the selfie camera, while the Z-Fold 5 conceals its camera beneath the display. Both screens offer HDR 10+ video and Dolby Vision support, providing excellent contrast and color accuracy.

The crease on the Mix Fold 3’s foldable display is less pronounced than that of the Z-Fold 5, providing a smoother visual experience. However, it’s worth noting that the Mix Fold 3 lacks stylus support, a feature that the Z-Fold 5 excels in.

The Mix Fold 3’s display impresses with its brightness, reaching nearly 600 nits manually and almost 1300 nits in auto mode when exposed to bright sunlight. The cover screen also offers commendable brightness, making outdoor usage a breeze.

Also Read: Vivo X Flip Review: A Promising Clamshell Foldable Phone

Audio and Biometrics

Equipped with a pair of stereo speakers, the Mix Fold 3 delivers excellent audio quality with balanced lows, trebles, and clean vocals. The audio experience is top-notch, suitable for multimedia consumption.

For security, a side-mounted fingerprint reader integrated into the power button ensures responsive and reliable biometric authentication.

Performance and Software

Under the hood, the Mix Fold 3 packs a powerful punch with its flagship-grade Snapdragon 8HN2 chipset. Performance is impressive, with higher benchmark scores and support for newer memory technologies like UFS 4.0 storage and LPDDR5x RAM.

However, thermal management could be improved, as the device struggled during stress tests, occasionally overheating and shutting down.

The Mix Fold 3 runs on Xiaomi’s MIUI interface, designed for the Chinese market. For Western users, it may not offer a seamless experience out of the box, with some untranslated Chinese apps and missing features like Google Pay and Android Auto. Multitasking is decent, but it lacks the flexibility in screen split ratios that the Galaxy series offers.

Battery Life and Charging

The Mix Fold 3 impresses with its 4,800mAh battery, resulting in class-leading endurance. It achieved an endurance rating of 117 hours on its inner display and 118 hours on the cover screen. Supporting 67-watt charging, it can charge up to 70 percent in just half an hour. Additionally, this year’s model also includes wireless charging, adding to its versatility.

Camera

The Mix Fold 3 boasts a revamped camera system, featuring a 50-megapixel main camera, a 10-megapixel 3.2x zoom, a 10-megapixel 5x zoom, and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide camera. This setup provides versatility and excellent photo quality, with vibrant colors, good dynamic range, and natural textures.

Low-light photography is a strong suit for the Mix Fold 3, with excellent detail, controlled shadows, and pleasing colors. The device also offers various options for selfies, including the rear cameras and a 20-megapixel selfie camera embedded in the cover screen.

Video recording capabilities are impressive, with support for up to 8K resolution, although some footage may appear slightly processed. Electronic stabilization ensures smooth video recording.

Also Read: Google’s Entry into the Foldable Phone Market: Introducing the Pixel Fold

Conclusion

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 presents a compelling option in the foldable smartphone market. While it lacks waterproofing and stylus support, it excels in design, screen size, battery life, and charging speed. The camera system impresses with its versatility and low-light performance. However, its availability outside of the Chinese market and the customized MIUI experience may pose some challenges for international users.

In a head-to-head comparison with the Samsung Z-Fold 5, the Mix Fold 3 holds its own and could be a serious contender if made available worldwide. Its combination of affordability and high-end features makes it a noteworthy addition to the foldable phone landscape.