There is no doubt that in the smartphone sector, the protagonists of these last two summer months have been folding phones. Recently, with Honor and its two new proposals; in August, with Samsung, and its Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Z Fold 5. Also Xiaomi, with the new MIX Fold 3a folding that arrives to solve some of the weaknesses of its previous generation and bet on a somewhat forgotten section in this type of mobile.
In hypertextual We have been able to test this Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 first hand, and despite the fact that foldables have been between us for years and I, personally, have tried a large number of them, it is so far the only one that It has shown me that it is a turning pointand that now the folding can easily compete with traditional mobiles.
It does so, specifically, for different reasons, and one of them is its design and robustness. This MIX Fold 2 stands out, due to how thin it is both when folded, since it measures just 10.09 mm; as when it is fully open, where its thickness is reduced to 5.5 mm. Also, because of how light it feels, and how comfortable it is; both for its format, and for that carbon fiber finish on the back.
The Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 also stands out for its improved hinge that allows the device screen to be folded in different positions, since is capable of supporting an angle between 45 and 135 degrees without the screen closing or unfold completely on its own.
It is precisely one of the failures of the previous generation that the company has solved in this model, and that provides different advantages. Among them, the possibility that some applications, such as the camera, adapt to the angle of the device to show, for example, the preview at the top of the screen, and the menu with buttons and controls at the bottom. The Xiaomi smartphone, by the way, It is capable of withstanding up to 500,000 folds, a greater amount than that of the other folding ones.
without losing good manners
The Xiaomi MIX 3 Fold, on the other hand, also shows that flexible screens are not what they used to be. In this case, we find a flexible interior panel with 8.03-inch OLED technology —slightly larger than its predecessor—, and which has a QHD+ resolution, and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. It is a brilliant screen; very bright, in fact, as it peaks at 2,600 nits of brightness.
It is also very sharp, and has a very good color calibration. Of course, the wrinkle, although it is not excessively pronounced, is somewhat more noticeable than, for example, in the Oppo Find N2.
Xiaomi’s foldable also includes a 6.65-inch outdoor screen. In this case, with a Full HD + resolution, although it maintains the 120 Hz refresh rate. It is especially useful for using the device, let’s say, in a more compact way.
At the hardware level, it manages to match the rest of its competition. Thanks in part to that Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 which includes, already those 12 or 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage. It also comes with a battery of 4,800mAhwhich is compatible with a 67W fast charge and, for the first time in a Xiaomi foldable, with wireless charging, which in this case is up to 50W.
So are the cameras of the latest folding Xiaomi
There is, however, a section where this MIX Fold 3 has shown me the maturity of folding mobiles. Is the camera.
I explain. The manufacturers they do not usually pay special attention to the cameras of their folding mobiles. It’s something that, in a way, makes sense. They are smartphones with a lot of technology, and include expensive components, so prioritizing the multimedia area and the flexible screen before the photographic area makes some sense. Xiaomi, however, does not seem to be willing to prioritize in a specific section.
The MIX Fold 3 camera, in fact, It is very similar to the one that the company includes in its conventional premium-range smartphones., like the Xiaomi 13 Pro. We are, therefore, with a 50-megapixel resolution primary sensor, which includes an f/1.77 aperture. The MIX Fold 3 also has a 50-megapixel ultra-wide-angle sensor, as well as two more telephoto cameras. On the one hand, a 50-megapixel camera capable of capturing images with a 3.5x optical zoom. On the other, one of the same resolution, with the possibility of taking pictures with a 5x optical zoom.
Xiaomi has also maintained its partnership with Leica for this MIX Fold 3 with the aim of improving the results by going beyond the hardware. It does so by getting involved in the processing, as well as in some software functions, such as a mode where it is possible to choose the tones of the photographs.
The Xiaomi MIX 3, on the other hand, has some software modifications to make the camera much more versatile. For example, we can use the outer screen as a preview, and take selfies with the ultra-wide-angle camera. This, in addition, is an important advantage over conventional mobile phones.
The biggest drawback of the MIX Fold 3 is that it will not leave China
The Xiaomi MIX Fold 3, unfortunately, It will not be available in Europe. The terminal, in fact, will not leave China, although it could be a very interesting – and convincing – alternative to the Galaxy Z Fold 5 or the new Honor Magic V2.
Its null availability in Spain is, precisely, the biggest inconvenience we have found during a first contact with the device. Mainly —and in the absence of testing in-depth sections, such as the camera or autonomy— because the terminal hardly has weak points to highlight. Its design is practically excellent, its cameras are very promising, and on paper, it seems to do a good job in terms of performance and autonomy.
The MIX Fold 3 also not only competes against the rest of the foldables on the market. It also does deal with some of the mobile traditions. that companies like Apple or Samsung have launched this year. Above all, because of how light it is, and also because of its promising photographic section.
Of course, the price would have been a decisive factor when concluding if this MIX Fold 3 is a foldable to take into account, but there is no doubt that its specifications show that it is one of the best in its segment, and also in the market for more conventional smartphones.