Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold (2021): Everything You Need To Know
The Pitch
Xiaomi’s Mi Mix Fold is their take on the form-factor popularised by the Samsung Galaxy Fold. However, it has a number of key differences on both Samsung’s latest and the Huawei Mate X2.
In some ways, the story here is much the same as it ever was for Xiaomi. The first foldable device in their Mi Mix range is doing to the Galaxy Fold what the mainstream Mi Mix devices look to do to the flagships like Galaxy S21. When it comes the hardware and software level, it’s mostly comparable and definitely cheaper.
Even if it’s only available in China for now, the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold represents another solid step towards foldable devices becoming more affordable for mainstream consumers.
The Specs
Processor: Qualcom Snapdragon 888 5G
Inner Display: 8-inch AMOLED
Outer Display: 6.52-inch AMOLED @ 90Hz
Resolution: 1860 x 2480 pixels
RAM: 12 GB / 16 GB
ROM: 256 GB / 512 GB
Expandable Storage: No
Headphone Jack: No
Fingerprint Scanner: Yes, side-mounted
Operating System: Android 10
Battery Size: 5020mAh
Rear Camera: 108-megapixel (f/1.8) wide + 8-megapixel telephoto + 13-megapixel (f/2.4) ultrawide
Front-Facing Camera: 20-megapixel wide angle lens
The Reviews
Since the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold is currently only available in China, there’s not a huge amount of English language reviews for the device.
Ben Sin over at XDA Developers did manage to get his hands on a sample unit. Unfortunately, he came away wanting compared to Huawei’s latest efforts in the space:
When it comes to the folding aspect, the Mi Mix Fold does not have better hardware than the Huawei Mate X2. The problems that Huawei’s foldable “fixed,” such as reducing the crease of the folding display and having a hinge that folds entirely flat, are back here in the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold. The bezels around Xiaomi’s foldable, whether it’s the inside or outside screen, are larger than the Huawei Mate X2’s bezels too.
However, Sin conceded that Mi Mix Fold does have a number of other advantages over Huwei’s latest foldable. Specifically, he noted that the Mi Mix Fold is cheaper and capable of running Google apps and services:
The reality remains that the Mi Mix Fold has much more mainstream appeal, not just within China but worldwide.
Our Verdict?
While Xiaomi’s growing reputation within the smartphone world has been built on a steady string of solid products, the Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold is probably going to be a little too much trouble for even foldable enthusiasts to import.