The smartphone industry has seen an influx of foldable devices in recent years, and Xiaomi has stepped up its game with the introduction of the Xiaomi Mix Flip. As a challenger in the competitive foldable market, the Mix Flip aims to blend cutting-edge technology with practical usability. In this review, we’ll delve into every aspect of the Mix Flip, from design and display to performance and battery life, to see if it lives up to the hype.
Design and Build Quality
The Xiaomi Mix Flip is designed to impress at first glance. It features a sleek and modern aesthetic with a premium build that combines glass and aluminum. The hinge mechanism is sturdy, providing a smooth folding and unfolding experience. Xiaomi has clearly invested significant effort in ensuring the durability of the hinge, which is crucial for the longevity of a foldable device.
When folded, the Mix Flip is compact and easily pocketable, making it convenient for everyday use. The external display is adequately sized, allowing for quick access to notifications, messages, and essential functions without needing to unfold the device. Upon unfolding, the Mix Flip reveals its expansive main display, transforming into a tablet-like device that offers a substantial screen real estate.
Display
One of the standout features of the Xiaomi Mix Flip is its dual-display setup. The external display is a 6.5-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 1080 x 2400 pixels. It delivers vibrant colors, deep blacks, and excellent brightness levels, making it perfect for outdoor use. The display supports a 90Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and an overall responsive experience.
The main display, which measures 8.01 inches when unfolded, is where the Mix Flip truly shines. This AMOLED panel boasts a resolution of 2480 x 2200 pixels and supports a 120Hz refresh rate, providing an immersive viewing experience. Whether you’re watching videos, playing games, or multitasking, the main display offers stunning visuals and fluid performance. The crease in the middle of the screen, while noticeable, is not overly distracting and becomes less apparent over time.
Performance
Under the hood, the Xiaomi Mix Flip is powered by the latest Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, paired with up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of internal storage. This powerful combination ensures that the Mix Flip can handle any task you throw at it with ease. From multitasking and productivity to gaming and media consumption, the Mix Flip delivers exceptional performance.
In benchmark tests, the Mix Flip scores impressively, placing it among the top performers in the foldable category. Real-world usage further confirms its capabilities, with apps launching quickly and running smoothly. The device also excels in gaming, thanks to the Adreno 740 GPU, which handles graphically intensive games without breaking a sweat.
Software
The Xiaomi Mix Flip runs on MIUI Fold, a customized version of MIUI designed specifically for foldable devices. MIUI Fold offers a host of features and optimizations to take full advantage of the dual-display setup. The interface is intuitive and user-friendly, with seamless transitions between the external and main displays.
One of the key features of MIUI Fold is its multitasking capabilities. Users can run multiple apps simultaneously on the main display, with the ability to drag and drop content between them. The taskbar at the bottom provides quick access to frequently used apps, enhancing productivity. Additionally, Xiaomi has worked closely with developers to optimize popular apps for the foldable form factor, ensuring a smooth and consistent experience.
Camera
The camera setup on the Xiaomi Mix Flip is versatile and capable. It features a triple-camera array on the back, consisting of a 50MP main sensor, a 12MP ultra-wide sensor, and an 8MP telephoto sensor with 3x optical zoom. This setup allows for a wide range of photography options, from landscape shots to close-up portraits.
The main sensor captures detailed and vibrant images, with excellent dynamic range and color accuracy. The ultra-wide sensor is perfect for capturing expansive scenes, while the telephoto sensor delivers sharp and clear zoomed-in shots. The Mix Flip also performs well in low-light conditions, thanks to its advanced image processing algorithms and night mode.
On the front, the Mix Flip sports a 20MP camera for selfies and video calls. The front camera produces high-quality images, with good detail and natural-looking skin tones. The flexibility of the foldable design allows users to take selfies with the rear cameras using the external display as a viewfinder, resulting in even better image quality.
Battery Life
Battery life is a critical consideration for any smartphone, and the Xiaomi Mix Flip does not disappoint. It is equipped with a 4500mAh battery, which provides ample power to get through a full day of heavy use. The device supports 67W fast charging, allowing you to quickly top up the battery when needed. Additionally, it supports 30W wireless charging and 10W reverse wireless charging, adding to its versatility.
In real-world usage, the Mix Flip delivers impressive battery performance. Whether you’re using it in its compact form or unfolded as a tablet, the battery life remains consistent and reliable. Xiaomi’s power management features and optimizations in MIUI Fold also contribute to extending the battery life.
Connectivity and Additional Features
The Xiaomi Mix Flip comes with a comprehensive set of connectivity options, including 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. It also features dual SIM support, allowing users to manage two phone numbers simultaneously. The inclusion of an under-display fingerprint sensor adds to the device’s sleek design, providing secure and convenient unlocking.
The Mix Flip also excels in the audio department, with stereo speakers that deliver rich and immersive sound. Whether you’re watching videos or listening to music, the audio quality is impressive for a smartphone. Xiaomi has also included a USB Type-C port for charging and data transfer, but unfortunately, there is no 3.5mm headphone jack.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi Mix Flip is a remarkable addition to the foldable smartphone market, offering a compelling combination of design, performance, and functionality. Its dual-display setup, powerful hardware, and versatile camera system make it a standout device. While the foldable form factor still has its challenges, such as the visible crease and higher price point, the Mix Flip addresses these issues admirably.
For users looking for a cutting-edge device that combines the convenience of a smartphone with the versatility of a tablet, the Xiaomi Mix Flip is an excellent choice. It showcases Xiaomi’s commitment to innovation and quality, making it a strong contender in the foldable smartphone arena.