Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 Review: Ultra-Slim Design, High-End Leica Camera, Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Chip

After a period since the launch in the Chinese market, Xiaomi MIX Fold 3, the new foldable phone from Xiaomi, has received numerous positive reviews from the user community. What's new in the design of Xiaomi MIX Fold 3? How does the Leica camera on Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 capture stunning images? How does Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 perform in terms of power? What is the price of Xiaomi MIX Fold 3? Let's review Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 to delve into more details about this product!

Note: This article includes content and images referenced from the YouTube channel Gizmochina and the PingWest website.

Check out: Explore Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 with this teardown video

Xiaomi MIX Fold 3: Slim and Light Design, Elegant Appearance

Looking at the overall exterior, Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 doesn't exhibit significant differences compared to its predecessor, Xiaomi MIX Fold 2. However, upon closer inspection, one can notice that the steel frame of the device has been squared off compared to the predecessor, maintaining soft curves at the edges for comfortable and secure grip.

Furthermore, thanks to the new frame design, Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 has become thinner than its predecessor, measuring only 5.26 mm when unfolded and 10.96 mm when folded. When folded, Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 has dimensions similar to Xiaomi 13 Ultra but is slightly thicker and heavier (259 grams).

Turning to the back, this area of Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 has a gently curved design, providing a comfortable and ergonomic grip. Notably, the device's back is crafted from glass (or leather depending on the color variant), adorned with a stylish criss-cross pattern, enhancing the overall luxurious look.

However, the highlight of the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 design is the large rectangular camera module horizontally positioned on the back. While this design may not differ significantly from the previous generation, Xiaomi MIX Fold 3's camera module is larger and incorporates more sensors, showcasing Xiaomi's emphasis on the photographic capabilities of the device, especially in collaboration with the Leica camera brand.

Despite its slim and lightweight profile, Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 becomes more durable than its predecessor, thanks to the use of stainless steel and toughened glass, providing better resistance to external forces. Moreover, the hinge area has been innovatively enhanced, not only increasing the folding lifespan but also allowing the device to fold and unfold at various angles with flexibility.

On the front, Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 features an outer screen equipped with Gorilla Glass Victus+ for high durability, ensuring worry-free usage. Additionally, the device utilizes a 6.56-inch AMOLED display with 2K resolution, 120Hz refresh rate, and a 21:9 aspect ratio, delivering an excellent experience for watching movies, browsing the web, playing games, etc., comparable to the larger inner screen. Notably, this screen's brightness reaches up to 1,300 nits, enabling comfortable usage in various lighting conditions.

When unfolded, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3's foldable screen measures 8.03 inches, utilizing the Pol-less Plus display (a new type produced by Xiaomi) with a resolution of up to 2K+ (2,160 x 1,914 pixels). It excellently caters to your work and entertainment needs with vivid, sharp images similar to a small-sized tablet. Additionally, the device's foldable screen features a 120Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth experiences in entertainment activities such as web browsing and gaming.

Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 Leica camera delivers vibrant image quality

In terms of photography capabilities, Xiaomi collaborates with the renowned Leica lens brand to equip the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 with an advanced camera system, boasting the following specifications:

• Main Leica Camera: 50 MP resolution, f/1.77 aperture, 23 mm focal length, OIS stabilization.
• Ultra-wide-angle Camera: 12 MP resolution, f/2.2 aperture, 15 mm focal length.
• Telephoto Camera: 10 MP resolution, f/2.0 aperture, 75 mm focal length, OIS stabilization.
• Leica Telephoto: 10 MP resolution, f/2.92 aperture, 115 mm focal length, OIS stabilization.
• Selfie Camera: 20 MP.

Similar to the Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 carries a quad-camera setup at the rear, ranging from a 15 mm wide-angle lens to a 115 mm telephoto lens. However, when comparing technical specifications, the foldable phone has some limitations in terms of size and sensor resolution. Nevertheless, the camera setup of the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 still produces high-quality photos, thanks to Leica's characteristic image processing algorithms and color rendering.

Similar to previous Xiaomi phones collaborating with Leica, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 still offers two main color modes: Leica Vibrant and Leica Authentic, providing diverse shooting experiences. Leica Authentic produces authentic, uncomplicated images, resembling a natural human perspective. In contrast, Leica Vibrant enhances colors to add visual highlights.

When capturing scenes with high contrast, the camera system of Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 effectively balances the image, preserving details in both bright and dark areas with appropriate contrast. This helps avoid color imbalance caused by excessive brightness in photos.

For close-up shots, Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 produces outstanding results when provided with sufficient light. Details on objects are vivid, and the bokeh effect is well-handled. Taking the example of capturing a fabric flower, Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 effectively highlights the texture with subtle peripheral blur, and the flower's shadow adds contrast against the bright background, creating a realistic feel.

However, in some cases, the bokeh and white balance of Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 may be slightly inaccurate. While this might not significantly impact users with lower demands on image quality, those seeking better results may find the need for adjustments during post-processing.

While the telephoto camera of Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 may not boast an impressive resolution, the device still captures beautiful photos in low light conditions, showcasing clear details and vivid colors. Having two telephoto lenses on a foldable phone is indeed a notable achievement.

When taking portrait photos with Xiaomi MIX Fold 3, users can leverage various functions of the phone for photography. Specifically, you can use the external screen as a viewfinder for the rear camera when taking selfies. Additionally, placing the phone on a table and folding it halfway increases flexibility during photography.

Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 features a powerful configuration with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2

Before diving into details, let's overview some key specifications of Xiaomi MIX Fold 3!

• Main Display: 8.02 inches, Pol-less Plus panel, 2K+ resolution, 120 Hz refresh rate, brightness 2,600 nits.
• Secondary Display: 6.56 inches, AMOLED panel, 120 Hz refresh rate, brightness 1,300 nits.
• CPU: Snapdragon 8 Gen 2.
• RAM: 12 GB or 16 GB.
• Internal Storage: 256 GB, 512 GB, or 1 TB.
• Rear Cameras: 50 MP + 12 MP + 10 MP + 10 MP.
• Selfie Camera (External Display): 20 MP.
• Battery: 4,800 mAh, 67 W fast charging.
• Operating System: MIUI 14 - Android 13.

Explore more: Learn about Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip and other powerful processors by Qualcomm.

In terms of performance, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 is equipped with the powerhouse Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip from Qualcomm. Currently, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 remains the most potent processor for smartphones, featuring an 8-core CPU built on TSMC's advanced 4nm process. After nearly a year since its launch, it continues to receive positive reviews from users. With the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 effortlessly meets all your work and entertainment demands.

Furthermore, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 is equipped with a whopping 16 GB of RAM, ensuring efficient multitasking without concerns about lag. Additionally, the device offers an enormous 1 TB of internal storage, providing ample space for high-quality apps, movies, and images.

To delve deeper into the performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip on the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3, Gizmochina's YouTube channel reviewer utilized benchmarking software, including GeekBench 5, Antutu, and 3DMark Wild Life. The device exhibited impressive results with 1,522 single-core and 4,762 multi-core scores in GeekBench 5, an overall performance score of 1,550,538 points on Antutu, and 3,915 points in 3DMark Wild Life graphics performance.

Additionally, the author tested the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 by playing the game Genshin Impact at the highest graphics settings. The device performed well, delivering a relatively smooth gaming experience with frame rates consistently ranging between 48 to 52 FPS. For the best visual experience, users are advised to play the game with the device unfolded.

However, after a prolonged period of intensive operation, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 tends to heat up significantly in the area near the rear camera, reaching temperatures of up to 49 degrees Celsius, and the battery life is noticeably reduced.

Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 with a 4,800 mAh battery for reliable usage

In addition to its robust performance and impressive camera, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 is equipped with a 4,800 mAh battery, an average capacity that can provide decent usage time while still maintaining a slim and lightweight design. According to Gizmochina's evaluation, after approximately one hour of usage, involving tasks such as TikTok browsing (30 minutes), playing PUBG Mobile (20 minutes), Genshin Impact gaming (20 minutes), and streaming 1080p video (30 minutes in the unfolded state), the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 consumes power moderately and still retains 73% battery capacity for use throughout the day.

Moreover, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 is equipped with fast charging capabilities at 67 W, similar to its predecessor, ensuring users can quickly recharge the 4,800 mAh battery, avoiding disruptions to work or entertainment. In real-world usage, the device only takes about 100 minutes to fully charge the 4,800 mAh battery.

Conclusion

Summing up, if you're in need of a slim, elegant foldable smartphone with powerful performance that can handle all tasks effectively, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 is the most suitable choice. Currently, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 is available in the Chinese market with the following price points:

• 12 GB RAM, 256 GB internal storage variant priced at 8,999 Chinese Yuan (approximately 29.5 million VND).
• 16 GB RAM, 512 GB internal storage variant priced at 9,999 Chinese Yuan (approximately 32.8 million VND).
• 16 GB RAM, 1 TB internal storage variant priced at 10,999 Chinese Yuan (approximately 36 million VND).

So, what are your thoughts on Xiaomi's third-generation foldable phone? Leave your comments below to share with everyone! Thank you for taking the time to read my article.

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