Start the introduction of the review with a short play from two colleagues who ask is this the thinnest and lightest device I've ever held? Jokingly I replied it was arguably one of the thinnest but not lightest devices ever held. Personally, the Huawei Mate X3 and Honor Magic V2 are the lightest foldable screen devices I've ever held.
Even so, I am still satisfied with Xiaomi's third-generation foldable device and praise must be given for the improvements that have been made. Here I share the experience of using the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 as a daily device for a short time.
Specifications
Xiaomi MIX Fold 3
External Screen – 6.56″ AMOLED 1080 x 2520 pixels,
120Hz, Dolby Vision
In – 8.03″ LTPO OLED+ 1916 x 2160 pixels,
120Hz, Dolby Vision
Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 Leading Edition processor (4nm)
1x 3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 chip
2x 2.8 GHz Cortex-A715
2x 2.8 GHz Cortex-A710
3x 2.0 GHz Cortex-A510
Adreno 740 Graphics Chip
RAM 12/16 Gigabyte LPDDR5X
Internal Storage 256/512/1000 GB UFS 4.0
Primary Camera 50 MP, f/1.77, OIS (Wide Angle)
12 MP, f/2.2 (Ultra Wide Angle)
10 MP, f/2.0 (Telephoto) 3.2x Optical Zoom
10 MP, f/2.92 (Telephoto)
Leica
Front Camera 20 Megapixel f/2.3
4800 mAh battery
67W wired charging
SIM/Telephony Dual SIM Nano /5G
NFC Yes
Infrared None
Waterproof None
Fingerprint Scan System on the side
Sale Price RM5631* (12/256 GB)
RM6257* (16/512 GB)
RM6883* (16/1000 GB)
*= foreign currency
Design And Screen
Here Xiaomi still maintains the same book-like foldable screen design as the previous two generations. It can be opened to display an 8.03-inch LTPO OLED screen which is not much different from the 8.02-inch size used on the Mix Fold 2. The size of the secondary screen, however, is still maintained at 6.56-inch AMOLED without an LTPO panel and with a 21:9 ratio that can used for various things.
The size of the bezel can be said to be thin on both screens which also support adaptive refresh rates with three options available through the settings space which include automatic, 60Hz or 120Hz. Also supported on the screen is the Dolby Vision feature which allows a better viewing experience to be enjoyed with colors that really stand out. As an option, users are also given several built-in filter options including Nostalgic and B&W which can be found through the built-in Video toolbox feature.
Next, the hinge of the device is also streamlined with a size 17% smaller than before. At the same time also supports the ability to open the screen at various angles up to 145 degrees. This at the same time allows the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 to be used in Hover Mode, which in simple language is Xiaomi's version of the Flex Mode feature for some things such as camera applications or video playback on YouTube.
The power button and audio controls are placed on the right side of the device. Also supported is a side fingerprint scanner built into the power button. The performance is satisfactory with the ability to unlock the device in a short time. Next, the opposite side houses the SIM slot space without micro SD card capability.
Complementing it are stereo speakers, with an audio grid on the top of the screen. Meanwhile another grille points down which is placed along with the USB-C port connection. The audio felt less balanced with better throw through the bottom speakers due to the large grille. However, judging in general, the performance of the speaker on this device is still at a satisfactory level with the audio output being quite clear.
Usage Experience
Personally, I prefer using this phone with the screen open rather than folded, especially when replying to messages or playing games. The experience of opening and closing the device also feels good without any strange sounds. According to Xiaomi, the device can work well up to 500,000 times in total.
If it is followed, there is no problem to use the external screen, but it feels more satisfying when this screen is open. The situation is caused by the ratio of the front screen being too high, making a page appear too elongated, at the same time the typing process also feels awkward.
However I have to give kudos for the visual presentation of this device which is absolutely beautiful overall. Details are clear enough with color processing that is also lively with really dark blacks. Apart from that, the scrolling experience also feels smooth on the 120Hz screen setting.
It's just that when the finger starts to touch the center there is still a dent that exists, but I can consider it normal for this segment of device. Then Netflix that is downloaded as a sideload can also be played on FHD, and YouTube also plays HDR well.
But unfortunately slowly I also have to say the weakness here. For everyone's knowledge, this device is not waterproof at all, which can be considered a very disappointing thing. This is said because it is the most important feature that is the focus of a number of large manufacturers such as Samsung and Huawei. At the same time, it provides additional attractive value to the device, especially for long-term use.
The next drawback lies in the lack of built-in stylus support which may not be a bug for some users. But personally I see this as serious and quite detrimental to this device itself which is generally attractive in several aspects. Anyway, my hope is that the new generation of Xiaomi foldable screen phones can support the stylus.
Software And Benchmarks
The next improvement is of course in the performance department. Through it the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip is used, which is also equipped with a memory of 12GB RAM based on LPDDR5 and 256GB internal storage. No microSD card support is provided but the device supports the Memory Extension feature with the option of adding up to 7GB of RAM virtual memory. This at the same time makes the device have up to 19GB of RAM to allow more applications to be launched simultaneously.
This can actually be proven through my experience of using it in the real world. Although it is quite short, but in general I am very satisfied with the performance of this Xiaomi phone. No chronic problems were found in my daily use, including for the process of downloading and opening applications that did not take long. In the meantime, the problem of a device or application that fails to work does not happen at all.
AnTuTu 3D
Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 – 1,511,456
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 – 1,597,608
OnePlus 11 – 1,248,004
Xperia 1 V – 1,234,059
Geekbench 6
Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 – 1912/5111
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 – 1948/5373
OnePlus 11 – 1204/4366
Xperia 1 V – 1902/5244
3DMark Wild Life Extreme
Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 – Unable to test
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 – 2929
OnePlus 11 – 3,682
Xperia 1 V – 3,599
It's even more fun when various games can also be played with satisfactory graphics quality. It not only provides a smooth experience but also smooth throughout the game session. Sharing about the actual temperature, the device does feel hot for long gaming sessions but not to the point where it's uncomfortable to hold. The overheat issue only occurs while the benchmark test is running which can cause a notification to appear saying the device can be used normally after the temperature drops.
Moving on to software, the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 runs MIUI 14 based on Android 13, which in particular is MIUI Fold 14 optimized for the foldable screen. The Chinese version of MIUI that is used also makes the device generally work quite well with a very smooth, fast and fun to use experience compared to the Global version of MIUI.
The combination of minimalistic and cheerful icons has also added value to this device itself. At the same time, special settings also gather various interesting functions and features in one place such as Floating Windows, After Folding, Wallpapers for Foldable Devices, Game Layouts and others.
Camera And Picture Quality
The camera system used consists of wide-angle, ultra-wide-angle, telephoto and periscope telephoto lenses, which also support built-in OIS. The picture capture option can be taken at a ratio of 1:1, 4:3, 16:9 and full. Zoom capabilities are up to 5X optical and 50X digital.
Maximum video recording can be recorded up to 8K/24FPS with two built-in stabilization either standard or pro. Then followed by an interesting built-in function that also allows the camera to be used as a portable teleprompter. It can not only display the script on the screen, but can also change the size of the text and the speed of the movement time.
Here I include some photos taken using the device for viewing together. Most of the photos taken show very good results. The picture taken is very sharp, with good focus. Vivid HDR and details preserved.
At the same time the camera is also able to do a good job of balancing extreme contrast in bright light sources. Even so, I noticed a change in color tone can be seen for photos taken by Leica Vibrant Mode which looks more natural, while Leica Authentic Mode makes the colors slightly saturated.
Leica Vibrant Mode
Leica Authentic Mode
The same thing happens when used with night mode, where some areas become darker than usual. This weakness continues with the results of night photos which are actually not as sharp as photos taken in bright lighting.
Another weakness lies in the portrait mode which is seen to give less neat results, but the Leica mode is still trying to fix it even though it is not perfect. Next, it should also be shared that the telephoto camera is able to offer sharp images up to 30X and the rest of the image will start to become soft.
Battery Endurance
The 4,800mAh battery that is used may not be the biggest for this device segment. But it can still be sufficient for use throughout the day. However, this durability still depends on how each one is used. For example my experience with the 120Hz screen activated all the time this phone can last up to 15 to 18 hours for normal use. But it drops to between 8 and 10 hours for frequent use.
The charging system is only 67W which is not the fastest, but still sufficient with a full charging time between 40 to 50 minutes. The charging head is also provided directly in the box, making it easier and more economical for users. But another factor that is one of the big attractions is the support of wireless charging with an output power of 50W. But I didn't have a chance to try it specifically.
What's In The Box
Here's what comes with every device purchase in China.
1x Xiaomi MIX Fold 3.
1x USB-A to USB-C charging cable.
1x 67W Charger.
1x User Manual.
1x Hard Frame.
1x SIM Pin.
Conclusion
Overall and in conclusion it can be said that the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 is an almost perfect device after the Huawei Mate X3. Putting myself still lacking in experience in making reviews for such devices makes me still not able to classify which one is perfect for now. But all the improvements provided by Xiaomi for this time are completely interesting, and managed to make me satisfied with it as well.
This also clearly shows that Xiaomi is really committed to providing something that can be used as an attractive alternative by today's users. It's just that a number of issues such as no waterproofing and built-in stylus support may be among the new additions to the upcoming device. Almost perfect anyway, a thousand times a pity this device is not officially offered in Malaysia.
PRO
Neat design.
Quad-camera with Leica lens.
Visual presentation is beautiful and satisfying.
Satisfactory performance with no chronic issues.
The folds are still there but not obvious.
CONS
The camera has an inconsistent autofocus problem.
Heating problems occur, especially during benchmark tests.
MIUI for Fold is not mature enough for a folding phone.
Not sold in Malaysia.
Not waterproof.