As a solid No. 3 behind Samsung and Apple, Xiaomi has decided not to market its folding smartphones in France. But that didn’t stop us from getting our hands on it the Mix Fold 3, announced in August 2023 in China.

Since this is an imported Chinese model, it is impossible to publish a review worthy of the name. That’s why we deliver to you Our impressions after several weeks of use.

The strengths of the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

Its first class design

The Mix Fold 3 doesn’t reinvent the foldable smartphone, but it stands out for its careful design. Not quite at the level of the OnePlus Open (and therefore still less than the Honor Magic V2), it remains a foldable smartphone that is much more pleasant to use Samsung’s latest Galaxy Z Fold5.

One of his strengths is First, let’s highlight its subtlety (only 11 mm compared to 13.5 mm for Samsung) and its weight (only 256g). Like the OnePlus Open, the Mix Fold 3 is a real smartphone that you can use with undisguised joy.

On the back, the artificial leather cover makes it easier to grip and enhances the high-quality look of the device. The rectangular photo module is impressive, but fits perfectly into the whole.

Xiaomi explains that it has revised its hinge. It is more robust and can withstand up to 500,000 open/close cycles, half as many as the OnePlus Open. Most importantly, the screen can get stuck at a very specific angle without the phone closing.

Two great screens, but…

To indicate The Mix Fold 3 can also count on its two great screens. Externally, Xiaomi uses a 6.56” OLED panel with Full HD resolution and a refresh rate of 120 Hz. The manufacturer has primarily opted for a 21:9 format, which makes the experience much more similar to that of a classic smartphone comes closer.

For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5 displays a 23:9 aspect ratio, which is longer than it is wide, making operations (including entering text) more complex. So no finger gymnastics with this Mix Fold 3, We use a real smartphone. However, daily use is more comfortable than with its Korean competitor slightly less than the OnePlus Opena little wider.

Above all, OnePlus has managed to fix one major flaw that Xiaomi unfortunately couldn’t get under control: the Fold. While it’s almost invisible on the OnePlus Open, We see and feel it in our daily use of the Mix Fold 3.

This is all the more unfortunate because… The internal screen is a real success. With a diagonal of 8”, it displays content in QHD with a refresh rate of 120 Hz and excellent brightness. The calibration is also perfectly controlled. The frustration is therefore even greater.

His Leica camera

If there’s one area where foldable smartphones fall short, it’s photography. Apart from the OnePlus Open and its impressive Hasselblad module, no manufacturer was really able to convince.

With the Mix Fold 3, Xiaomi can position itself as a serious competitor to OnePlus. Thanks to powerful (50 + 12 + 12 + 10 MP) and versatile photographic equipment (wide angle, ultra wide angle, x3.2 telephoto lens and x5 telephoto lens) combined with Leica’s know-how, The Mix Fold 3 stands out as an excellent camera phone.

Without reaching the level of an iPhone 15 Pro Max, a Galaxy S23 Ultra or a Pixel 8 Pro, it has its place among the references. Especially for lovers of the Leica signature, which is characterized by photos with more saturated colors and stronger contrasts.

The Mix Fold 3 impresses with all exercises, with the exception of the slightly disappointing macro mode and slightly less detailed night photos than the competition. However, the choice between two telephoto lenses with optical zoom provides more variety.

Despite some minor defects The Mix Fold 3’s camera remains one of its biggest strengths. If we had to position it in comparison to its competitors, we would say that it is more attractive than the Galaxy Z Fold5, but a little less than the OnePlus Open, unless you have a particular fondness for Leica.

Our reservations about the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

Since we are using a device imported from China, it is difficult to assess the real autonomy of the Mix Fold 3. The reason is very simple: we did not use it like our normal smartphone due to its lack of compatibility with many other applications and services (such as those from Google, for example). We also cannot say anything about usage over time, reliability or quality of the software, as all of these points are closely linked to the user interface and daily use.

In conclusion, the Mix Fold 3 may be convincing, but you can only really judge a product once its price is known in order to be able to put it into perspective on the market. Since it is not available in France, it is impossible to give a clear opinion on this Mix Fold 3.

The fact is that in the few days we have used it we have been able to see its strengths (design, screens, performance, cameras) and also express some reservations (visible crease, what about the autonomy?).

And to conclude that even if these elements received all our praise, this Mix Fold 3 would not reach the level of excellence of the OnePlus Open, a real revelation in the foldable smartphone market. Wait the Honor Magic V2, which impressed us at the IFA in BerlinPublication is scheduled for January 2024.