Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, Xiaomi’s next-gen folding smartphone and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 rival will officially launch on August 14. The company claims its upcoming flagship device features a sleek design with Leica-tuned cameras. The phone comes weeks after Samsung unveiled Galaxy Z Fold 5 and before the expected launch of the Oppo Find N3. In the coming weeks, OnePlus is also expected to launch its first folding phone, dubbed OnePlus Fold.

Speaking about the smartphone, Xiaomi President and co-founder, Lei Jun said in an X (formerly Twitter) post that the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 would ensure that there are no shortcomings in terms of features. He adds, “When it comes to foldable phones, being slim and lightweight is not enough. What really matters is ensuring that the product features have no shortcomings. This is what will shape the future of foldable phones. Our new offering, Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, defines a new standard for foldable display.”

Unlike the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and the old-gen Xiaomi Mix Fold 2, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 carries quad cameras on the back. According to the official photos available on its social media channels, there’s going be a periscope-style camera for better zooming capabilities. The camera system may also include a 1-inch wide camera, an ultra-wide camera, and a telephoto camera. As mentioned, the cameras are tuned by Leica, which we have also seen on other Xiaomi devices, including Xiaomi 13 Pro and Xiaomi 12S Ultra.

Based on the photos, the phone boasts a black colour option and a sleek design. There’s also going to be a variant with a gold finish. The camera module also has a significant bump, likely due to the 1-inch camera sensor on the back.

Xiaomi may also consider adopting a teardrop-style hinge mechanism, similar to what we’ve seen on the Motorola Razr 40 series and the Galaxy Z Fold 5. This upgraded hinge mechanism enables the two screens to close tightly, preventing the entry of dust particles. Additionally, this design is expected to offer more effective water resistance. However, the teardrop-style hinge may not significantly reduce the crease between the two display panels.

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 may draw power from Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and support over 100W charging.

While the Xiaomi President notes that the upcoming Mix Fold 3 boasts a sleek design, the Mix Fold 2 is already one of the slimmest folding phones on the market. It measures 11.2mm when closed versus the 13.4mm thickness of the Galaxy Z Fold 5. The Pixel Fold measures 12.1mm when folded.

However, the wide availability of the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 might be a concern among fans. Similar to previous Xiaomi Mix Fold phones, the new iteration will likely be limited to the Chinese market. Currently, Samsung and Tecno offer notebook-like folding phones in India. OnePlus is expected to launch the OnePlus Open for under Rs 1.2 lakh in the country.