Xiaomi MIX Fold Series: Top Foldable Smartphones of 2023

Xiaomi MIX Fold Series

English Definition

The Xiaomi MIX Fold Series is a lineup of premium foldable smartphones developed and released by Xiaomi Inc., marking the brand’s entry into the high-end foldable device market. Launched as successors to the pioneering MIX series (known for full-screen and ceramic design innovations), the MIX Fold, Fold 2, and Fold 3 feature flexible AMOLED displays, flagship-grade hardware, and Xiaomi’s custom MIUI Fold OS optimized for dual-screen interactions. Targeted at tech enthusiasts and professionals, the series balances innovative foldable design, performance, and multi-tasking capabilities, competing with rivals like Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Huawei Mate X series.

Model Overview & Release Timeline

Model	Release Date	Launch Price (China, 12GB+256GB)	Core Positioning
Xiaomi MIX Fold	April 2021	¥9,999 (~$1,450)	Xiaomi’s first foldable flagship; experimental premium model
Xiaomi MIX Fold 2	August 2022	¥8,999 (~$1,280)	Slimmer, lighter upgrade; focus on daily usability
Xiaomi MIX Fold 3	August 2023	¥8,999 (~$1,280)	Flagship foldable with Leica-tuned cameras and satellite connectivity

Key Specifications by Model

1. Xiaomi MIX Fold (2021)

Category	Details
Display	– Inner Foldable Screen: 8.01-inch 2K+ AMOLED (2480×1860, 380 ppi), 120Hz refresh rate, HDR10+ support- Outer Cover Screen: 6.52-inch FHD+ AMOLED (2520×840, 425 ppi), 90Hz refresh rate- Hinge: U-shaped folding hinge with ceramic coating; supports 0°–180° flexible folding
Processor & Performance	Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 (4nm), Adreno 660 GPU; RAM: 12GB/16GB LPDDR5; Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 3.1
Camera System	– Rear Cameras: 108MP main sensor (f/1.85), 13MP ultra-wide-angle (f/2.4), 8MP periscope telephoto (5x optical zoom, 120x digital zoom)- Front Cameras: 20MP under-display camera (inner screen), 20MP punch-hole camera (outer screen)- Video: 8K 24fps, 4K 60fps recording
Battery & Charging	5020 mAh dual-cell battery; 67W wired fast charging, 50W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging
Build & Design	Unibody ceramic rear panel, stainless steel frame; dimensions (folded): 162.6×74.4×17.2 mm; weight: 317 g; IP53 dust/water resistance
Software	MIUI 12.5 Fold (based on Android 11), optimized for split-screen, floating window, and cross-screen task switching

2. Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 (2022)

Category	Details
Display	– Inner Foldable Screen: 8.02-inch 2K+ AMOLED (2160×1914, 360 ppi), 120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate, HDR10+ support- Outer Cover Screen: 6.56-inch FHD+ AMOLED (2520×1080, 417 ppi), 120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate- Hinge: Titanium alloy hinge with micro-droplet technology; thickness reduced by 30% vs. MIX Fold; supports multi-angle free-stop
Processor & Performance	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm, overclocked), Adreno 730 GPU; RAM: 12GB/16GB LPDDR5; Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 3.1
Camera System	– Rear Cameras: 50MP main sensor (Sony IMX766, f/1.8), 13MP ultra-wide-angle (f/2.2), 8MP periscope telephoto (3.2x optical zoom, 100x digital zoom)- Front Cameras: 20MP under-display camera (inner screen), 20MP punch-hole camera (outer screen)- Video: 4K 60fps, 1080p 120fps recording
Battery & Charging	4500 mAh dual-cell battery; 67W wired fast charging, 50W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging
Build & Design	Glass rear panel (replaced ceramic for weight reduction), aluminum alloy frame; dimensions (folded): 152.3×72.7×11.2 mm; weight: 262 g; IP53 dust/water resistance
Software	MIUI 13 Fold (based on Android 12), upgraded multi-tasking with app pairing and seamless window resizing

3. Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 (2023)

Category	Details
Display	– Inner Foldable Screen: 8.03-inch 2K+ AMOLED (2440×1916, 380 ppi), 120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate, HDR10+ support, Dolby Vision- Outer Cover Screen: 6.56-inch FHD+ AMOLED (2520×1080, 417 ppi), 120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate- Hinge: Titanium alloy hinge with dual-axis design; supports 0°–180° free-stop, 500,000+ fold cycles tested
Processor & Performance	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm), Adreno 740 GPU; RAM: 12GB/16GB LPDDR5X; Storage: 256GB/512GB/1TB UFS 4.0
Camera System	– Rear Cameras: 50MP main sensor (Sony LYT-800, Leica-tuned, f/1.7), 12MP ultra-wide-angle (Leica-tuned, f/2.2), 10MP periscope telephoto (3.2x optical zoom, Leica-tuned, f/2.5), 10MP periscope telephoto (5x optical zoom, Leica-tuned, f/3.0); 192x digital zoom- Front Cameras: 20MP under-display camera (inner screen), 20MP punch-hole camera (outer screen)- Video: 4K 60fps, 1080p 240fps recording; Leica color modes (Vivid, Classic)
Battery & Charging	4820 mAh dual-cell battery; 67W wired fast charging, 50W wireless charging, 10W reverse wireless charging
Build & Design	Glass rear panel (Matte Black/Teal Green), titanium alloy frame; dimensions (folded): 152.3×72.7×10.9 mm; weight: 259 g; IP68 dust/water resistance (major upgrade)
Software	MIUI 14 Fold (based on Android 13), Leica camera UI integration, enhanced multi-tasking with AI-powered app recommendations

Core Innovations of the Series

Hinge Technology Evolution
- The MIX Fold pioneered Xiaomi’s U-shaped ceramic hinge; Fold 2 switched to titanium alloy to reduce weight and thickness; Fold 3 adopted a dual-axis titanium hinge for smoother folding and improved durability (tested for 500,000+ fold cycles).
- All models support multi-angle free-stop, enabling “tent mode” (for video calls) and “laptop mode” (for keyboard and screen separation).
Display Optimization for Foldables
- LTPO adaptive refresh rate (from Fold 2 onwards) balances smoothness and battery life, adjusting from 1Hz to 120Hz based on content.
- The under-display front camera on the inner screen eliminates the notch, delivering a true full-screen experience for media consumption.
Camera Upgrades with Leica Collaboration (Fold 3)
- The MIX Fold 3 was the first in the series to feature Leica-tuned cameras, with dual periscope telephoto lenses for versatile zoom capabilities (3.2x + 5x optical zoom), a first for Xiaomi foldables.
Durability & Water Resistance
- The MIX Fold 3 marked the series’ first IP68 rating, making it resistant to dust and water immersion (up to 1.5 meters for 30 minutes)—a critical improvement for daily use.
MIUI Fold OS Optimization
- Customized for dual-screen interactions, MIUI Fold supports split-screen multitasking, floating windows, app pairing (e.g., opening WeChat and Notes side by side), and seamless task switching between inner and outer screens.

Market Position & Legacy

MIX Fold (2021): A “statement device” to showcase Xiaomi’s foldable technology, but its heavy weight (317 g) and high price limited mass adoption.
MIX Fold 2 (2022): A pivotal upgrade that addressed the first-gen’s flaws with a slimmer, lighter design (262 g), making it viable for daily use and boosting sales significantly.
MIX Fold 3 (2023): Solidified Xiaomi’s position in the foldable market with IP68 resistance, Leica cameras, and satellite connectivity support, competing directly with Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5.
Collectively, the series demonstrated Xiaomi’s rapid iteration in foldable tech, shifting from experimental to user-centric design while maintaining competitive pricing relative to global rivals.

Limitations

Premium Pricing: Despite being cheaper than Samsung’s Z Fold series, the MIX Fold lineup remains out of reach for budget users, targeting only high-end consumers.

Under-Display Camera Quality: The inner screen’s under-display camera still suffers from slightly lower image quality compared to traditional punch-hole cameras, with visible pixelation in some lighting conditions.

Software Ecosystem Gaps: While MIUI Fold is optimized for Xiaomi apps, some third-party apps lack proper foldable adaptation (e.g., stretched interfaces or limited multi-tasking support).