Smartphone companies are announcing their new foldable flagship devices left and right. On August 10, Samsung unveiled the new Galaxy Z Fold 4 and the Galaxy Z Flip 4. Motorola also unveiled the new RAZR 2022 flip phone and Xiaomi unveiled its latest Mix Fold 2 foldable device.
In my last post I explained: why I can justify spending $1,799.99 on the latest Galaxy Z Fold 4. Suppose you have seen the specifications and technology in the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2. In that case, you might have been tempted to pick that up as it seems to be better than Samsung’s latest offering.
Before we get ahead of things, here’s a quick rundown of the specs of the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2. The device shares the same foldable form factor as the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and sports a 6.52-inch AMOLED cover display with a 120 refresh rate. Hz and a comfortable 21:9 aspect ratio – which is even closer to a traditional smartphone than the Fold 4. The inner screen measures 8.02 inches and it is an LTPO 2.0 OLED display that supports 120 Hz adaptive refresh rate with HDR10+, Dolby Vision , and 1,300 nits of peak brightness. The screen also features UTG (Ultra Thin Glass) technology, like previous foldables, and it can be folded flat, unlike the Galaxy Fold 4.
The phone measures 5.4mm when unfolded and just 11.2mm when folded. In comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Fold 4 measures 6.3 mm and 15.8 mm respectively. The Mix Fold 2 is much closer to a traditional smartphone with a solid battery, while the Galaxy is still a bit of a brick.
The phone is powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipset, paired with 12GB of RAM and 256/512GB and 1TB of storage, the same as the Fold 4. The camera department is also quite well known as the Mix Fold 2 is a has a comparable 50 MP , IMX766, f/1.8 sensor, in addition to an 8 MP f/2.6 telephoto with 2x optical zoom and a 13 MP f/2.4 ultra wide-angle lens. In addition, Xiaomi also worked with Leica to optimize the camera sensors, and there are additional filters to get a complete Leica look when shooting photos. The device does not have a camera below the display or a selfie camera on the inner display, but has a 20 MP selfie camera on the cover display.
The last, but notable difference is in the battery department. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 has 100 mAh more than the Fold 4, which is relatively small at 4,500 mAh. However, the Xiaomi device supports fast 67W wired charging, which can charge the device from 0 to 100% in just 40 minutes. The Fold 4 can go from 0-50% in just 30 minutes using its 25W charging technology. The downside is that the Mix Fold 2 doesn’t support wireless charging or reverse wireless charging, which could be a deal breaker for many, including myself.
Why I like the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 . would buy, or at least consider buying
As a lover of foldable smartphones, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 is very attractive. It has a larger cover display and inner screen and the latest and greatest chip on the market. Hopefully it has a decent camera setup and a battery that lasts and charges quickly. All of this can be yours for about CNY 8,999 (~ 1,335) for the 12/256 GB model, which is significantly less than what Samsung is charging. For reference, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at $1,799.99.
I see that the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 appeals to a lot of people, and the price alone makes it a worthy competitor, although it remains to be seen how much it will cost outside of China with the fees and taxes included.
The main reason I would buy the Mix Fold 2 over the Galaxy Fold 4 is to save money and space in my pocket. I’ve used the Galaxy Z Fold 3 for the past year, and while I love the device, it’s fair to say it’s a big brick, and if you’re not used to the heavy weight and bulky form factor, you can it quickly become painful to carry it around.
Assuming wireless charging and water-repellent properties aren’t important to me, I wouldn’t hesitate to buy the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 right away. It contains everything most users want, and I saw myself enjoying it. Xiaomi is also great at taking pictures and making the most of the battery, thanks to their optimization techniques, making sure I would be a happy Mix Fold 2 user.
Reasons to buy the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 outside of Asia
The main reason for opting against the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 comes down to a few features that the company had to sacrifice in order to save space and money in the production of the device. The foldable has no IP rating. While it can survive a bit of splash water damage, it’s unlikely to survive a full submersion – this isn’t a deal breaker for me as I don’t use my devices at the beach or pool. Still, it is essential for securing and protecting a rather expensive investment.
Second, the fact that it doesn’t support wireless charging is a deal breaker for me, as I always charge my devices at my desk during the day, as well as while driving and navigating.
Its affordable price tag is also worth considering as Xiaomi may not make it officially available in most regions and support may be limited or limited. For those who live in Asia it’s an excellent option, but for those of us who live in Europe and North America it might be better to go for a more expensive foldable that has better overall software and hardware support and also the extra contains functions.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4
The latest Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 comes with the most powerful Qualcomm SoC, a wider screen, a better hinge mechanism and many significant upgrades over its predecessor. You can pre-order it now and get the Standing Cover with S Pen, up to $1,000 off with eligible trade-in, and up to $100 in Samsung credit.