Lately, we have seen many brands from China producing exciting innovations for full-screen device creation. It started from Sharp’s Japanese brand company Sharp Aquos Crystal (2014) and later this “motion” was popularized through Xiaomi Mi MIX (2016). This year alone, we see three models in action to showcase the best concepts, including Vivo NEX (with camera designs manufactured), OPPO Find X (with automated release), and the latest Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 that continues the legacy Full-screen designs indefinitely.
Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 has used the backdrop concept that can be launched upwards, with the placement of front cameras, sensors, and hearing aids in this section. This concept reminds me of the design of the Nokia N95 (2006), which also requires users to launch back upwards to access music and multimedia buttons. I am happy that this kind of design has returned for 2018, to further demonstrate the conceptual design of the full-screen device.
Design
For starters, the Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 comes with high specs, such as the Full HD + 6.39-inch screen with AMOLED panel, Snapdragon 845 chip, 6GB / 8GB / 10GB RAM memory options, and 128GB / 256GB UFS 2.1 internal storage options. It also offers some standard connections such as Wi-Fi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, with 3200 mAh battery capacity.
In terms of design, the backdrop is still built on ceramic materials, along with 7,000- series built-in metal edges. This kind of design is seen as premium but looks easy to trap fingerprint effects. Although it comes with a back-up that can be removed, it’s not thick, but its thickness is almost the same as 8.5mm vs. 8.1mm on Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s. It’s just that I found it a little bit heavy, by weight 218g compared to 191g on the previous Mi MIX model.
Like Mi MIX 2s, Mi MIX 3 also maintains the Qi Wireless Charging function, which allows you to charge this device by placing it on the Qi-based charger pad. But what is interesting is that the 10W based Qi charger is included in the device purchase box which is rarely supplied on most devices. It does not display fingerprint scanner under screen like Mi 8 Pro, by keeping the same fingerprint scanner location on the back.
For designs on the side, it places a power button and a voice adjustment button on the right, while the dual-sim slot is placed on the left. Rather pulling under this sim slot, it puts a virtual assistant activation button, which lets you launch Google Assistant for an international set. Like Mi MIX 2s as well, it does not display 3.5mm audio jack and IR blaster on any part and only offers mono speakers and USB-C connections at the bottom.
Moving to the forefront, among the things that become the topic of buzz to this device is that the backdrop can be removed. It’s built on a magnetic base, so you have to manually raise it instead of Oppo Find X which automatically opens up the device’s upper space. Xiaomi said the division has about 300,000 resilience, or about 8 years if you open this section 100 times a day.
With camera placement in this section, Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 managed to achieve a 93.4% screen-to-body ratio, by shrinking the frame at the bottom of the device screen. Its display comes with a 6.39-inch AMOLED screen size, with Full HD + screen resolution at the 19.5 – 9 ratio. With the use of AMOLED, it provides a brighter color contrast than the LCD IPS, while saving the battery for when there is a dark color display.
In terms of variation, Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 is offered in four different variants, namely 6GB RAM + 128GB, 8GB RAM + 128GB, and 8GB RAM + 256GB. Rather attractive to the highest variation, it offers a memory configuration of as high as 10GB of RAM, with a 10GB RAM + 256GB variation that comes with the edition of The Palace Museum. However, like Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s, it does not offer microSD card slot, but it has received an internal storage upgrade from 64GB to 128GB for the most basic variation.
System
Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 is powered by the MIUI 10 interface, which is the latest MIUI interface iteration built on Android 9.0 Pie operating system. This interface looks very modern and resembles a number of displays present on Android P. Like the previous MIUI, it still looks cheerful and presents a number of theme options that users can download. Its main display still features an application-based display and widget, without app support in place for placing these applications.
Xiaomi also brings some of their own applications to this interface, such as Mi Drop for quick file transfers, and Screen Recorder apps to make it easy for you to take screen recording. Basic applications like Gallery, Weather, and File Manager are also available, as well as make it easy to use these apps directly without the need to download additional applications. With the participation of MIUI 10, you can also enjoy gesture-based controls and new app-exchanged display exchanges.
Performance
In terms of performance, Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 is generated with the same chip used on most devices this year, through the use of the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chip. It features an eight-core chip design, with 4 x Kryo 385 Gold 2.8 GHz + 4 x Kryo 385 Silver 1.7 GHz, with the use of the Adreno 630 GPU. This chip is the fastest chip for the Snapdragon series this year, by allowing users to play a number of recent games like Fornite and PUBG Mobile at the highest graphics setting.
Camera
In terms of depiction, Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 brings dual-camera systems, through Sony IMX363 12MP main sensors (f / 1.8, 1 / 2.55 “, 1.4μm) and 12MP f / 2.4-second sensor to help bokeh. It also comes with a four-axis optical stabilization system (OIS), which is also assisted with the electronic stabilization system (EIS) to minimize tremor when shooting. It is also equipped with LED flashlight and Night Mode function to illuminate the night shooting.
Like Xiaomi Mi 8, it comes with optimization from artificial intelligence (AI), allowing the camera to identify a subject and optimize the contrast and light based on the subject. As an example, if you point your camera towards food, it improves the color of the food that makes it look more attractive. According to DxOMark, the results of the filming are still similar to Mi 8, but now have more precise colors and better image stabilization when recording video.
Xiaomi also features a dual front-front camera system on this Mi MIX 3, featuring a 24MP main sensor and a 2MP second sensor for bokeh production. It brings a bigger improvement than the Xiaomi Mi MIX 2s which only comes with a 5MP sensor. With this hidden camera design designed, if you activate this front-facing camera in a closed state, the camera will tell you to increase this section first before you can continue shooting swafoto.
In terms of functionality, Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 offers video footage as high as 4K@60fps, with 960fps high-speed recording capability. With the Night Mode function that comes with, it allows dimming shooting to be described as seen on the Huawei P20 Pro. The Manual Mode function is also available, providing a number of manual controls such as ISO exchange, focus, white balance, and shutter speed.
Battery
In terms of batteries, Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 brings low battery capacity, with 3200 mAh capacity compared to 3400 mAh on Mi MIX 2s. But with the use of 10nm chips via Snapdragon 845 chips, it is expected to provide all-day use with an old flame screen.
With the capacity of 3200 mAh and Snapdragon 845, it is expected to provide a screen reading (SoT) of about 5 hours for use from morning to evening. It also comes with a Quick Charge 3.0 charger, but you can shorten the charging time of this device by buying a Quick Charge 4+ charger separately.
| Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 | |
| Screen | 6.39 “AMOLED, FHD + Ratio 19.5 – 9, 403 ppi |
| Chipset | Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 |
| CPU | 4 x Kryo 385 Gold 2.8 GHz 4 x Kryo 385 Silver 1.8 GHz |
| GPU | Adreno 630 |
| Memory | 6GB / 8GB / 10GB RAM |
| Storage | 128GB / 256GB UFS 2.1 No microSD slot |
| Main Camera | 12MP f / 1.8 + 12MP f / 2.4 |
| Front Camera | 24MP |
| Connection | WiFi 802.11 a / b / g / n / ac Bluetooth 5.0, NFC A-GPS, GLONASS USB-C |
| System | MIUI 10 Android 9.0 Pie |
| Battery | 3200 mAh, Quick Charge 4+ |
| Dimensions | 157.9 x 74.7 x 8.5 mm |
| Weight & Thickness | 218g, 8.5mm |
Summary
Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 is seen with a huge increase compared to Mi MIX 2s, such as a more comprehensive full-screen design with no thick bottom design. The position of the camera and the sensors have been placed on the backside which can be rolled up, which looks highly innovative versus incremental design. It also now serves the use of AMOLED-based panels, as opposed to the IPS LCD that has been used in the previous three generations of Xiaomi Mi MIX.
The device has also been upgraded with a faster chip via the Snapdragon 845 which is now buoyant with artificial intelligence (AI) tasks. His camera capabilities have also been improved in terms of software support, as well as his front camera received dramatic improvements. But interestingly, it’s now equipped with a larger storage of 128GB even if you choose the most basic configuration.
In terms of sales, Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 is expected to enter the local market as early as November is the near-term for sales in China. The price is still unknown but when looking at prices for the Chinese market, Xiaomi Mi MIX 3 is sold at a price of $475 (~ 416 Euros) for 6GB RAM + 128GB, $518 (~ 454 Euros) for 8GB RAM + 128GB, and $575 (~ 504 Euros) for 8GB RAM + 256GB. For the highest configuration, it comes with the edition of The Palace Museum sold at $719 (~ 630 Euros) for 10GB RAM + 256GB variants.
