Xiaomi’s massive popularity has owed in large to the incredible value for money that their devices provide. Xiaomi are renowned for making high specification smartphones and tech products at incredibly affordable prices, so much so, that they have vowed to never charge more than a 5% margin on their hardware.
The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 has followed in this spirit and is now available from Clove Technology in Onyx Black and Sapphire Blue for £499 including VAT, so head on over to our website to check that out.
But what exactly do you get?
Xiaomi Mi Mix 3, factory sealed
- Power adapter
- Xiaomi wireless charger
- USB Type-C data cable
- Type-C to audio adapter
- Protective cover
- SIM eject tool
- Warranty guide
- User guide
Design and Display
Now first things first, setting the Mi Mix 3 apart from its competition is an innovative magnetic slider that pushes the limits of what’s possible with a screen-to-body ratio on a smartphone.
The back of the device simply slides up, uncovering two front facing cameras that are hidden from sight when not in use. This means that the front of the device can be devoted entirely to the display, offering what is an industry leading 93.4% screen-to-body ratio.
The screen is held in position by magnets to prevent accidental sliding, whilst the slider can also be customised to be used for a number of different purposes. For example, you can answer an incoming call simply by the sliding the screen down, whilst sliding it back up simply hangs up the call.
The display itself is an impressive 6.39-inch Full HD+ display that’s coated in Gorilla Glass 5 to protect from every day bumps and bruises. With a 2340 x 1080-pixel resolution at 403 pixels per inch, colours are bright and vivid, meaning content such as videos look great, particularly with the near bezel-less display. The screen offers up to 600 nits brightness which makes it visible even in direct sunlight, however you can adjust an array of details such as white temperature and colour range within the Mi Mix 3’s settings. There’s also an always-on display function, a blue light filter for night use and support for the reproduction of HDR content.
Now, the slider means that the device is slightly heavier than other phones, coming in at 218g. It’s also thicker than most of its rivals at 8.5mm, however is still easily slim enough to fit in your pocket or use one-handed. This owes in part to the ceramic that curves gracefully around the edges, whilst the combination of ceramic and aluminium provides excellent build quality that feels sturdy and supported.
The rear fingerprint scanner is truly quick and matches the colour of the device, adding to the overall sleek feel and sophistication. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is available from Clove in Onyx Black and Sapphire Black.
- Magnetic slider
- 6.39-inch FullHD+ display
- 93.4% screen-to-body ratio
- 2340 x 1080-pixel resolution
- 403ppi
- 600nits brightness
- Gorilla Glass 5
- Adjustable display settings
- 218g
- 8.5mm thick
- Ceramic and aluminium build
- Onyx Black and Sapphire Blue
Camera
Housed to the rear of the device is a dual lens setup that takes some very impressive pictures. The rear camera consists of a primary 12MP lens that features an f/1.8 aperture, dual-pixel autofocus and optical image stabilisation to help against blur or judder. The secondary lens is a 12MP telephoto lens with an f/2.4 aperture which also provides 2x optical zoom.
So clearly, the hardware is very impressive, but so is the Mi Mix 3’s software. The AI settings have been very good in the time we’ve had the device, and can recognise 27 different categories, automatically adjusting settings to give you the best shot in a given situation. Many AI filters that we have used have often been very saturated, losing their authenticity, but we didn’t notice that with the Mi Max 3.
Alongside this, the device also comes with night mode which we’ve been particularly impressed with, as well as Portrait Mode, which also gives you the option to adjust the level of blur in the background after taking an image. HDR mode is turned off my default, however when activated, really brightens darker areas for an impressive result.
Now, hiding in that magnetic slider are dual front-facing cameras that take some of the best selfies that we’ve seen in the last few weeks. The primary 24MP lens utilises a high-quality Sony lens, whilst the secondary lens is a dedicated DOF camera, detecting depth for bokeh effect both in photos and in videos. Again, AI software is used to provide precise analysis of your scene, considering depth and lighting, before automatically adjusting the camera to its most suitable settings. What’s more, you can add some fun portrait features after you’ve taken a photo, including adjusting background blur and studio light streaks. Simply slide the screen down at any point to take a selfie.
Dual rear camera
- Primary 12MP lens with f/1.8 aperture, dual-pixel autofocus and OIS
- Secondary 12MP telephoto lens with f/2.4 aperture and 2x optical zoom
- AI technology distinguishes 27 categories
- Dual front camera
- Primary 24MP Sony lens
- Secondary DOF lens
Performance
For all this fancy software, you’re going to need a reliable chipset, and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 845 processor, complimented perfectly by 128GB of internal storage and 6GB of RAM.
The battery is a respectable 3200mAh which can last a full day happily, even if streaming videos or gaming. The device also supports Quick Charge 4.0 via an 18W fast-charging wired USB-C adapter which Xiaomi claims powers the device up to over 50% charge after just half an hour and back to 100% in under 90 minutes. If this isn’t enough, then the Mi Mix 3 is compatible with Qi wireless charging standards and a 10W wireless charging pad is actually supplied in the box which is a great addition.
As with all Xiaomi devices, the Mi Mix 3 is a dual SIM device and supports two Nano SIM cards, however there isn’t space for a microSD expansion. Fortunately, 128GB of internal memory is enough for most. There is no IP rating or 3.5mm headphone jack, but there is an adapter packaged in the box.
- Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 processor
- 128GB internal storage and 6GB RAM
- 3200mAh battery
- Quick Charge 4.0 support
- Wireless charging enabled
- Dual SIM; two Nano-SIMs
- No IP rating
At under £500, Xiaomi have once again delivered on their promise to provide high specification smartphones at very affordable prices and we’ve been really impressed with the Mi Mix 3 here at Clove. Whilst the magnetic slider might not be for everyone, it’s been very quick to become accustomed to for us and provides the device with a genuinely stunning display, that really comes into its own whilst watching videos or gaming.