Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 review
The Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 4 is an impressive device that packs a big battery, wireless charging, and four cameras into a remarkably thin body, measuring less than 5mm in thickness. This feat is unprecedented among affordable phones, making it the best option for those who value portability. While the phone's features are similar to most flagship devices, its unique design makes it stand out. The camera module bulges out slightly, and the tightly shot hinge and rounded frame make it slippery to hold. However, the creases on the screen may be a turn-off for some users. The Mi Mix Fold 4's processor is still the Snapdragon Agent 3, which performs decently but not exceptionally well in gaming tasks due to heat dissipation issues. The camera setup is improved with a higher-quality standard lens and support for in-sensor Zoom, but lacks optical image stabilization, making night photography less reliable. The phone's battery life has been improved, but charging speed hasn't kept pace with the increased capacity. While it's not a significant upgrade over its predecessor, the Mi Mix Fold 4 remains an excellent option for those who value weight and thickness. Its price point is still competitive, making it a great choice for most users. Ultimately, the Mi Mix Fold 4 is a solid device that excels in specific areas, such as portability and camera quality. While it may not be a revolutionary upgrade, its unique design and improved features make it worth considering for those who prioritize these aspects.
Build Quality and Design
The Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold 4 boasts an impressive build quality and design that sets it apart from its competitors. One of the standout features is its stunning thinness, measuring less than 5mm in thickness. This makes it one of the thinnest phones available in the market today. The phone's body is expertly crafted to fit four cameras into a remarkably small space without any bulging or protrusions. The camera module may seem like a compromise on aesthetics, but the benefits far outweigh any potential drawbacks. The Mi Mix Fold 4's design also allows for seamless wireless charging and a big battery that can keep up with demanding users. One notable aspect of the phone's build quality is its exceptional lightness, making it easy to carry around in your pocket or purse. However, this comes at a cost – the tightly shot hinge and rounded frame make the device incredibly slippery to hold onto. This can lead to dropped phones if not handled carefully. The creases on the Mi Mix Fold 4 are another point of contention for some users. While they may be barely noticeable in everyday use, they become more apparent when looking at the phone sideways. Fortunately, the hinge material and craft have been upgraded, making it easier to open and close the device smoothly. The outer screen is protected by Xiaomi's latest Dragon ceramic guard glass, which offers excellent durability and scratch resistance. The protective glass on both screens works well together, providing a seamless user experience. Overall, the Mi Mix Fold 4's build quality and design are exceptional in their own right. While some may find the creases and slippery surface to be drawbacks, others will appreciate the phone's premium feel and cutting-edge technology. If you value a lightweight and compact device that still packs plenty of features, the Mi Mix Fold 4 is certainly worth considering.
Battery Life
One of the most touted features of the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 is its improved battery life. With an increased capacity and the same wide charging power of 67W, it's expected to be a significant upgrade over its predecessor. Unfortunately, my experience with the phone suggests that this might not entirely live up to expectations. While the battery life has indeed been improved, I found myself still needing to charge twice a day when using the inner screen frequently. This is still a respectable performance, but not quite as impressive as I had hoped. The reason for this, in my opinion, lies in the fact that the charging speed doesn't seem as good as the Mix Fold 3's due to the slightly larger battery. Despite this, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4's battery life is still commendable, especially considering its thickness and weight are now among the thinnest and lightest in the world. However, for those who use their phone extensively throughout the day, a single charge might not be enough, even with the improved battery capacity. Overall, while the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4's battery life is a nice upgrade over its predecessor, it falls short of being exceptional. Nevertheless, it remains a solid option for most users, and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone seeking a reliable and feature-rich foldable phone.
Display
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 boasts an impressive display, with two excellent screens that seamlessly integrate the external and internal displays. The protective glass on the outer screen is made of Xiaomi's latest Dragon ceramic guard glass, and the top and bottom are curved for a more immersive viewing experience. While the display specs may not be an upgrade over the previous generation, the overall look and feel of the inner and outer screens are in line with expectations. However, one notable drawback is the creasing issue, particularly noticeable when folding and unfolding the device. This is due to the hinges being smaller, which can make the creases more pronounced. In terms of the display itself, there's nothing unacceptable about it, except for these minor drawbacks. The colors are a little less saturated than some other flagships, but the natural look and feel of the photos taken with the Leica Authentic mode is a welcome feature. Unfortunately, the display doesn't quite live up to expectations when compared to some of its competitors. While it's still an excellent screen, it falls short in terms of sheer impressiveness. This might be due to the fact that Xiaomi has focused more on the overall design and functionality of the phone rather than pushing the boundaries of display technology. Ultimately, the Mix Fold 4's display is a solid effort, but one that doesn't quite blow me away. It's serviceable, with no major issues to speak of, but it feels like a missed opportunity for Xiaomi to truly showcase its capabilities in this department.
Camera
The camera system on the Mi Mix Fold 4 is a highlight of this phone, boasting four cameras and impressive capabilities. However, it also has some notable limitations that prevent it from being perfect. The good news is that the Imaging quality of this lens is better, thanks to a higher amount of pixels combined with in-sensor Zoom 4X Zoom capability. This results in clear photos even when zoomed in on specific subjects and environments. The macro Zoom feature also creates beautiful photos in the right scene. However, there's one big downside to this 2x camera: it lacks Optical image stabilization (OIS). When light is poor, photos taken at the 46 mm native focal length can be blurry, even for an expert photographer. This is a significant drawback, especially considering that the previous generation Mi Mix 3 had a telephoto camera with OIS. The other three cameras on the Mi Mix Fold 4 are among the best in photo phones, offering natural-looking photos without excessive sharpening effects. Colors are slightly less saturated than those of the Vivo X90 Pro+, but the overall image quality is still excellent. It's also worth noting that the 2x camera doesn't quite live up to its predecessor, with a narrower focal length range and no OIS. While this may not be a major issue for casual users, photographers who rely on their phone cameras will likely feel disappointed by this compromise. In conclusion, the Mi Mix Fold 4 has an excellent camera system in many ways, but it falls short of perfection due to its limitations. The lack of OIS and narrower focal length range on the 2x camera are notable drawbacks that prevent this phone from being a top contender for best camera phone. Despite these limitations, the Mi Mix Fold 4 remains a great choice for those who value its slim design and impressive features, including wireless charging, four cameras, and a large battery. However, photographers looking for the best possible camera experience should consider other options before settling on this phone.
Price and Value
When you first lay eyes on the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4, it's hard not to be impressed by its sleek design. This phone is a masterclass in engineering, cramming a large battery, wireless charging, and four cameras into a body that's less than 5mm thick. And yet, despite its remarkable features, the Mix Fold 4 isn't exactly a budget-friendly device. So, what justifies the price tag? In short, everything. The Mix Fold 4's design is a game-changer, with a hinge that opens and closes smoothly, and a body that feels incredibly light in your hand. The cameras are among the best you'll find on any phone, with excellent imaging quality and features like in-sensor zoom and macro mode. But here's the thing: the Mix Fold 4 is not just about its feature set. It's also an exercise in restraint, where Xiaomi has prioritized design over raw power. The processor may not be the most powerful, but it still delivers a smooth gaming experience (albeit one that's not as good as some of its predecessors). And then there's the price. At first glance, it might seem steep. But when you consider what else is out there in this price range – and especially when compared to other foldables on the market – the Mix Fold 4 starts to look like a relative bargain. So, is the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 worth the money? In my opinion, yes. It's a phone that defies its price tag in every way, offering a unique blend of design, features, and value that's hard to find elsewhere. Of course, as with any phone, it ultimately comes down to your individual needs and preferences. But if you're looking for a device that's both impressive and affordable, the Mix Fold 4 is certainly worth considering.
Performance
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 is a significant upgrade in terms of design, but when it comes to performance, it falls short of expectations. The phone's processor is still the Snapdragon 888, which was considered a powerhouse last year, but with the latest generation of gaming smartphones, it feels outdated. In heavy gaming tasks, the Mix Fold 4 struggles to maintain a smooth frame rate, and the heat dissipation is not as efficient as other high-end devices. This results in a slightly lower gaming experience compared to its predecessors. The phone's processor also fails to utilize its full potential due to overheating issues. The benchmark scores are lower than expected, considering the Mix Fold 3 had a similar configuration. While the phone can still handle everyday tasks and general usage with ease, it's clear that it's not designed for heavy gaming or demanding applications. Another area where the Mix Fold 4 underperforms is in terms of camera performance. The phone features four cameras, but the 2X standard lens has replaced the 3.2X telephoto lens from the previous model. While this doesn't affect the imaging quality, which is still excellent, it limits the focal length coverage and makes zooming less effective. Additionally, the lack of optical image stabilization in the main camera means that photos taken in low-light conditions can be blurry. The Mix Fold 4's camera system is a great camera overall, but these limitations make it feel like an improvement over the previous model was not fully utilized. In conclusion, while the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 excels in design and aesthetics, its performance falls short of expectations. The phone struggles with heavy gaming tasks and has some limitations when it comes to camera capabilities. However, for everyday usage, general photography, and video consumption, it still remains a solid choice.
Pros
1. The Mix Fold 4 boasts an incredibly thin body, measuring less than 5mm in thickness.
2. The device packs a big battery with wireless charging capabilities.
3. With four cameras on board, including a 2x standard lens and support for macro Zoom, this phone takes impressive photos.
4. Despite its thinness, the Mix Fold 4's hinge material and craftsmanship upgrades ensure that it opens and closes smoothly.
Cons
1. The phone's hinge design results in deep creases on the screen when folded.
2. The Mix Fold 4's gaming performance takes a hit due to its power consumption and temperature issues.
3. The 2x camera lens lacks optical image stabilization, which can result in blurry photos.