Smartphone Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 - advantages and disadvantages

Last year, Xiaomi released the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 smartphone, the advantages and disadvantages of which are discussed in this article. The device has become significantly more modern when compared with its predecessor. Mix series phones demonstrate that each next gadget lends itself to significant modifications.

Positioning

It is worth noting that in the first couples, the Mi Mix series was planned as an exclusively trial one. The first model was published in a limited number, having, in addition to a number of obvious pluses, a lot of minuses. In addition, it is unlikely that the company's board initially saw the future for a full-fledged line of such phones, but the popularity of the models said otherwise.

The situation changed completely last year. The smartphone, released in the fall, was not a trial, but a completely massive “leader”.

One way or another, it is on this series that the company's board is still experimenting with the most innovative ideas. For example, a retractable front camera was tested, which made it possible to increase the dimensions of the display to the maximum in comparison with the dimensions of the phone shell.

Review

A novelty from the best manufacturer of mobile devices is a slider phone with a large screen without a monobrow. This device is equipped with a very fast performance, and also received 4 camera modules at once. The demonstration of this unique phone took place on October 25 last year.

Equipment

1. Telephone;
2. Case type "bumper";
3. Instruction;
4. A charger that supports fast charging;
5. Paperclip to work with dual sim;
6. Long USB type "C" cord;
7. Adapter from USB type "C" to audio 3.5 mm.

Design and ergonomics

From this side, the brand has provided users with a couple of surprises.

First of all, it is worth noting that the novelty is equipped with a retractable selfie camera similar to the NEX type from Vivo. It is located in the middle of the top edge.

Secondly, it made it possible to completely get rid of the “chin” from below, which made the device really frameless and comfortable. Simply put, all 4 sides are aligned with respect to the thickness. There is no protrusion, no increased frame from below.

Thirdly, there are 3 cameras on the back cover, instead of two, as was the case with its predecessors. Such a vertically directed module is installed in the upper left corner. It protrudes slightly in relation to the shell and is made with a frame. The flash is slightly lower and there is no fingerprint sensor. The panel itself is made of two materials:

1. Glass.
2. Ceramics.

It all depends on the modification.

Fourthly, the fingerprint scanner was moved to the front side.It was installed under the screen, as is done in Mi 8 Explorer Edition. It has become faster and more accurately identifies the imprint. This is still a conceptual way to unlock, however, with each subsequent update, it works much better.

Otherwise, the phone is practically no different from its own "brothers". The charging socket is made in the form of USB type "C", on the right side of it there is a multimedia speaker, and on the left - a speaker for talking. For the power button and the volume rocker, the place was found on the right side on the side. The SIM slots are on the left side.

The smartphone has become thinner, it looks much prettier and trendier. From its rectangular form factor with slight roundness along the edges, only a pleasant feeling remains. The phone is available in 2 colors:

1. Black;
2. White.

Performance

Due to the lack of new functionality, the novelty is based on the same reliable Snapdragon 845 processor from Qualcomm as its older “brother” 2S. The smallest capacity of RAM is 6 GB, the maximum is 8. The volume of integrated ROM varies between 128-256 GB. There is no flash drive slot.

Test results:

• AnTuTu - 260,000 (video - 110,000);
• Geekbench Single-Core - 2460;
• Geekbench Multi-Core - 9,110.

This smartphone will be a good solution for active games, since all applications "fly" on the verge of their own capabilities. In addition, there is a reserve of power for the next couple of years.

Screen

If the predecessor Mix 2S was produced with an IPS type matrix, then Mi Mix 3 was equipped with a 6-inch AMOLED screen. The display resolution has also become larger - 2K + instead of Full HD +. He himself is still a widescreen type, which, of course, is comfortable for watching videos.

The brand has never had “jambs” with matrices, and this case is no exception. The quality of the screen as a whole is at the level of Mi 8, even a little better. It is worth noting that the latter had a fairly good display. Not the best among all on the market, but there were no problems with it.

Color reproduction is excellent, there are rich blacks, and the rest of the colors are too deep. The sharpness is enough not to squint at night and not try to make out the content in the sun.

Color correction, "Night" mode - all this is in the parameters, where it is possible to configure the matrix in such a way that the user likes it. There is also an Always On Display feature to display information about alerts and important events.

Communications, communication and sound

There are no significant modifications here. The version of the smartphone aimed at the Chinese market works with the following communication standards:

• GSM;
• CDMA;
• UMTS;
• TD-SCDMA.

The European version is a little "more modest" due to the fact that there is no need to operate in networks such as TD-SCDMA and CDMA.

Mi Mix 3 has one media-type speaker, as well as an auxiliary external speaker that turns on after the user opens the slider.

Thanks to this approach, it became possible to truly enjoy excellent stereo sound. The volume balance of the speakers is quite large, but there is no deep bass. Users write almost similar reviews about playing tracks using a headset. The speaker boasts an excellent noise suppression option.

The phone supports Dual SIM according to the Nano standard. There is 4G at the level of LTE categories 18 DL and 13 UL, in connection with which the maximum download speed of information can reach up to 1,200 Mb / s, and transmission up to 150 Mb / s.

Camera

The device boasts of having 2 rear cameras. The resolution of the blocks is 12 and 12 MP. It's worth recalling that the current generation has done well in terms of photographic capabilities, earning a DxOMark score of 105 for image quality.

Both users and experts assure that the third generation has become even better at taking pictures:

On the video side, it is worth noting the optical type stabilization. Users are given the opportunity to make videos in a resolution of 3840x2160 px. They did not remove slow motion, but also AI in the camera software.

There is a 24 MP module on the front. Users claim that it performs better than its predecessor, since the quality of selfies in it was very weak. There is a "smart" mode "Beauty" and, of course, filters.

Biometrics and scanners

The form factor chosen by the company once has one limit: there is nowhere to fit the front face recognition sensor. The tenth iPhone from Apple has a sensational “notch” for this purpose, the Galaxy S9 from Samsung has a protrusion at the top for the camera, scanners and speaker.

In addition, even if you install a face identification sensor with a retractable front camera, you will again need auxiliary actions to turn it on. As a result, the developers of Mi Mix 3 prudently abandoned such an idea, limiting themselves to a fingerprint sensor integrated into the screen unit.

The latter, by the way, is hardly surprising now: a couple of phones from other manufacturers from China have already appeared on the mobile market, including Vivo and its Nex S, as well as Oppo with the R17 model. One way or another, at the moment not a single “leader” is equipped with this option, so the Xiaomi brand has become a “pioneer” in this sense.

autonomy

The Mi Mix 3 has a 3,500 mAh battery with support for Qualcomm's Quick Charge 4.0 fast charging option under the glass back cover. For 24 hours, the gadget will “live” under any load (in principle, like the rest of the “leaders” of 2019). It is quite realistic to count on the second day, if you do not overload the phone.

But the modification with a rear ceramic panel is equipped with an improved battery. Its capacity is 4,000 mAh, which is enough for a stable 1.5 days of use.

Interface

The gadget came out on the innovative MIUI 10 shell. But in combination with it, there is Pie from Android, hidden under the personal interface, but bringing some options and customization.

It will not be superfluous to recall what exactly MIUI 10 offers:

• Redesign of the “curtains” of alerts, quick settings, parts of programs, volume settings in combination with the Material Design 2 shell;
• The menu of recently used applications, in which the icons are arranged vertically and divided into 2 columns;
• New sounds that resemble nature;
• Optimization and excellent response;
• Artificial intelligence in almost the entire system;
• You can take pictures with a blur effect on smartphones with a single camera module.

The operating system is excellent, runs smoothly with good response.

Characteristics

What is the price?

Average price:

• Glass modifications for 6/128 GB of memory - 32,500 rubles;
• Glass modifications for 8/256 GB of memory - 41,000 rubles;
• Ceramic model for 6/128 GB of memory - 42,000 rubles;
• Ceramic model for 8/256 GB of memory - 50,500 rubles.

Advantages and disadvantages

• Quite a productive chip;
• Good RAM capacity;
• Overall display with very thin bezels, which occupies almost 95 percent of the front;
• Fingerprint sensor integrated into the display;
• Good camera;
• There is both wired and wireless charging;
• NFC adapter;
• Battery, like the most top-end phones;
• Pie 9.0 from Android, as well as the current version of the MIUI 10 interface from the factory;
• Sealed shell that perfectly protects the internal elements of the phone from moisture and dirt according to the IP68 standard;
• Serious equipment.

• Lack of face identification sensor;
• There is no way to increase the memory capacity.

In conclusion, it is worth noting that Mi Mix 3 is an excellent "leader", if we take the entire last year as the evaluation criteria. But it is not recommended to consider this model "for growth". The fact is that in 2019 unique gadgets are released that support fifth-generation networks and a whole list of other functions.

As for the retractable front camera, it is worth noting the following - everything will be decided by the use in practice. Yes, the solution is really quite debatable, but at this point in time it is a unique method if we talk about creating a completely frameless phone without any solutions like “bangs” and similar protrusions.