Xiaomi launches MIX Fold 2, a cheaper alternative to Samsung’s Z Fold4

Xiaomi seems to be on the offensive in the foldable screen smartphone market, with the new Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 taking aim at audiences particularly interested in Samsung’s new Galaxy Z Fold4. It’s not only comparable in raw performance, but comes with a more compact body, bigger battery, faster charging and even a lower price.

Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 offers comparable performance to Samsung model

Xiaomi’s new MIX Fold 2 is very similar to what we see in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, using many of the same technologies. There are significant dimensions to the size though, with Xiaomi trying to bring this model closer to a “regular” smartphone.

So, on the outside, the 6.56″ screen is of a more “normal” size, and the 21:9 screen format isn’t as awkward as the one on Samsung’s model, which is even smaller and narrower. This panel is OLED and displays images at 120 Hz, but does not benefit from LTPO technology. It does, however, boast Victus Gorilla Glass, which is a generation behind the Victus+ on the Fold.

The foldable screen is also larger, with an 8.02″ diagonal and 2,160 x 1,914 pixel resolution. But it’s based on a 120 Hz LTPO 2.0 OLED panel, which allows for real-time frequency reduction. Both screens have 1,000 nits brightness and are Dolby Vision compatible for HDR content.

The internal configuration is built around a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset, with 12GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. The 4,500 mAh battery offers fast charging at 67W and can be fully charged in less than 40 minutes, according to Xiaomi.

Cameras use Leica technology

The new MIX Fold 2 also comes with a Leica camera system, with a 50-megapixel Sony IMX766 main sensor, a model we usually see on mid-range phones, along with a 13-megapixel ultrawide and an 8-megapixel 2x zoom. The camera seems to be the company’s chosen compromise to keep the design compact and the price lower.

At just 5.4mm thick on each side and a total thickness of 11.2mm, the MIX Fold 2 is heavier than a regular phone and slightly thicker, but thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold4. At 262 grams, the two models are comparable. The MIX Fold 2’s advantage, however, would be its shape, less narrow on the outer screen, with a generous diagonal that can allow relatively normal use on its surface.

The phone will of course be launched in China. It starts at a price of 8,999 yuan, or 1,300 euros, for the 256 GB variant. The phone arrives in Chinese stores on August 16, but no plans for an international launch have been announced. Unfortunately, there’s a possibility that the Xiaomi MIX Fold 2 will only remain in China, as was the case with the original MIX Fold last year.