Xiaomi has made its grand entrance into the flip phone arena with the unveiling of the Xiaomi Mix Flip. This debut model doesn’t just dip its toes in the water—it makes a splash. Despite being Xiaomi’s first venture into flip phones, the Mix Flip holds its own against industry veterans, particularly impressing with its specifications.
In this article, we’ll pit the Xiaomi Mix Flip against Samsung’s latest offering, the Galaxy Z Flip 6, to see how these foldable devices stack up.
Design
At first glance, you might think these phones were separated at birth. Both the Xiaomi Mix Flip and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 rock that sleek, boxy feel that’s become synonymous with modern flip phones. Their hinges look so similar that you might do a double-take.
But as the saying goes, the devil is in the details, and that’s where these two start to show their unique personalities.
The Mix Flip features shiny aluminum edges. On the other hand, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 takes a more subtle approach. It’s got this muted matte finish on its aluminum edges that whispers “sophistication” rather than shouting for attention.
The color options for the Z Flip 6 are a bit more understated too, perfect for those who prefer their tech to blend in rather than stand out.
Power Under the Hood
When it comes to what’s running the show under the hood, we’ve got a bit of a tie. Both the Xiaomi Mix Flip and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 are packing some serious heat with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chip. This beast of a processor means both phones can handle anything you throw at them, from intense gaming sessions to multitasking like a pro.
The RAM situation is another area where these phones are neck and neck, both offering a generous 12GB. This means smooth sailing when you’re switching between apps or trying to remember which of your 50 open browser tabs had that recipe you wanted to try.
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Where things start to diverge a bit is in the storage department. The Mix Flip comes out swinging with a base storage of 256GB, while the Z Flip 6 starts at a more modest 128GB. For all you digital hoarders out there (no judgment, we’ve all been there), this might be a point in Xiaomi’s favor.
But here’s where Samsung pulls ahead – the Z Flip 6 also gets an IP48 rating, which means it can resist ingress of materials greater than 1mm in size and withstand submersion in fresh water.
The Mix Flip? Well, let’s just say you’ll want to keep it far, far away from any bodies of water larger than a glass. No IP rating means no water fun for Xiaomi’s flip phone.
Cover Displays
Now, let’s talk about something that’s become increasingly important in the world of flip phones – the cover display. This is where things get really interesting, folks.
The Xiaomi Mix Flip comes out swinging with a massive 4.01-inch edge-to-edge display on its cover. It’s like having a mini smartphone on the outside of your flip phone. But it’s not just about size – this display is packing some serious tech too.
We’re talking a silky smooth 120Hz refresh rate that makes scrolling feel like butter, and a peak brightness of 3,000 nits. That’s bright enough to be perfectly visible even on the sunniest of days.
But the real game-changer here is what you can do with this cover display. Xiaomi has somehow managed to make it possible to access up to 200 apps without even opening the phone. Imagine checking your Instagram, queuing up your favorite Spotify playlist, or even using Google Wallet, all from the cover display.
It’s like having a fully functional smartphone without ever flipping open your phone.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, on the other hand, seems to be playing it a bit safer. Its cover display measures in at 3.4 inches, which is nothing to sneeze at, but it does feel a bit small in comparison to the Mix Flip.
The refresh rate maxes out at 60Hz, which is smooth enough for most tasks but might feel a bit stuttery if you’re used to higher refresh rates. The brightness peaks at 1,600 nits – plenty bright for most situations, but not quite reaching the heights of the Mix Flip.
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When it comes to functionality, the Z Flip 6’s cover display is a bit more limited. You get access to a handful of native apps optimized for the cover display, which is great, but it’s not quite the “mini smartphone” experience that the Mix Flip offers.
Samsung does offer a workaround with its Good Lock app, which allows you to use more apps on the cover display. But it’s an extra step, and Good Lock isn’t available in all countries, which could be a bummer for some users.
Inner Displays
When you flip these phones open (which, let’s be honest, is still super satisfying), you’re greeted with some seriously impressive displays. Both the Mix Flip and the Z Flip 6 are rocking 120Hz LTPO displays, which means smooth scrolling and great battery efficiency.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 gives you a 6.7-inch AMOLED HDR10 display. It’s bright, it’s beautiful, and it’s everything you’d expect from a Samsung display. Colors pop, blacks are deep, and everything looks crisp and clear.
But Xiaomi’s Mix Flip takes things up a notch with its slightly larger 6.86-inch Crystal Res Dolby Vision display. The difference in size might seem small on paper, but in practice, it could mean a more immersive experience when you’re watching videos or playing games.
The Dolby Vision support is a nice touch too, potentially offering better HDR performance for supported content.
Battery Life
Xiaomi has somehow managed to cram a massive 4,780mAh battery into the Mix Flip. That’s huge for a flip phone, and it could mean significantly better battery life compared to other flip phones on the market.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 isn’t exactly slacking in this department, with a 4,000mAh battery. This is actually an upgrade from last year’s model, which had a 3,700mAh battery. But it still falls short of the Mix Flip’s impressive power pack.
When it comes to charging speeds, the Mix Flip leaves Samsung in the dust. It supports 67W wired charging, which means you can juice up your phone in no time. The Z Flip 6, on the other hand, maxes out at 25W for wired charging. It does offer 15W wireless charging though, which is a feature the Mix Flip surprisingly lacks. So, it’s a bit of a trade-off – do you prefer super-fast wired charging, or the convenience of wireless charging?
Camera Showdown
Both phones are packing some serious camera hardware, but they’ve taken different approaches to their secondary cameras.
The Xiaomi Mix Flip and the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 both feature a 50MP main sensor, which should deliver some great shots in most lighting conditions. The Mix Flip’s main sensor has a slightly wider aperture at f/1.7 compared to the Z Flip 6’s f/1.8, which could translate to marginally better low-light performance.
Where things get interesting is with the secondary camera. The Mix Flip opts for a 50MP 2x optical zoom telephoto lens. This means you can get closer to your subject without losing quality, which can be great for portraits or when you can’t physically get closer to what you’re shooting.
The Galaxy Z Flip 6, on the other hand, goes with a 12MP ultra-wide lens. This lets you capture more of the scene in a single shot, which can be fantastic for landscapes, group photos, or just when you want to fit more into the frame.
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Both phones offer digital zoom capabilities, but remember – optical zoom (like on the Mix Flip) will always give you better quality than digital zoom.
As for selfies, both phones let you use the main cameras for selfies when the phone is folded, which should result in some stellar self-portraits. When unfolded, they both have decent front-facing cameras for video calls and quick selfies.
Software: One UI vs. Hyper OS
The software experience is where these phones really start to differentiate themselves. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 runs on One UI, Samsung’s custom Android skin that’s been refined over many years.
It’s polished, feature-rich, and plays nice with the broader Samsung ecosystem. If you’ve got other Samsung devices, you’ll appreciate how well everything works together.
The Xiaomi Mix Flip, on the other hand, runs on Hyper OS. This is Xiaomi’s latest take on Android, and while it’s got its own set of features and customizations, it might feel a bit less familiar to those used to other Android skins.
One area where Samsung really pulls ahead is in AI features. The Z Flip 6 comes packed with AI-powered tools like Interpreter Mode for real-time translation, live call translation, and even AI-assisted photo editing. The Mix Flip, at least at launch, doesn’t offer much in the way of AI features.
Availability and Price
Here’s where things get a bit tricky. The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 is available globally, which means you can probably walk into your local electronics store and pick one up today. It starts at around KES 148,000, which isn’t cheap, but it’s in line with what we expect from a premium flip phone.
The Xiaomi Mix Flip, as of now, is only available in China. It starts at CNY 5,999, which translates to about KES 108,046. That’s significantly cheaper than the Z Flip 6, but remember – this is the Chinese price, and if (or when) it becomes available globally, the price could change.
When it comes to color options, Samsung gives you plenty to choose from. The Z Flip 6 comes in seven colors, including Blue, Silver Shadow, Mint, and Yellow as the main options available everywhere. But if you’re feeling fancy, you can snag the Crafted Black, White, or Peach shades exclusively from Samsung stores.
Xiaomi keeps things a bit simpler with the Mix Flip, offering it in Black, White, Purple, and a special Nylon fiber edition. The Nylon fiber version sounds particularly interesting – it could offer a unique texture and look that sets it apart from other flip phones on the market.
The Verdict: A Flip-Flop Situation
So, what’s the verdict? Well, it’s complicated. For Xiaomi’s first attempt at a flip phone, the Mix Flip is seriously impressive. It’s got a bigger battery, a more versatile cover screen, and dual 50MP cameras. The larger inner display and faster charging are nice bonuses too.
But Samsung’s got years of experience in the foldable market, and it shows. The Galaxy Z Flip 6 offers water resistance, wireless charging, and a suite of AI features that could be really useful in day-to-day life. Plus, its global availability and established ecosystem make it a safer bet for many consumers.
Ultimately, the choice between these two flip phones might come down to personal preference and availability. If you’re all about that cover screen life and don’t mind missing out on some AI features, the Mix Flip could be a great choice – if you can get your hands on one.
But if you want a more polished experience with some extra features and don’t mind paying a bit more, the Galaxy Z Flip 6 is still a fantastic option.
No matter which way you flip, one thing’s for sure – the flip phone market is heating up, and we consumers are the real winners here. More competition means more innovation, and we can’t wait to see what comes next in the world of foldable phones.
So, what do you think? Are you Team Mix Flip or Team Z Flip 6? Or are you waiting to see what other manufacturers bring to the table? Drop your thoughts in the comments – we’re dying to know which way you’re flipping!
