We’ve been hearing rumors about a foldable smartphone from Xiaomi, and now we have the first images of what appears to be a prototype case. It seems that recent rumors suggesting that Xiaomi will integrate a foldable screen in the next smartphone in the Mi MIX range had a fairly solid base, as the images reveal a smartphone very similar in shape and functionality to what we saw recently in the case of Galaxy Z Fold2 and Mate X2 from Samsung and Huawei.
Xiaomi will launch a foldable screen phone in the Mi MIX range
The images were originally published on Weibo, but were quickly removed, but not fast enough not to be saved and republished on the Internet. Nils Ahrensmeier from TechnikNews republished them on his Twitter account and that’s how we can see them.
But those who expected a revolutionary design for a foldable device will be disappointed. Both Huawei and Xiaomi seem to have come to the same conclusion as Samsung. The difference is that Samsung had this idea from the beginning, and Huawei had to go through two more generations of foldable smartphones to come up with something similar. Xiaomi, on the other hand, sat on the bar and waited for some maturation of technology and the market before taking this step.
The phone, inscribed with the Mi MIX series logo, benefits from a glass-covered back, a three-lens camera module and space to install two displays. One on the outside for regular smartphone activities and one foldable on the inside. However, it is not clear whether a model from Xiaomi would use a perforated display for an interior front camera, or whether the manufacturer will choose to give up this camera, just like Huawei.
If the foldable Mi MIX model hits the market in 2021, it would be the first model in this series in the last two years. The last Mi MIX launched was Mi MIX 3 5G, with slider design, in 2019. Meanwhile, Mi MIX Alpha was also presented, a smartphone concept with a screen on all sides of the phone, but which did not reach stores.
Robert J. Smith is still early into his career as tech reporter but has already had his work published in many major publications including JoyStiq and Android Authority. In regards to academics, Robert earned a degree in business from Fordham University. Robert has passion for emerging technology and covers upcoming products and breakthroughs in science and tech.
