Xiaomi has just unveiled a series of new products, including a smartphone that was previously exclusive to China: the Xiaomi Mix Flip. In the short time I spent with it, one feature particularly stood out to me.
Flip phones are still fairly new, with only a handful of tech brands offering these types of devices on the UK market. That said, those with a flagship price tag – like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6 and Motorola Razr 50 Ultra – have a lot of similarities, so it can be difficult to know which one to choose.
One of the ways Xiaomi is trying to stand out from the crowd is by offering the ability to take and make calls while the phone is folded.
One of my friends exclaimed, “Why is your phone so small?!”, giving me the perfect segue to dramatically reveal that it was a foldable phone.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
I tested this feature by accident while I was at the pub. My husband called me across the table as we could barely hear each other, and it was my turn to play. On instinct, I pressed the answer button and held the phone to my ear with the front screen down.
One of my friends exclaimed, “Why is your phone so small?!”, which gave me the perfect opportunity to dramatically reveal that it was a foldable device. Which was met with much admiration as everyone asked to look at the Mix Flip, desperately searching for the crease in the screen.
This unintentional talking point got me thinking about this feature and its uses. I’ve written before about how one of the greatest joys of a flip phone is unfolding it to make calls, as it evokes 2000s nostalgia for the Motorola V3.
On paper, it sounds like a gimmick and almost makes the fun aspect of a flip phone redundant. Yet I’ve used this feature more than I thought I would in real life, and I think I do it mainly for one simple reason: laziness.
We’re not quite at the point where flip phones can be easily unfolded with one hand yet. It’s doable with the Xiaomi Mix Flip, as it is with other competitors, but it takes a bit of trial and error. You can’t just flip it open like you did with lightweight retro flips.
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
Hannah Cowton-Barnes / Foundry
With one hand holding my trusty teacup (which I’ll only let go of in dire circumstances), this closed call feature makes it easier to use the phone one-handed. It’ll come in handy for travellers clinging to a banister or those holding babies, human or furry.
That said, the speaker and microphone aren’t as clear as when you use the Xiaomi Mix Flip unfolded – that’s because the bottom earpiece and microphone aren’t in the optimal position.
Still, it’s a handy alternative for busy people who still want a flip phone, but sometimes can’t afford to… well, take it apart.
I’ll be playing around with the Xiaomi Mix Flip and publishing my full review on Tech Advisor soon. It starts at £1,099 and will be available in stores soon (date TBC). You’ll be able to pre-order it on the Mi Store. This flip phone is not available in the US.
In the meantime, you can also check out all the news regarding the Xiaomi 14T series, the other major smartphones launched today by the Chinese tech giant.
