Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 Glass Gold and Leather Glass Black
After the morning’s official announcement of Lei Jun’s annual speech schedule, known as the conference time, the most important new product – the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3, was officially unveiled. Alongside a promotional video, Xiaomi also released official renderings of the Mix Fold 3.
From the images, it’s evident that the new MIX Fold 3 retains a design similar to its predecessor, with the main change being the treatment of the rear lens. It has been upgraded to a Leica quad-camera setup, including a periscope lens, making it a highly advanced camera configuration for a folding screen phone.
Additionally, Xiaomi’s product manager, Wei Siqi, mentioned that the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 black version of the rear shell is not made of vegetal leather but glass. This material is called “leather glass.” It offers the benefits of being fingerprint-resistant and has a pleasant texture, along with a softer and more understated reflective quality.
This material is similar to what was used in the Nubia Z50S Pro, where glass is crafted to resemble the texture and feel of leather. The advanced laser lithography process is used to etch a delicate texture on the glass surface, achieving the effect of a blend between leather and glass.
The camera area of the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 features an upgraded ceramic material, and the lens decoration has undergone a physical vapor deposition process, resulting in a bright metallic luster that complements the glass back cover. Furthermore, the camera decoration and the back cover glass of the Xiaomi Mi MIX Fold 3 have a streamlined curved overdesign, enhancing the overall texture and feel.
Although the leather glass black version received impressive treatment, I find the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 Glass Gold version more appealing, as it offers a plain and sober aesthetic, and looks more premium.
The photos also reveal that the Xiaomi MIX Fold 3 supports free hovering and is quite thin and lightweight, making it comfortable to hold with one hand. The lower part of the body aligns nearly flush with the Type-C connector, suggesting the use of a custom connector.
