The name “Mix” evokes a glorious and noble design history for the Chinese tech brand Xiaomi, which in the past involved Philippe Starck in the design of one of the very first phones to almost completely eliminate the outer bezel, back when the iPhone still had a home button. The Mi Mix was top of its class, a borderless display phone so futuristic it almost seemed irreverent. The year was 2016, and it ended up in the permanent collections of the Pompidou and Design Museum.

Alongside the launch of the new 14T series, Xiaomi announces that a device under the Mix name, the Flip, which has been available in China since July, will also be available for purchase in other markets where the Chinese tech brand operates.

The phone is a foldable with a flip form factor, meaning it is a “normal” size smartphone that can fold in on itself. Xiaomi’s first highlight for this device, following an increasingly common trend in the market, is the ability to use the 4-inch outer screen for a wide range of functions, so you don’t need to open the device. When closed, the Mix Flip becomes a mini-smartphone capable of many things and promises to do them well, starting with calls, thanks to optimized signal, audio output, and microphone.

On the external display, featuring 1.5k resolution, excellent refresh rate (120Hz), and high brightness, Xiaomi’s customized Android interface, HyperOS, allows the use of a wide range of apps that are adapted to the reduced 4-inch size. The keyboard is about as big as that of a normal-sized smartphone (covering almost the entire mini screen), and interaction takes place using the same gestures already familiar to Android users. The experience is therefore in full continuity with the brand’s other smartphones, allowing maximum use of the device without constantly opening and closing it – after all, why invest in a foldable phone if you have to unfold the screen every time, even just to use it as a mirror?

That said, Xiaomi guarantees 500,000 folds of the device, thanks to the hinge technology shared with its bigger brother, the Mix Fold 4 (though this one will not be launched in Western markets, at least for now). The Mix Flip’s shell is made of Xiaomi’s composite fiber and aluminum frame. The smartphone also uses a combination of ultra-resistant Xiaomi Shield glass and ultra-thin flexible glass wrapping the screen. The hardware platform is powered by the third-generation Snapdragon 8 chip, and the long-lasting battery has a capacity of nearly 4800mAh, which is very generous for a device of this kind.

Like the 14T series, which was launched at the same time as the foldable, the Mix Flip is also equipped with a camera system developed in collaboration with Leica, with whom Xiaomi has had a strategic partnership for years. There are two lenses: the new Summilux Xiaomi x Leica and a 47mm floating Leica lens. Both come with a 50-megapixel sensor.

Among the optimizations, involving both software and hardware, is the integration of Xiaomi’s computational photography platform, AISP, offering advanced imaging scenarios and a new Master Portrait mode, balancing beauty and authenticity.

In addition to the optimization for use as a mirror, the Mix Flip is equipped with a hover mode, eliminating the need for a tripod, and a series of optimizations for “flip photography,” allowing creative shooting conditions that are impossible with a regular smartphone.

With the global launch of the Mix Flip and the 14T series, Google’s Gen-AI chatbot, Gemini, debuts “out of the box” on Xiaomi flagships, bringing all its ever-expanding features that elevate what was once Google Assistant into a new realm of functionality. The “circle and search” feature is also introduced, allowing you to search Google for any image displayed on the screen with a simple gesture.

In addition to the foldable phone, Xiaomi also introduced its new flagship series, consisting of the Xiaomi 14T and 14T Pro. These two phones are designed to capture great images and display them in all their quality. Both have 6.67-inch AMOLED displays that optimize color temperature and brightness using AI, and a camera system developed with Leica, optimized for night photography, with a brighter main lens (f/1.6), supported by the Aisp computational photography platform that ensures 92% better performance and six times the dynamic range compared to previous models. The Leica triple camera system offers five focal lengths, ranging from 15mm to 120mm. The entire 14T series is optimized for both photo and video capture, featuring cinematic modes and 4K recording at 30fps with HDR. The gallery app includes AI-powered tools for editing images and videos.

The difference between the 14T and 14T Pro lies in the processor and camera sensor, which are better, of course, on the top-tier model, which also offers fast wireless charging and comes in a variety of colors. Particularly interesting is the Lemon Green version, made of organic silicone and vegan leather.

In addition to the smartphones, Xiaomi also presented new watches and smart bands, the new Buds 5 earphones, a new cleaning robot, and new TVs. The Xiaomi Mix Flip is available in two colors: purple and black.