Mi Mix 4: Xiaomi’s first device with under-display camera, 100% charge in 15 minutes

Xiaomi’s ever exciting Mi Mix lineup finally has a new entry. The Mi Mix 4 has just been announced, and it features neither notch nor punch hole. Instead, it’s the first Xiaomi device to have what they’re calling the Camera Under Panel (CUP) technology, a form of under-display camera.

According to Xiaomi, CUP technology has gone through quite a journey. It’s taken them five years, sixty patents and three major generations along with USD77 million in R&D investment to finally have something they’re comfortable releasing in a smartphone. They claim that it’s pretty much impossible to spot the 20MP selfie camera underneath, thanks to the reduced size of the micro-diamond pixels and redesigned circuit array throughout the display.

The screen itself is a 6.67-inch, curved AMOLED display. Xiaomi has kitted the Mi Mix 4 with a 1080 x 2400 display, and it has a 120Hz refresh rate along with HDR10+ support. It has a pixel density of 400ppi and comes with Corning Gorilla Glass Victus for screen protection. While not the flashiest screen around (Sony for instance has a bonkers 4K, 21:9 on the Xperia 1 III), it’s still the bezelless and notchless full screen experience we’ve come to expect with the Mi Mix lineup.

As for the rear cameras, you get a triple-camera setup on the back. The main sensor is a 108MP sensor which is likely the same as the older Mi 11. It also has a supporting cast of a 13MP ultrawide sensor and an 8MP, 5x optical zoom periscope telephoto.

Another thing worth pointing out is that it’s officially the first smartphone to come with the new Qualcomm Snapdragon 888+ system-on-chip. It’s a slightly higher clocked version of the Snapdragon 888, running at 3GHz. It comes with either 8GB or 12GB of RAM, while you can also have up to 512GB of storage. They’ve also apparently revamped the cooling system to ensure the Snapdragon 888+ can stay cool when in use.

The Mi Mix 4 also features Ultra Wide Band (UWB) technology. UWB allows users to use the Mi Mix 4 with their smart home products via ‘point to connect’, simplifying the traditional pairing process. You’ll also find support for WiFi 6E, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC and an IR blaster. The Mi Mix 4 will come in three colourways: Ceramic Gray, Ceramic White and Ceramic Black. Xiaomi says that the ceramic theme is inspired by China’s Song Dynasty porcelain.

Other features of note include a 4,500mAh battery with support for up to 120W wired charging as well as 50W wireless charging. Xiaomi claims that you’ll be able to fully charge the device to 100% in just 15 minutes with wired charging. Unfortunately, there isn’t a 3.5mm audio jack, but there are stereo speakers tuned by Harman Kardon.

Pricing and availability

Unfortunately for now, Xiaomi has not announced any global availability for the Mi Mix 4 just yet. In the meantime though, here’s the pricing for the Mi Mix 4 in China, where it’ll be available for purchase starting August 16.

Mi Mix 4, 8GB RAM, 128GB storage — RMB 4,999 (~RM 3,266)

Mi Mix 4, 8GB RAM, 256GB storage — RMB 5,299 (~RM3,462)

Mi Mix 4, 12GB RAM, 256GB storage — RMB 5,799 (~RM3,789)

Mi Mix 4, 12GB RAM, 512GB storage — RMB 6,299 (~RM4,115)

If Xiaomi does indeed release the Mi Mix 4 in Malaysia, it could be a fairly decent offering at these prices. While not competing amongst the bang-for-buck devices, it’s technically more powerful than devices powered by the older Snapdragon 888. Its sleek ceramic design and full screen display is also a very much a head turner, and is could be much more practical than mechanical pop-up cameras of past devices.

For more information about the Mi Mix 4, you can check out its product page on Xiaomi China’s website.