Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 announced: The first Xiaomi phone with an under-display camera

Xiaomi’s Mi Mix series is a trailblazer of note, focusing on bringing slick designs to the table. It’s been almost three years since the last commercially available Mix product, but Xiaomi is finally back with the Mi Mix 4.

Perhaps the biggest selling point is the switch to a 20MP under-display selfie camera (0.8-micron pixels and 1.6-micron pixel binning), representing the first Xiaomi phone with this technology. This might be the first Xiaomi device with an under-display selfie camera then, but the brand says this is actually its third-generation take on the tech.

Xiaomi adds that it still offers 400 pixels per square inch in the screen area above the camera, matching the rest of the display. This should go some way towards reducing the haze effect we’ve seen on first-generation devices like the ZTE Axon 20. Otherwise, the company says it’s reduced light diffraction in selfie photos and videos via a new circuit design, transparent wiring, and software algorithms.

The company is also offering a ceramic back, making for a welcome departure from glass and a throwback to devices like the Mi Mix 2. The phone is available in Ceramic Black, Ceramic White, and Ceramic Gray color options.

What’s inside the Mi Mix 4?

This new Mi Mix device has some good core specs otherwise, featuring a Snapdragon 888 Plus processor, a 6.67-inch FHD+ curved OLED screen (HDR10+, Gorilla Glass Victus), 8GB to 12GB of RAM, and 128GB/256GB/512GB of storage.

The Mi Mix 4 also offers a 4,500mAh battery with 120W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. By default, the phone is able to reach a full charge in 21 minutes via wired charging and 45 minutes via wireless charging. But Xiaomi also touts a so-called Boost Mode, offering wired and wireless charging times of 15 minutes and 28 minutes respectively. This faster charging mode presumably results in increased battery degradation over time, but making it optional rather than the default or only choice is a pretty sensible approach.

More Xiaomi coverage: Now that Xiaomi is number one, can it stay ahead of Samsung?

Xiaomi’s new flagship device also sports a flexible rear camera system, featuring a 108MP main camera with OIS (Isocell HMX, 0.8 microns, 1.6-micron pixel binning), a 13MP ultra-wide camera (free-form lens, 120-degree field of view), and an 8MP 5X periscope shooter with OIS.

Another notable addition to the Mi Mix 4 is the use of UWB technology with “point to connect” features. The company says you can point your phone to any compatible Xiaomi smart home product to immediately connect it to your phone.

The Mi Mix 4 also gains a few software extras, such as real-time on-device subtitles and translations, a SIM lock feature (requiring a password to use a new SIM with the device), and shutdown prevention functionality. Other notable features include dual stereo speakers, an IP53 rating for splash resistance, an IR blaster, and NFC.

Mi Mix 4 pricing and availability

Xiaomi’s latest phone starts at 4,999 yuan (~$771) for the 8GB/128GB model, 5,299 yuan (~$817) for the 8GB/256GB variant, 5,799 yuan (~$894) for the 12GB/256GB option, and 6,299 yuan (~$972) for the 12GB/512GB option. Unfortunately, Xiaomi confirmed to Android Authority that this is a “Mainland China device only.”

What do you think of the Xiaomi Mi Mix 4 though? Let us know by taking our poll below.