Emir Bardakçı
After long stagnation, Xiaomi finally released a brand new MIX Flip to their small folding screen mobile phone market. This will be assisted with an official launch date on the 19th of July with a “full-size multi-functional large external screen.” MIX Flip is of crucial importance to Xiaomi’s development since it has been planned and designed for over five years.
A Journey of Perfection and Patience
The MIX Flip represents all that Xiaomi stands for when it comes to quality and innovation. For founder Lei Jun, the visionary at Xiaomi, “it will not be released until it is ready.” It’s a philosophy that the MIX Flip has followed in coming to life, a process so long and meticulous.
Over the years, Xiaomi has user agent worked through various design iterations, all with the purpose of trying to optimize user experience embracing this new unique form factor in a small folding screen phone.
A Glimpse into the Development Process
A video published on Lei Jun’s personal social media gave the world a view of the internal machinations and design philosophy behind the MIX Flip. It explained in detail why it took them half a decade to release their small folding screen phone, saying that they wanted to perfect their product first.
The Evolution of MIX Flip’s Design
A few genius, rejected prototypes later made up Xiaomi’s journey to the final MIX Flip design. Let’s take a closer look:
- First Phase: The Triangular Camera Module Some renders of the early MIX Flip designs showcased a triangle camera module with a small embedded screen to remind one of messages. This design has been rejected for the low practical value of the small screen.
- The Second Phase: The phone’s outer screen was circular, incorporated with a camera module, and was supposed to work like a smart watch UI. This design was rejected as it would have been tautological to existing smartwatches with the same features.
- Third Stage: Full-Screen Card Camera On the lower half, an external screen was designed which would unfold. This had a “card camera” setup, complete with a front camera with a screen at the back and a strategically placed button. This configuration accounted for the impossibility of taking selfies with the rear camera, so it was rejected.
The Unseen J19S Device
An interesting part of Xiaomi’s development history involves a device called the J19S, codenamed “argo.” It was a device first detected in 2021, which came with a display refresh rate of 90 Hz and had an in-display front camera, coupled with a 108 MP HMX wide, an ultra-wide, and a 3X telephoto camera—the same setup as the Xiaomi MIX 4. The internal test updates were then stopped, and shortly afterward, the J19S was scrapped—one month right before its release date.
Looking Ahead
With the official launch of MIX Flip soon, it is certain that the-tech circle and consumer circles are up against high -strung expectations. Its extra-large external screen will support a great number of functions that shall redesign the use experience for foldable-screen cell phones. With such waves in its development history, not to say such an obvious innovation gene, MIX Flip is sure to be heavy-weight among smartphones. Long-awaited, July 19 will mark the date that Xiaomi will officially roll out a product with all details and full specifications, in order to set a new benchmark for the evolution of folding screen mobile phones with the MIX Flip.
