Samsung‘s Galaxy Z Fold series has become synonymous with foldable smartphones. However, as the market matures, we’re seeing strong alternatives from Chinese brands like Xiaomi.
Take the Xiaomi Mix Fold 4, for instance. It’s a thinner foldable compared to Galaxy Z Fold 6 while delivering other specs that are on par with or even better than Samsung’s offering.
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With the new Mix Fold 4 on the shelves, you might wonder if it is better than the Z Fold 6. So let’s break down the key differences to help you decide which one is a better foldable overall.
1. Design & Display
Design-wise, the Mix Fold 4 is thinner when folded, measuring 9.5mm compared to the Z Fold 6’s 12.1mm, making it more comfortable to hold for extended periods and easier to fit in a pocket.
However, the Z Fold 6 excels in ingress protection with an IP48 water and dust rating. In contrast, the Mix Fold 4 has an IPX8 rating, meaning it can only withstand splashes but not dust.
Both phones feature large, foldable AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rates for smooth scrolling and gaming. The Mix Fold 4 has a slight advantage in size, offering a 7.98-inch main display compared to the Z Fold 6’s 7.6-inch panel.
The Mix Fold 4 also has a larger cover display at 6.56 inches, compared to the Z Fold 6’s 6.3-inch display. But both utilize LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates and to optimize battery life.
Resolution-wise, the Mix Fold 4 offers a slightly higher pixel count with 2224 x 2488 pixels compared to the Z Fold 6’s 1856 x 2160 pixels. However, the difference in pixel density is negligible, and both devices should deliver excellent visual clarity.
In terms of durability, the Z Fold 6’s cover display is protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2, while Xiaomi uses its own proprietary Shield Glass. Both main screens have a layer of ultra-thin glass (UTG) for added protection.
2. Performance & Battery
Both phones are powered by the latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor, delivering top-tier performance for demanding tasks and gaming. The storage options are also identical, ranging from 256GB to 1TB, paired with either 12GB or 16GB of RAM.
On the software side, the Mix Fold 4 runs Android 14 with Xiaomi’s HyperOS, while the Z Fold 6 uses Android 14 with Samsung’s One UI 6.1.1. Both operating systems are optimized for the foldable form factor, offering features like split-screen multitasking and seamless app continuity between folded and unfolded modes.
The Z Fold 6 also boasts S Pen support, a valuable tool for note-taking and creative workflows on the larger display. However, its absence on the Mix Fold 4 might not be a dealbreaker for all users.
The Mix Fold 4 has a larger 5100mAh battery compared to the Z Fold 6’s 4400mAh battery. However, the Z Fold 6 supports slower 25W wired charging compared to Mix Fold 4’s 67W support. You also get a wireless charging option but Mix Fold 4 is again faster at 50W while the Z Fold 6 has just a 15W solution.
3. Camera
The camera setups on these phones diverge significantly. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 boasts a quad-camera system on the rear, featuring a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom, a 10MP periscope telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide sensor.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 takes a more streamlined approach with a triple-camera system. It features a 50MP main sensor, a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom, and a 12MP ultrawide sensor. This makes it clear that the Mix Fold 4 offers more versatility with its additional telephoto lens, at least in terms of hardware.
Both phones offer a single selfie camera on the cover display and an under-display selfie camera on the main screen. However, the Mix Fold 4 utilizes a higher resolution 16MP sensor on both its cover and under-display cameras compared to the Z Fold 6’s 10MP cover camera and 4MP under-display camera.
4. Price & Availability
Before we go into prices, note that Xiaomi’s Mix Fold 4 is currently only available in the Chinese market, where prices are comparatively lower than on the global scene.
The Mix Fold 4 starts at CNY 8,999 (~$1,237) for the base 12GB + 256GB variant. The 16GB + 512GB and 16GB + 1TB configurations are priced at CNY 9,999 (~$1,375) and CNY 10,999 (~$1,513), respectively. However, these prices are expected to increase if Xiaomi decides to launch the Mix Fold 4 globally, though this is unlikely.
In comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is $1,900 for the 12GB + 256GB variant, $2,020 for the 16GB + 512GB, and $2,260 for the 16GB + 1TB model.
5. Conclusion
The Xiaomi Mix Fold 4 is a strong competitor to Samsung’s reign over the foldable phone market. However, for now, the battle is limited to the Chinese market as the Mix Fold 4 isn’t available globally yet.
This is just a head-to-head breakdown of how the latest foldable flagships from these giants stack up. To learn more about Mix Fold 4, check out our unboxing and initial impressions video below.
