Honor Magic Vs vs Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: A Deep Dive into Foldable Flagships

The foldable phone market is maturing, and the Honor Magic Vs and Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 represent two distinct approaches to the form factor. The Magic Vs, leveraging a slightly older but proven chipset, aims for a balance of price and performance. The Mix Fold 3, however, throws the latest Snapdragon silicon at the problem, alongside faster charging and a brighter display. This comparison will dissect the key differences to help you decide which foldable best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers a noticeable performance uplift, and the significantly improved battery endurance (117h vs 85h) addresses a key concern with foldable devices. While the Honor Magic Vs remains a capable device, the Mix Fold 3 offers a more future-proof and refined experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Honor Magic Vs Xiaomi Mix Fold 3
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1x -
Launch
Announced2022, November 232023, August 14
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, December 30Available. Released 2023, August 14
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, magnesium alloy frame, titanium alloy folding mechanismGlass front (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back or aramid fiber back, aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 160.3 x 141.5 x 6.1 mmFolded: 160.3 x 72.6 x 12.9 mmUnfolded: 161.2 x 143.3 x 5.3 mm Folded: 161.2 x 73.5 x 10.9 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight261 g / 267 g (9.21 oz)255 g or 259 g (8.99 oz)
Display
Resolution1984 x 2272 pixels (~382 ppi density)1916 x 2160 pixels (~360 ppi density)
Size7.9 inches, 199.5 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)8.03 inches, 206.5 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+, 800 nitsFoldable LTPO OLED+, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1300 nits (peak)
 Cover display: OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits, 6.45 inches, 1080 x 2560 pixels, 431 ppi-
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 740
OSAndroid 13, MagicOS 7.1 - InternationalAndroid 12, MagicOS 7 - ChinaAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panoramaColor spectrum sensor, LED flash, HDR, panorama, Leica lenses
Quad-50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 10 MP, f/2.9, 115mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Triple54 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 81mm (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), AF-
Video4K@30/60fps (10-bit), 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+8K@24fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960/1920fps, Dolby Vision HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide)20 MP, f/2.3, 23mm (wide), 1/4.0", 0.8µm Cover camera: 20 MP, f/2.3, 23mm (wide), 1/4.0", 0.8µm
Video1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack No-
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band (tri-band after future SW update)
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compassFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 40 min 50W wireless, 100% in 55 min
TypeLi-Po 5000 mAhLi-Po 4800 mAh
Misc
ColorsCyan, Black, OrangeBlack, Gold
ModelsFRI-AN00, FRI-NX92308CPXD0C
PriceAbout 2940 EURAbout 1150 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 85h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -23.4 LUFS (Very good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 831175 (v9) GeekBench: 3971 (v5.1), 4497 (v6) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Honor Magic Vs

  • Potentially lower price point
  • Established foldable design
  • Competent performance for everyday tasks

  • Older Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Significantly shorter battery life
  • Less bright display

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

  • Latest Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Exceptional battery life
  • Brighter and potentially more refined display
  • Faster charging (wired and wireless)

  • Higher price tag
  • Newer design may have unforeseen issues

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1277 nits compared to the Honor Magic Vs’s 876 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. Both devices utilize foldable OLED panels, but the Mix Fold 3’s higher peak brightness and likely improved panel calibration offer a more vibrant and engaging viewing experience. While both have infinite (nominal) contrast ratios, the real-world difference will be noticeable in HDR content. We lack PWM frequency data, but the Mix Fold 3’s newer panel tech may offer improvements for users sensitive to flicker.

Camera Comparison

Both phones are listed as having 'Photo / Video' capabilities, but detailed camera specs are missing. Given Xiaomi’s recent focus on camera technology, it’s reasonable to assume the Mix Fold 3 will feature a more advanced camera system, potentially with a larger main sensor and more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The Honor Magic Vs, while likely capable, will likely rely more on software optimization to compete. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to make a definitive judgment, but Xiaomi’s brand history suggests a stronger emphasis on camera performance.

Performance

The core difference here lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (SM8550-AC) represents a substantial leap over the Honor Magic Vs’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (SM8475). The Gen 2 features a newer Cortex-X3 prime core clocked at 3.36 GHz versus the X2 in the 8+ Gen 1, alongside more efficient Cortex-A715 cores. This results in faster application loading, smoother multitasking, and improved gaming performance. The Mix Fold 3 also benefits from potentially faster LPDDR5x RAM, further enhancing responsiveness. While the 8+ Gen 1 is still capable, the Gen 2 offers a more future-proof platform and better thermal efficiency, minimizing throttling during sustained workloads.

Battery Life

Battery life is a clear win for the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3. Its endurance rating of 117 hours significantly surpasses the Honor Magic Vs’s 85 hours. This difference is likely due to the more efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset and potentially optimized power management. Furthermore, the Mix Fold 3 offers faster charging with 67W wired (and 50W wireless), achieving a full charge in approximately 40 minutes (wired) and 55 minutes (wireless). The Honor Magic Vs is limited to 66W wired charging, which, while still fast, isn’t as competitive. The 5W reverse wired charging on both devices is a niche feature, useful for topping up accessories but not a primary selling point.

Buying Guide

Buy the Honor Magic Vs if you prioritize a more established foldable design with a proven track record and are seeking a more budget-conscious entry point into the foldable world. Buy the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 if you demand the absolute best performance, longest battery life, and fastest charging speeds, and are willing to pay a premium for the latest technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 experience significant throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Mix Fold 3 is known for its improved thermal efficiency compared to the 8+ Gen 1. While some throttling is inevitable in any foldable due to space constraints, the Mix Fold 3 should maintain higher sustained performance levels during gaming than the Honor Magic Vs.
❓ How does the hinge durability compare between the Honor Magic Vs and the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3?
Hinge durability is a critical factor for foldables. While long-term testing is required for definitive answers, Xiaomi has been refining its hinge designs with each generation. The Mix Fold 3’s hinge appears robust, but the Honor Magic Vs has a longer track record in the market, suggesting a well-established and reliable design.
❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 significantly faster than the 66W wired charging on the Honor Magic Vs?
While 66W wired charging is faster than 50W wireless, the Mix Fold 3’s overall charging ecosystem is more versatile. The combination of 67W wired and 50W wireless provides more convenient charging options, and the faster overall charging times (40 min wired vs. estimated longer for the Magic Vs) are a significant advantage.