Huawei Mate XT Ultimate vs Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: A Deep Dive into Foldable Flagships

The foldable phone market is maturing, with Huawei and Xiaomi offering compelling, yet distinct, visions. The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate, leveraging Huawei’s in-house Kirin 9010 chipset, aims for a balance of power and efficiency. Conversely, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, prioritizes raw performance and cutting-edge features. This comparison dissects these two devices to determine which foldable best suits your needs.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing peak performance and a brighter display, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 is the clear winner. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers a noticeable performance advantage, and the 1277 nits peak brightness makes it more usable outdoors. However, the Mate XT Ultimate’s impressive 7:48h active use battery life is a strong contender for power users.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei Mate XT Ultimate	Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	LTE	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands	SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G

Launch
Announced	2024, September 10	2023, August 14
Status	Available. Released 2024, September 20	Available. Released 2023, August 14

Body
Build	-	Glass front (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back or aramid fiber back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	Unfolded: 156.7 x 219 x 3.6-4.8 mmFolded: 156.7 x 73.5 x 12.8 mm	Unfolded: 161.2 x 143.3 x 5.3 mm Folded: 161.2 x 73.5 x 10.9 mm
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	298 g (10.51 oz)	255 g or 259 g (8.99 oz)

Display
Resolution	2232 x 3184 pixels (~381 ppi density)	1916 x 2160 pixels (~360 ppi density)
Size	10.2 inches, 315.5 cm2 (~91.9% screen-to-body ratio)	8.03 inches, 206.5 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Tri-foldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz	Foldable LTPO OLED+, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1300 nits (peak)

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x2.3 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.18 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.55 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)
Chipset	Kirin 9010 (7 nm)	Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU	Maleoon 910	Adreno 740
OS	HarmonyOS 4.2 (China)	Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS

Memory
Card slot	No	No
Internal	256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR	Color 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
Triple	50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 5.5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.24µm, PDAF	-
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR Vivid	8K@24fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960/1920fps, Dolby Vision HDR

Selfie camera
Features	HDR	HDR, panorama
Single	8 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm	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
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	1080p@30/60fps

Sound
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC	5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG	USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, dual-band (tri-band after future SW update)

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 40 min 50W wireless, 100% in 55 min
Type	Si/C Li-Ion 5600 mAh	Li-Po 4800 mAh

Misc
Colors	Red, Black	Black, Gold
Models	GRL-LX9, GRL-AL10	2308CPXD0C
Price	$ 4,662.58	About 1150 EUR

Huawei Mate XT Ultimate

Exceptional battery life (7:48h active use)
Fast 66W wired charging
Reverse wireless and wired charging capabilities

Older 7nm Kirin 9010 chipset
Likely lower peak display brightness
Limited ecosystem and app compatibility compared to Snapdragon

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm)
Bright 1277 nits display
Fast 67W wired and 50W wireless charging

Battery life potentially shorter than Mate XT Ultimate
Specific battery capacity not provided
Foldable form factor can be less durable than traditional phones

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1277 nits. This is crucial for outdoor visibility, a common pain point for foldable devices. While the Mate XT Ultimate’s display specs are not provided, it’s likely to fall short of this peak brightness. The Mix Fold 3 likely utilizes LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, further enhancing power efficiency and smoothness. The absence of detailed display information for the Mate XT Ultimate makes a direct comparison challenging, but Xiaomi clearly holds an advantage in display quality.

Camera Comparison

Both devices are described as having capable cameras, but specifics are limited. The context data only mentions 'Photo / Video' for the Mix Fold 3. Without sensor size, aperture, or OIS details for either device, a definitive camera comparison is impossible. However, given Xiaomi’s recent focus on camera technology, it’s reasonable to assume the Mix Fold 3 will offer a more versatile and feature-rich camera system. We can safely ignore any mention of 2MP macro cameras on either device, as they typically offer minimal benefit.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a powerhouse, featuring an octa-core configuration with a prime Cortex-X3 core clocked at 3.36 GHz. This architecture, built on a 4nm process, offers superior performance and thermal efficiency compared to the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate’s Kirin 9010 (7nm). The Kirin 9010, while capable, uses a less efficient 7nm process and a different core arrangement (Taishan Big, Mid, and Cortex-A510). This translates to potentially more throttling under sustained load and lower overall performance in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing. The Mix Fold 3’s LPDDR5x RAM further contributes to its performance edge.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate shines in battery endurance, achieving an impressive 7:48h of active use. While the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3’s battery capacity isn’t specified, its 'Endurance rating' of 117h suggests good longevity. However, the active use score is a more direct comparison. The Mix Fold 3 compensates with faster charging: 67W wired (40 min to 100%) and 50W wireless (55 min to 100%) versus the Mate XT Ultimate’s 66W wired, 50W wireless, and slower reverse wireless/wired options. The Mix Fold 3’s support for PD3.0 and QC4 standards also adds to its charging versatility.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate if you prioritize exceptional battery life and are comfortable with the Kirin ecosystem. This device is ideal for users who frequently travel or rely heavily on their phone throughout the day. Buy the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 if you demand the fastest possible performance, a brighter and more vibrant display, and benefit from the wider app compatibility and ecosystem advantages of the Snapdragon platform. This is the choice for gamers, power users, and those who want the latest and greatest.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9010 in the Mate XT Ultimate struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?

The Kirin 9010, while a capable chipset, is likely to exhibit more thermal throttling and lower frame rates in graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Mix Fold 3. The 7nm process and core architecture aren't as efficient for sustained high performance.

❓ How does the charging speed of the Mix Fold 3 compare to other foldables on the market?

The Mix Fold 3’s 67W wired charging is competitive within the foldable space, achieving a full charge in approximately 40 minutes. This is faster than many other foldables, but some competitors are now offering 80W or even 120W charging speeds. The 50W wireless charging is also respectable, though slower than the wired option.

❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specs for the Mate XT Ultimate a cause for concern?

Yes, the limited camera information is concerning. Huawei typically excels in camera technology, but without knowing sensor sizes, apertures, or OIS capabilities, it's difficult to assess its performance relative to the Mix Fold 3. It suggests the camera may not be a primary selling point.

❓ What are the implications of using Huawei's ecosystem versus the broader Android ecosystem with the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3?

The Huawei ecosystem, due to ongoing restrictions, may lack full access to Google Mobile Services (GMS). This means some apps may require sideloading or may not function optimally. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3, running a standard Android build with full GMS support, offers seamless compatibility with a wider range of apps and services.