Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha vs OnePlus 8 Pro: A Detailed Comparison of Flagship Androids

The Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha, with its radical wrap-around display, aimed to redefine smartphone aesthetics. The OnePlus 8 Pro, conversely, refined the established flagship formula with a focus on performance and a versatile camera system. This comparison dissects these two very different approaches to the high-end smartphone market, evaluating which delivers the best overall user experience in 2024.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user, the OnePlus 8 Pro emerges as the more practical choice. While the Mi Mix Alpha’s design is undeniably striking, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 chipset, coupled with its robust 103-hour endurance rating, provides a smoother, more reliable, and ultimately more usable experience.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha OnePlus 8 Pro
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1800 / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 - China1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 66 - EU
5G bands41, 78, 79 SA/NSA/Sub61, 3, 7, 28, 78 SA/NSA - EU
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/150 Mbps, 5G (2+ Gbps DL)HSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (5CA) Cat18 1200/150 Mbps, 5G 7.5 Gbps DL
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / LTE / 5G
 CDMA 800 & TD-SCDMA78 SA/NSA - IN
Launch
Announced2019, September2020, April 14
StatusCancelledAvailable. Released 2020, April 21
Body
BuildGlass front, ceramic/glass back, titanium alloy frame (TC4)Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back (Gorilla Glass 5), aluminum frame
Dimensions154.4 x 72.3 x 10.4 mm (6.08 x 2.85 x 0.41 in)165.3 x 74.4 x 8.5 mm (6.51 x 2.93 x 0.33 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight241 g (8.50 oz)199 g (7.02 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant
Display
Protection-Corning Gorilla Glass 5
Resolution2088 x 2250 pixels (~388 ppi density)1440 x 3168 pixels (~513 ppi density)
Size7.92 inches, 201.8 cm2 (~180.8% screen-to-body ratio)6.78 inches, 111.7 cm2 (~90.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFlexible Super AMOLEDFluid AMOLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.96 GHz Kryo 485 & 3x2.42 GHz Kryo 485 & 4x1.8 GHz Kryo 485)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8150 Snapdragon 855+ (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8250 Snapdragon 865 5G (7 nm+)
GPUAdreno 640 (700 MHz)Adreno 650
OSAndroid 10, MIUI 11Android 10, upgradable to Android 13, OxygenOS 13
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal512GB 12GB RAM128GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.0UFS 3.0
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad-48 MP, f/1.8, 25mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, (telephoto), 1/1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 116˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF 5 MP, f/2.4, (Color filter camera)
Triple108 MP, f/1.7, (wide), 1/1.33", 0.8µm, PDAF 12 MP, f/2.0, 54mm (telephoto), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom 20 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 1/2.8", 1.0µm-
Video6K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/240fps, Auto HDR, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesDual-LED flash, HDR, panoramaHDR
Single-16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm
TripleNo - uses main camera-
Video3240p@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/120/240fps, 1080p@960fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker YesYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.0, A2DP, LE, aptX HD5.1, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
NFCNoYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1), GALILEO (E1+E5a)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNAWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct, DLNA
Features
SensorsFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 Virtual proximity sensing-
Battery
Charging40W wired30W wired, 50% in 23 min 30W wireless, 50% in 30 min 3W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4050 mAh, non-removableLi-Po 4510 mAh, non-removable
Misc
ColorsBlackGlacial Green, Ultramarine Blue, Onyx Black
Models-IN2023, IN2020, IN2021, IN2025
PriceAbout 2500 EURAbout 310 EUR
Pricing
128GB 8GB RAM-$ 428.39
256GB 12GB RAM-$ 853.51
RENEWED-$ 486.00
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 103h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -23.5 LUFS (Very good)
Performance- AnTuTu: 573276 (v8) GeekBench: 3374 (v5.1) GFXBench: 24fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha

  • Radically innovative wrap-around display
  • Unique and eye-catching design
  • 40W fast wired charging

  • Potentially impractical wrap-around display
  • Older Snapdragon 855+ chipset
  • Limited software support compared to OnePlus

OnePlus 8 Pro

  • Powerful Snapdragon 865 5G chipset
  • Excellent battery life (103h endurance)
  • Versatile camera system

  • More conventional design
  • No reverse wireless charging
  • Can be expensive depending on configuration

Display Comparison

Both devices boast 'Infinite' contrast ratios, indicating excellent OLED panel quality. However, the Mi Mix Alpha’s defining feature is its wrap-around display, extending onto the sides of the device. This is a visual spectacle, but introduces usability challenges with accidental touches and a lack of traditional buttons. The OnePlus 8 Pro features a more conventional 6.78-inch Fluid AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate (not specified for the Mi Mix Alpha), offering a smoother scrolling experience. While the Mi Mix Alpha’s display is innovative, the OnePlus 8 Pro’s is demonstrably more practical for everyday use.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but details on the Mi Mix Alpha’s camera are limited. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s camera system is well-documented, offering a versatile setup for both photo and video. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s strengths lie in its image processing, delivering consistently good results in various lighting conditions. Without detailed specifications for the Mi Mix Alpha’s camera, it’s difficult to make a direct comparison, but the OnePlus 8 Pro’s established reputation and feature set (like its ultrawide lens) give it an edge.

Performance

The OnePlus 8 Pro’s Snapdragon 865 5G chipset represents a significant leap over the Mi Mix Alpha’s Snapdragon 855+. The 865, built on a 7nm+ process, offers improved CPU and GPU performance, alongside integrated 5G connectivity. The CPU architecture differs; the OnePlus 8 Pro utilizes Cortex-A77 cores, while the Mi Mix Alpha uses Kryo 485 cores. While both are octa-core designs, the A77 cores generally exhibit higher single-core performance. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s access to faster LPDDR5 RAM (spec not provided for Mi Mix Alpha, but likely LPDDR4X) further enhances responsiveness. This translates to snappier app loading, smoother multitasking, and better gaming performance on the OnePlus 8 Pro.

Battery Life

The OnePlus 8 Pro boasts an endurance rating of 103 hours, indicating excellent battery life. It supports 30W wired charging (50% in 23 minutes) and 30W wireless charging (50% in 30 minutes), alongside 3W reverse wireless charging. The Mi Mix Alpha, with its 40W wired charging, offers faster wired charging speeds, but lacks wireless charging capabilities. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s superior endurance rating suggests it will comfortably last a full day of moderate to heavy use, while the Mi Mix Alpha’s battery life may be more dependent on usage patterns.

Buying Guide

Buy the Xiaomi Mi Mix Alpha if you prioritize a truly unique and futuristic design, and are willing to accept potential software quirks and limited real-world usability due to the wrap-around display. Buy the OnePlus 8 Pro if you value a polished software experience, consistently high performance thanks to the Snapdragon 865, a versatile camera system, and excellent battery life – a combination that caters to a wider range of users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Snapdragon 855+ in the Mi Mix Alpha struggle with demanding games compared to the 865 in the OnePlus 8 Pro?
Yes, the Snapdragon 865 offers a noticeable performance uplift in gaming. Its improved GPU and faster memory bandwidth translate to higher frame rates and smoother gameplay, especially in graphically intensive titles. The Mi Mix Alpha’s 855+ will still handle most games, but may require lower settings for optimal performance.
❓ Is the wrap-around display on the Mi Mix Alpha prone to accidental touches or usability issues?
The unique design of the Mi Mix Alpha’s display does present usability challenges. Users have reported accidental touches on the side-mounted portions of the screen, and the lack of physical buttons requires reliance on software-based gestures, which can take getting used to. The OnePlus 8 Pro’s traditional display offers a more reliable and intuitive user experience.
❓ How does the OnePlus 8 Pro's 30W wireless charging compare to other wireless charging solutions?
The OnePlus 8 Pro's 30W wireless charging is notably faster than many competitors, achieving a 50% charge in approximately 30 minutes. This is significantly quicker than the 10-15W wireless charging offered by many other flagship phones, making it a convenient option for topping up the battery.