Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 vs Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: The Ultimate Showdown

The smartphone landscape is constantly evolving, and two titans clash today: the innovative Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 and the powerhouse Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra. One offers a revolutionary foldable design, while the other delivers a refined flagship experience. Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison to see which device emerges victorious.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra offers a more polished and versatile experience with its superior camera system, longer battery life, and established software support. While the Mix Fold 2 boasts a stunning foldable display and impressive performance, the S23 Ultra’s overall package makes it the winner for most users.

PHONES
Phone Names Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 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, 41, 421, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bands1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE (up to 7CA), 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 1, 7, 28, 41, 66, 71, 78, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, August 112023, February 01
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, August 26Available. Released 2023, February 17
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 161.1 x 144.7 x 5.4 mm Folded: 161.1 x 73.9 x 11.2 mm163.4 x 78.1 x 8.9 mm (6.43 x 3.07 x 0.35 in)
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight262 g (9.24 oz)234 g (8.25 oz)
 -IP68 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus (Bluetooth integration, accelerometer, gyro)
Display
ProtectionSchott UTG glassCorning Gorilla Glass Victus 2
Resolution1914 x 2160 pixels (~360 ppi density)1440 x 3088 pixels, 19.3:9 ratio (~500 ppi density)
Size8.02 inches, 206.0 cm2 (~88.4% screen-to-body ratio)6.8 inches, 114.7 cm2 (~89.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable LTPO2 OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (HBM), 1750 nits (peak)
 Cover display: AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak) 6.56 inches, 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio Corning Gorilla Glass VictusAlways-on display
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 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 12, MIUI Fold 13Android 13, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 8
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS 4.0
Main Camera
FeaturesColor spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, Leica lensesLaser AF, LED flash, auto-HDR, panorama
Quad-200 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.3", 0.6µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 10 MP, f/4.9, 230mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.52", 1.12µm, PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.55", 1.4µm, dual pixel PDAF, Super Steady video
Single-12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), Dual Pixel PDAF
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.6, 45mm (telephoto), dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.4, 15mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm, AF-
Video8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS8K@24/30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, HDR10+, stereo sound rec., gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, HDR10+
Single20 MP, f/2.4, 23mm (wide)12 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive5.3, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-CUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Samsung DeX, Samsung Wireless DeX (desktop experience support) Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 40 min45W wired, PD3.0, 65% in 30 min 15W wireless (Qi) 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Ion 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, GoldPhantom Black, Green, Cream, Lavender, Graphite, Sky Blue, Lime, Red, BMW M Edition
Models22061218CSM-S918B, SM-S918B/DS, SM-S918U, SM-S918U1, SM-S918W, SM-S918N, SM-S9180, SM-S918E, SM-S918E/DS
PriceAbout 1300 EUR€ 549.90 / $ 454.99 / £ 433.00
SAR-1.12 W/kg (head)     0.92 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-0.96 W/kg (head)     1.40 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 82h Endurance rating 126h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.2 LUFS (Good) -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 1050139 (v9) GeekBench: 4368 (v5.1) GFXBench: 52fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 1241531 (v9) GeekBench: 4927 (v5.1) GFXBench: 67fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Xiaomi Mix Fold 2

  • Innovative foldable design
  • Vibrant and expansive display
  • Fast charging (67W)
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1

  • Camera performance lags behind S23 Ultra
  • Battery life not as impressive as S23 Ultra
  • Software support may be less extensive

Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

  • Exceptional camera system
  • Long battery life
  • Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
  • Bright and vibrant display
  • Established software support (One UI)

  • Design is less unique
  • Charging speed could be faster (45W)
  • Pricey

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 impresses with its unfolded 7.6-inch AMOLED display, offering a truly immersive viewing experience. Its 1054 nits peak brightness is excellent. However, the S23 Ultra’s 6.8-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X display shines with a brighter 1274 nits peak brightness and generally more refined color accuracy. Both have excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal). The S23 Ultra's adaptive refresh rate (1-120Hz) also provides a smoother experience.

Camera Comparison

Samsung takes a commanding lead in the camera department. The S23 Ultra’s 200MP main sensor, combined with its versatile telephoto lenses, delivers exceptional image quality, detail, and zoom capabilities. The Mix Fold 2’s camera system is competent, but it doesn't match the S23 Ultra's overall performance, especially in low light or when utilizing zoom.

Performance

Both phones are powered by Snapdragon chips – the Mix Fold 2 with the 8+ Gen 1 and the S23 Ultra with the 8 Gen 2. The S23 Ultra’s 8 Gen 2 offers a noticeable performance edge, particularly in sustained workloads and gaming, thanks to its improved efficiency and thermal management. While the Mix Fold 2 is no slouch, the S23 Ultra’s chipset is the clear winner.

Battery Life

The S23 Ultra demonstrates superior battery endurance. While the Mix Fold 2 boasts an impressive 82h endurance rating (likely under ideal conditions), the S23 Ultra consistently delivers 13:24h of active use and a higher 126h endurance rating. The S23 Ultra’s 45W wired charging is also faster than the Mix Fold 2’s 67W.

Buying Guide

Who should buy the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2? Early adopters and tech enthusiasts who crave a unique foldable experience and prioritize a vibrant, expansive display. Who should buy the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra? Users seeking a top-tier camera, reliable performance, long battery life, and the familiarity of Samsung's One UI.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 durable as a foldable?
Foldable phones inherently have durability concerns. The Mix Fold 2 has improved hinge design, but it's still more susceptible to damage than a traditional smartphone. Careful handling is essential.
❓ Which phone is better for photography?
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is significantly better for photography, offering a more versatile camera system with superior image quality, especially in challenging conditions.