Xiaomi Mi Mix vs OnePlus 3T: Battle of 2 Heavy-Duty Medium-Range Smartphones

When Xiaomi released the concept phone ‘Mi Mix’, the whole world could not get past the beautiful bezel-less device that we had been waiting for. The Sharp Aquos looked similar but had a huge chin and seemed a dud in the time of monstrous phones.

Two years later, Xiaomi has unveiled its phone that looks like you’re holding a display in your hand, if you ignore the small chin at the bottom. Scheduled to release on November 4, the smartphone will be priced at around $500 or Rs. 30,000, which brings it into OnePlus 3’s territory.

OnePlus 3 is also awaiting a small update in the coming months, called OnePlus 3T, and the company has been working hard to make its smartphone more attractive with minor updates to the CPU and the display. Since both the phones have similar specs and are much cheaper than the iPhones and Pixels of our world, we thought we should see which one would be a better worth of your money.

Specifications	Xiaomi Mi Mix	OnePlus 3T
Display	Striking 6.4-inch IPS LCD bezel-less 2040×1080 display with 91.3% screen-to-body ratio	5.5-inch AMOLED 1920×1080 display with 73.15% screen-to-body ratio
Pixel density	362 ppi	401 ppi
Android version	Android 6.0 Marshmallow with MIUI	Android 7.0 Nougat with Oxygen OS on top
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 821	Qualcomm Snapdragon 821
GPU	Adreno 530	Adreno 530
RAM	4GB/6GB	6GB
Memory	128GB/256GB	64GB
Primary Camera	16 MP, f/2.0, EIS (gyro), phase detection autofocus, dual-LED (dual tone) flash	16 MP, f/2.0, phase detection autofocus, OIS, LED flash
Front Camera	5 MP	8 MP, f/2.0, 1/3.2″ sensor size, 1.4 µm pixel size, 1080p
USB slot	Type-C with quick charge 3.0	Type-C with dash charging
Battery	4,400 mAh	3,000 mAh

It can be seen that both the phones have some very distinct characteristics. However, one thing will differentiate them is the price point. OnePlus 3 is available in India for Rs. 27,999 and the next iteration, 3T, will also be available at the same point, since it is only a minor upgrade in terms of the SoC and the Android version.

One the other hand, the Mi Mix will come in a few versions – 4GB RAM + 128GB storage will retail for 3,499 Yuan(Rs. 35,000), while the 18k gold embossed version with 6GB RAM + 256GB storage will retail for 3,999 Yuan(Rs. 40,000).

However, for Rs. 5-6k more, what you get is a beautifully designed smartphone with well-rounded and thin bezels, a large screen-to-body ratio and a the camera placed at the bottom chin, which also takes up lesser space than usual.

However, for Indian smartphone users there is a caveat – Mi Mix will not be available in India – so, it will be very difficult to get your hands on it!

Which one wins the battle?

At this point of time, it looks like Mi Mix wins hands down, even if we take pricing into consideration. But since everyone has his/her choices and like and dislikes, it’s better to note that these phones will cater to a specific population.

Where the OnePlus 3T wins is that it is smaller to hold in hand, and comes at a lower price point. It has a snappy processor, 6GB RAM and dash charging that complement its poor battery. The UI of the phone is definitely cleaner and there is lots to play with, and for someone who is looking for a stock Android experience must go with OnePlus 3T.

But that’s about it for this phone, the Mi Mix is a beast when it comes to specifications. With 6GB on-board storage and 256 gigs of internal memory, the phone is all you need for your day-to-day life.

A large 6.4-inch screen might repel a few, but remember that the screen-to-body ratio is high, which means it is as big as the iPhone and Pixel phones in terms of size. However, hand accessibility will be a challenge and Xiaomi has included nifty software feature to tackle this issue.

The well-rounded bezels and a large clear display are attractive, and to add to that a large battery will definitely help users get through at least 1 day of charge with ease. We will have to test out the cameras on both the smartphones, but Xiaomi’s camera lenses are promising. For someone with large hands, this phone is just perfect.

We hope you’re waiting for November 4, the day the company officially launches the Mi Mix in China. While Hugo Barra has mentioned that Mi Mix will not be available in India, you never know, given the curiosity and demand, you might get a surprise!