Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G review

As with all of the 5G phones we've reviewed, in isolation, the Mi Mix 5G is a great bit of kit, but the premium 5G adds is hard to justify until the service really takes off. We were only able to reach speeds of 250Mbps in our time with the phone, and we had to hunt for 5G in central London. And while we found EE to perform faster than Vodafone in general when we did have 5G signal in London, the service is in its infancy, and both networks are live in a handful of postcodes. As for the phone, the Mi Mix 5G needs a bit of TLC to get the best from it, so you'll want to tinker with the interface and play about with the camera settings. Once done though, it's a corker. If you're smitten with the slider, want to dive wallet-first into a 5G contract with Vodafone, but don't want to spend Samsung Galaxy S10 5G money, it could be a great choice. If you don't need the speed, however, you can confidently opt for a 4G alternative.

5G is fast when you can find it; All-screen display looks great; Feels solid and premium;

A heavy phone for its size; UI is loaded up with bloatware; 5G coverage is sparse (Aug 2019);

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 Review: Sliding Into Our Affections

Swapping out the awkwardly placed selfie camera with a new dual-lens model that is tucked away behind the screen, the Mi Mix 3 is one of several new slider phones that shows how the concept *should* work. Not only allowing a proper full-display view, but adding new quick-access functionality to the phone. In other respects Mi Mix 3 is not a huge upgrade over the 2S, and actually loses some of its bling over its predecessor with the absence of its 18K gold camera surround. But it's still a great phone - fast, stylish, feature-packed and available at an incredible price - and it's astonishing to see just how far the original full-display phone has come. The 5G variant is similarly good value, and not only the first 5G phone to go on sale in the UK but also the cheapest.

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 vs Mi Mix 3 5G: Tested on Vodafone 5G Network

The Mi Mix 3 5G is faster and has a higher-capacity battery than the standard Mi Mix 3, yet weighs only 8g more. And while Vodafone’s 5G network is patchy right now, by the time you’re even halfway through your 24-month contract we should be in a completely different situation in terms of coverage. But are you prepared to pay double dollar for the priviledge of future-proofed connectivity and slightly better performance on an already fast phone?

Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G review review

5G is fast when you can find it; All-screen display looks great; Feels solid and premium;

A heavy phone for its size; UI is loaded up with bloatware; 5G coverage is sparse (Aug 2019);