Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G

Get 5G speeds the most affordable way

Like Huawei, OnePlus and Oppo, Xiaomi has decided to reprise one of its pre-5G phones to make its debut in the 5G space. Rather than its latest flagship phone, however, it has picked the slightly older Xiaomi Mi Mix 3.

The Mi Mix 3 5G includes a battery boost compared to the original, though that has come at the cost of wireless charging. The rest of the specs read almost identically, and just like a flagship, with an all-screen display, dual front and rear cameras, a Snapdragon 855 chipset and an ample 3,800mAh capacity battery.

You’ll have a hard time finding the Mi Mix 3 5G off-contract in the UK. The phone is available through Vodafone, and that’s where you’ll have to buy it from rather than Xiaomi’s Mi store, which is where you can find the rest of its line-up.

Starting at £56 per month with a £29 upfront cost, the base package offered with the Mi Mix 3 5G doesn’t include 5G data speeds, so don’t go for it. Instead, stump up an extra £7 per month for the Unlimited Max package. When you consider the 4G options you could pick up for that kind of money – the excellent Huawei P30 Pro is available for significantly less on the same package – it becomes clear, 5G is a pricey added extra.

O2 has confirmed it’ll also be bringing the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G into its range soon. The Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G isn’t currently available at all in the US.

Design and screen

Like the original, the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G is a hefty bit of kit; clocking in at 225g, it’s almost as heavy as the significantly larger Huawei Mate 20 X. Despite its weight, the phone fits comfortably in the hand and pocket, given the fact it’s heavy, not huge. The weight also adds a premium feel to the mix.