The first Xiaomi Mi Max phablet was unveiled in May 2016 and a year later, the second model was announced. Well, another year down the line and we have yet another Mi Max device in the shape of Xiaomi Mi Max 3.

The term phablet was coined to refer to smartphones with huge screens that can easily be mistaken for tablets or simply put, those that fall in between what is an ideal smartphone and tablet size. It’s a relatively new term that came about thanks to devices like the 2016 Xiaomi Mi Max and its 6.44-inch display screen that was carried on to the 2017 Mi Max 2.

Today, we have a new member of the Mi Max family, the third-generation Xiaomi Mi Max 3, and honestly, this is the device that completely blurs the gap that has always existed between smartphones and tablets, as traditionally known.

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Xiaomi Mi Max 3 specs

  • 6.9-inch 18:9 FHD+ LCD display
  • Qualcomm Snapdragon 636 processor
  • 4GB or 6GB RAM
  • 64GB or 128GB expandable storage
  • Dual 12MP + 5MP main camera
  • 8MP front camera
  • 5500mAh battery
  • Android 8.1 Oreo

Looking at the specs sheet, the Xiaomi Mi Max 3 is indeed an upgrade to the Mi Max 2. You are getting a bigger display screen donned in a modern-day body with slimmer bezels, meaning the device’s footprint hasn’t changed much.

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Under the hood, the Mi Max 3 has the same Snapdragon 636 processor that has made devices like Xiaomi Redmi Note 5 Pro and Asus ZenFone Max Pro M1 such popular smartphones in markets they are currently selling, something Xiaomi wants to further capitalize. Unlike last year where all three storage variants had 4GB of RAM, this year’s two storage options have two different RAM configurations, with the high-end standing at 6/128GB with room to expand via a microSD card.

Xiaomi chose to stick to the 3.5mm audio jack and USB-C port from last year and the fingerprint scanner also keeps its place on the back. Speaking of which, you also find a second lens to add to the single 12MP unit used on the Mi Max 2. Like what you find on the global Redmi Note 5, Xiaomi’s says there is a lot of AI in the Mi Max 3 to help you get the best photography experience as well as easily unlock your device through a face unlock algorithm. Apparently, the phone will learn how to add bokeh effects to photos with time as well as adapt to 206 different scenes while at the same time changing how it takes photos.

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Xiaomi Mi Max 3 has a bigger 5500mAh battery that supports Quick Charge 3.0 technology, something that has become a norm in the Mi Max family. You also get things like 4G LTE, dual stereo speakers, Bluetooth 5.0, IR sensor, GLONASS, and so on.

As expected, the phone runs Android 8.1 Oreo with MIUI on top, probably version 9.5, and is expected to offer the Google Assistant in global markets, although those in China will get the company’s own digital assistant, the XiaoAI, and the Chinese ROM of MIUI.

Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Pro coming soon

It had been reported rumored that Xiaomi Mi Max 3 will be accompanied by a Pro variant, but at the launch event, there was none to be seen. Not long after, a Xiaomi Mi Max 3 Pro has appeared alongside other Snapdragon 710-powered smartphones like Vivo Nex A and Xiaomi Mi 8 SE. This suggests there’s a Mi Max 3 Pro in the making and could be unveiled soon, although the date remains unknown.

It’s possible that the only major difference between the standard and Pro variant of the phablet would be the processor while everything else will remain unchanged. We’ll update this post with more details if and when we get them.

Xiaomi Mi Max 3 price and availability

Speaking of global markets, Xiaomi hasn’t given the Mi Max 3 a global launch date. The device will go on sale in China beginning July 20th priced at CNY 1,699 for the base model of 4GB RAM and 64GB storage while the high-end 6GB RAM and 128GB storage costs CNY 1,999. These prices translate to about $250 or INR 17,300 and $300 or INR 20,300, respectively, but of course, we expect price variations in different markets.

The Mi Max 3 will be sold in three color variants of Meteorite Black, Dream Gold, and Dark Blue.