Where is the front camera of the Xiaomi Mi Mix – the first frameless smartphone in the world?

The first frameless smartphone Xiaomi Mi Mix, presented in October 2016 It was a revolution in the industry. 91,3%-screen-to-body The ratio caught the imagination of users, but the question immediately arose: where did the front camera go? Unlike modern solutions with cutouts or mechanical modules, Xiaomi engineers took the radical step of hiding it in the bottom frame. Some admired the brand’s boldness, others criticized the inconvenience of using it.

Now that frameless screens have become the standard, Xiaomi's solution seems archaic, but in 2016 it was a breakthrough. In this article, we'll go through the exact location of the front camera in the Mi Mix, analyze the pros and cons of this approach, compare it with modern analogues and answer the questions that still bother owners of this iconic device. If you ever held this smartphone or just interested in the history of mobile technology, you will be useful to know how Xiaomi solved one of the most difficult engineering problems of the time.

1. Design Features of Xiaomi Mi Mix: Why is the Camera Not In Place?

The main feature of the Xiaomi Mi Mix was the absence of a top bezels, which automatically ruled out the traditional placement of the front camera above the screen. The company's engineers faced a dilemma: either sacrifice the frameless design or look for an alternative solution, and the second way was chosen - moving the camera to the bottom of the case.

Technically, this was done as follows:

• 📱 The screen occupies 91.3% of the front panel, leaving the minimum lower frame width. ~5 mm.
• 📸 Front camera (5 MPP, f/2.0) It's below the display, but not behind it -- it's shifted down and slightly to the right.
• 🔊 The speaker for conversations is integrated into the top of the screen (cantilever piezoelectric speaker technology), which allowed to remove the hole for it.
• 🔋 Sensors (light and approximation) are also transferred under the screen, but work through a semi-transparent area.

This approach had serious ergonomics implications, where users had to flip their smartphone upside down to take selfies, which became a meme and a major drawback of the model, but in 2016, it was a justified sacrifice for innovative design.

⚠️ Note: If you buy a Xiaomi Mi Mix from hand, check the front camera before payment. Due to the inconvenient location, many users rarely use it, which can mask defects (for example, a broken lens or a faulty plume).

2. The exact location of the front camera: diagram and photo

The front camera in the Mi Mix is in the lower frame of the body, but not in the center, but with a shift to the right (when you look at the screen with your face).

• 📏 Stand back. ~1 cm from the lower right corner of the screen.
• 🔍 Take a closer look: under the glass you can see a small circular hole with a diameter ~3 mm.
• 📸 This is where the camera lens (5 MP) and LED flash are located.

For clarity, we give a comparative table of the location of front cameras in different generations of Mi Mix:

As you can see from the table, the Mi Mix was the only model in the series where the camera was hidden in the bottom frame, already in the Mi Mix 2 it was moved closer to the center, and in the Mi Mix it was moved to the center. 2S A classic cutout (notch) appeared).

3. Problems and disadvantages of the lower location of the camera

Despite the innovation, Xiaomi’s solution had a number of significant disadvantages, which were noted by users and experts:

• 🤳 Inconvenient selfies: To take a photo, you had to turn the phone upside down, which looked ridiculous and complicated the layout of the frame.
• 🎥 Video problems: when shooting vertical video, the camera was at the bottom, not at the top, which violated the usual logic of viewing.
• 🔦 Poor lighting: Lower position often leaves the face in the shade, especially when shooting against the sun.
• 🛠️ Difficulty repairing: camera plume goes through the entire board, and its replacement requires a complete dismantling of the smartphone.

Moreover, many apps (like Snapchat or Instagram) were not optimized for this non-standard camera location, resulting in photos upside down and the program interface was confused, Xiaomi released several updates to fix this problem, but failed to completely solve it.

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi Mi Mix with custom firmware (like LineageOS), check the front camera before installing. Some builds incorrectly handle image rotation, which can keep selfies upside down even after post-processing.

4. How Xiaomi improved camera layout in subsequent models

Experience with the Mi Mix showed that a radical solution with a lower camera is not justified from the point of view of ergonomics, in subsequent models of the series Xiaomi experimented with different approaches:

1. Mi Mix 2 (2017): The camera remained in the lower frame, but was moved closer to the center, which slightly improved the composition of the selfie, but the problem with the inverted shots remained.
2. Mi Mix 2S (2018: The appearance of a notch at the top of the screen is a classic solution used by most manufacturers in 2018-2019.
3. Mi Mix 3 (2018): It was a mechanical slider that pulled the camera out of the top of the body. 93,4%-screen-to-body ratio without compromise as a selfie.
4. Mi Mix 4 (2021): Subscreen camera (technology) CUP — Camera Under Panel, which is hidden under the pixels of the display. It's the most modern solution, but with compromises in the quality of the images.

Interestingly, the Mi Mix 3 with a mechanical slider was the most successful compromise between design and functionality, but the complexity of the design and the risk of failure of the mechanism forced Xiaomi to abandon this decision in favor of underscreen cameras.

5. Comparison with modern frameless smartphones

Today, manufacturers use three main approaches to placing front-facing cameras in frameless smartphones:

With the current Xiaomi Mi Mix, it looks archaic, but it's important to remember the context: in 2016, there were no alternatives: cutouts were not mainstream yet, mechanical modules were in the prototype stage, and subscreen cameras were fantastic. Xiaomi took a chance and offered a radical solution that, despite its shortcomings, inspired the entire industry to find new form factors.

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If you want to replicate the Xiaomi Mi Mix experience, but without its drawbacks, look at the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 with a mechanical slider. It retains the spirit of innovation, but is free of selfie problems. In the secondary market, it can be found at a price. ~15-20 thousand rubles (for 2026).

6.How to take a selfie on Xiaomi Mi Mix: step-by-step instructions

Despite the inconvenience, taking a selfie on the Mi Mix is a real possibility.

1. Open the Camera app (or any other front-facing app).
2. Touch the camera switch icon (usually in the upper right corner) – it looks like two arrows forming a circle.
3. Turn your smartphone downwards (so that the bottom bezel is on top) and the camera is now in the usual selfie spot.
4. Hold the phone with both hands to avoid shaking.The Mi Mix's custom grip makes it easy to slip out of your hands!
5. Press the down button or use a gesture (such as a smile or voice command if they are set up).
6. After shooting, return the phone to normal position, and the photo will automatically unfold (in the standard camera app).

If the picture is saved upside down, correct it in any graphic editor. In Google Photos, just open the photo, click Edit → Turning and choosing the right orientation.

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The main problem with the Xiaomi Mi Mix selfie is not technical, but psychological. Users are used to the front camera being on top, and the unusual location is uncomfortable, but after 1-2 weeks of use, most people adapt and stop paying attention to it.

7. Frequent breakage of the front chamber and methods of repair

The unusual location of the front camera Mi Mix is subject to specific breakdowns, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

• 🔌 The camera doesn't work, most often it's due to a plume break that goes from the bottom bezel to the motherboard, and repairs require a complete dismantling of the smartphone and soldering of a new plume (cost). ~3-5 thousand rubles).
• 💡 The flash doesn't burn: it's usually oxidized contact or a burnt-out LED. In some cases, cleaning with alcohol helps, but more often it requires replacing the module.
• 📵 The camera floats or gives out artifacts: this can be caused by damage to the flexible cable or moisture. Check the tightness of the case - there is no official water protection in the Mi Mix!
• 🔄 Photos are saved upside down: the problem is software, solved by software updates or using third-party applications (for example, Footoj or Camera). MX).

If you want to repair your camera yourself, consider:

• 🛠️ To disassemble Mi Mix need a special tool - plastic shoulder blades and a suction cup for the screen.
• ⚡ Static electricity can damage the camera plume.
• 🔧 The camera plume is attached to the board with microscopic latches!

⚠️ Note: When replacing the front camera in Xiaomi Mi Mix, the touchscreen at the bottom of the screen is often damaged.This is due to the fact that the camera plume passes under the display. If after repair the screen has ceased to respond to touches in the lower bezel area, you will need to replace the touchscreen (cost) ~8-12 thousand rubles).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Mi Mix Front Camera