We've been seeing loads of new foldable phones recently, and one we're expecting to show up before too long is the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2. As the name reveals, this is the anticipated follow-up to the original Mi Mix Fold from 2021.
There's been a recent foldable phone gold rush, with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3 , followed by the Huawei P50 Pocket , Honor Magic V , Oppo Find N , and likely more soon.
That means the Mix Fold 2 would enter a far more competitive market than its predecessor, so Xiaomi needs to design a top foldable to impress us.
With that, the best thing the phone could do would be to 'go on sale globally' – like the foldables from Honor and Oppo. The original Mi Mix Fold only hit store shelves in China, but since Xiaomi is such a big player globally we'd love to see its next bending mobile get a wider availability.
We've heard a few leaks and rumors about the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2, and you can find them below along with our wishlist for the phone. It's still the early days for the phone though, and we'll hopefully get more information into 2022.
Cut to the chase
Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 release date and price
We haven't heard any price or release date leaks or rumors for the Mix Fold 2, and because it's not a regularly released device from Xiaomi, we can't rely on precedent too much. So stay tuned.
The original Mi Mix Fold cost 9,999 yuan (around $1,520 / £1,100 / AU$2,000) – it only launched in China so we don't have international pricing – but we've often seen second-generation foldable phones to cost less than their predecessors, so the Mix Fold 2 could be cheaper.
That phone launched at the end of March 2021, so if Xiaomi decides to adopt a yearly release pattern, the next one could come in March 2022. That said, we've heard a Mix Flip is also on the way, which could affect the release schedule in some way.
News and rumors
How do we know a Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 is coming at all? Well, it seems very likely thanks to a Xiaomi phone leak that detailed many upcoming phones from the brand – two code names listed "thunder" and "light" are thought to refer to upcoming foldable phones.
Since there are only really two designs for foldable phones right now, book-style (like the original Mi Mix Fold) or clamshell (like the Motorola Razr 2019 ), it seems likely that one is the rumored Mix Flip and the other is the successor to the Mix Fold.
We've heard a bit more about the phone, too. Recently, a leak suggested the phone will use ultra-thin glass (UTG) for its display, which is a glass-like form of plastic that some top foldables use.
Way before that, another leak also pointed to UTG, and also pointed towards a potential size for the phone. Apparently, it'll have a 6.52-inch outer display and 8.01-inch inner one, though resolution and refresh rate eludes us right now.
What we want to see
Here's our wishlist for the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2, based on the predecessor as well as other trends in the foldable phone market.
1. Global availability
This one's a bit of a no-brainer, but we want to be able to test a Xiaomi foldable phone.
While the original only launched in China, hopefully the increased market for foldables in other regions might prompt Xiaomi to release its second-gen device in a few more places.
2. An improved outer display
The Xiaomi Mi Mix Fold had a rather old-school looking outer display, as it had an absolutely massive bezel – the black border around the screen – which severely reduced the screen-to-body ratio.
We'd like to see a newer version reduce the bezel. Screen real estate is important for mobiles, especially foldables which are designed to give you the maximum screen space for your buck, so this move is important.
The screen was also thin, with a 27:9 aspect ratio (which made it much narrower than a typical smartphone), and that reduced the usability of the outer screen, too.
3. A lower-res main camera
Xiaomi used to champion 108MP main cameras in loads of its smartphones, including the original Mi Mix Fold, but recently it's started opting for more 50MP main snappers instead, particularly in its newest flagship, the Xiaomi 12 .
That's not a bad thing because a camera's resolution doesn't always indicate its quality. In fact, the Xiaomi 12 line's 50MP cameras have bigger sensor sizes than the 108MP snappers Xiaomi has previously used, which arguably results in better pictures anyway.
We'd like to see the Mix Fold 2 use a 50MP main camera for this reason. In addition, we'd like it to use 50MP telephoto and ultra-wide snappers too, like the Xiaomi 12 Pro or Mi 11 Ultra , as this combo has worked well for the brand before.
A new PS5 update is here, but a more exciting change is coming soon
Update: It turns out Sony snuck another PS5 feature into the new system update : auto low latency mode. This display technology automatically switches your TV to Game Mode when you play on PS5, which means you'll always be using the best picture setting with the lowest input lag available – handy if you're someone who doesn't tend to fiddle with your TV's settings.
Original story: Sony has confirmed that VRR support for PS5 is coming “in the months ahead”, as a new system software update rolls out to PS4 and PlayStation 5 users today.
The new PS5 system update adds a number of pleasing features, including improvements to party chat, the ability to pin games to your home screen, voice commands , improvements to the console’s UI, and a stealthy update to the Pulse 3D Wireless Headset .
Sony has also made it possible for users to join a party using the PS App and added a dark mode for PS Remote Play on both iOS and Android.
However, even though these updates are more than welcome and continue to improve the overall experience on PS5 , it’s the announcement of VRR support that will delight those who own compatible HDMI 2.1 displays.
“VRR dynamically syncs the refresh rate of the display of the PS5 console’s graphical output,” the PlayStation Blog announcement reads. “This enhances visual performance for PS5 games by minimizing or eliminating visual artifacts, such as frame pacing issues and screen tearing. Gameplay in many PS5 titles feels smoother as scenes render instantly, graphics look crisper, and input lag is reduced.”
According to Sony, previously released PS5 games will require a game patch to be fully optimized for VRR, while future games may include VRR support at launch. The company plans to share some of the games that will benefit from VRR support through a game patch soon.
That doesn’t mean VRR is restricted to only games that receive a patch, though. There will be an option in the PS5’s setting to apply VRR to unsupported games, which could improve the quality of some games. If you notice any unexpected results, you can always turn this option off.
Analysis: VRR is a game-changer for PS5
With more games targeting 60fps as standard, as well as many capable of hitting framerates of up to 120fps , VRR is a huge addition to the PS5 for a number of reasons.
As Sony highlights, VRR can not only improve the performance of games that may have an unstable framerate or are prone to the odd dip, but it also helps reduce input lag, making games feel more responsive as a result.
VRR also completely eliminates unsightly screen tearing, which can occur when a game’s framerate is out of sync with a display’s.
We’re starting to see more titles offer a suite of graphical modes and options, like Ghostwire: Tokyo which offers six modes to choose from. However, these modes are currently severely hampered due to the lack of VRR support as they feature fluctuating framerates, can be prone to screen tearing, or are impacted by increased input lag when VSync is used. VRR support would fix these problems.
In 2022, VRR has become a more common feature in modern TVs and displays that include HDMI 2.1 ports, so it’s refreshing to see Sony finally add the feature to PS5. Xbox consoles have had VRR support since 2018, so it’s certainly been a long time coming.
Now, let’s see if Sony can add 1440p support for the thousands of PS5 gamers who play using a monitor.
How to change your PSN name | How to turn off adaptive triggers and haptic feedback | How to enable PS5 3D audio for TV speakers | How to upgrade PS5 internal SSD storage | How to clear the cache on PS5 | How to turn off a PS5 | How to use a PS4 controller on PS5
Prime Video's It Takes Two movie could feature an unlikely star
Dwayne Johnson is leading the charge on an It Takes Two movie adaptation for Prime Video.
The Red Notice star has signed on to co-produce the project alongside Amazon Studios (per Variety ), with Sonic the Hedgehog duo Pat Casey and Josh Miller in tow as lead writers. There’s been no word yet on whether Johnson himself will star in the film, though Variety reports that it remains a possibility at this early stage of development.
Considered one of the best games of 2021 , It Takes Two tells the endearing tale of parents Cody and May, a squabbling couple who find themselves (thanks to a little magic) embodying two of their daughter’s handmade dolls. The pair must work together to escape their predicament – all while taking relationship advice from an anthropomorphic therapy book determined to prevent their divorce.
If that sounds like an off-beat choice of story for a Hollywood mega-star like Dwayne Johnson, you’re not alone in thinking so. Johnson has experience when it comes to adapting video games for the big screen – he starred in 2005’s Doom and 2018’s Rampage – but It Takes Two is a far cry from the bullets and brawn of his previous projects.
Alongside Johnson and frequent collaborators Dany Garcia and Hiram Garcia, It Takes Two’s original developers, Hazelight Studios’ Josef Fares and Oskar Wolontis, will also executive produce the movie – suggesting fans will be treated to a faithful re-telling of Cody and May's story.
Is this the ‘badass’ video game adaptation Johnson teased?
While promoting his upcoming DCEU movie , Black Adam, back in January 2022, Johnson teased to Men’s Health that he was working on a movie adaptation for "one of the biggest, most badass games" of all time.
"I can’t tell you which game in particular we’re doing, but there will be an announcement this year," the actor said at the time. “I’m really excited to bring it to fans around the world. Of course we’re going to do right by our gamer friends – but really we’re just going to make a great movie."
Could It Takes Two be the mystery movie Johnson was referring to? In our opinion, no. As brilliant as Hazelight Studios’ platformer is, you’d be hard-pressed to justify describing it as “badass”. What’s more, Johnson revealed that the game in question is one “that [he’s] played for years” – It Takes Two was only released in March 2021.
It’s almost certain, then, that Johnson was referring to another video game title. He’s previously expressed a love for the Madden and Call of Duty franchises, while Gears of War and Fornite have been touted as other possible candidates.
In any case, given that the actor promised an announcement would be coming “this year,” we’re expecting confirmation of the mystery title in the coming months.
Until then, we’re mightily excited to see Johnson’s vision for an It Takes Two movie. Sure, it’s an unexpected choice for a man of his, erm, stature, but the game’s story definitely lends itself to a Borrowers-style adaptation.
No release date has been put forward for the project just yet, but we don’t expect It Takes Two to arrive on Prime Video until 2023 at the very earliest.