Xiaomi render suggests the Mi Mix 3 will also feature a mechanical slider

Xiaomi's upcoming Mi Mix 3 will also have a mechanical slider, but it could be very different from what we've already seen so far.

When Xiaomi unveiled the Mi Mix 2 last year, it mentioned that it experimented with different designs for hiding the front camera before settling on the current implementation — positioning it in the bottom bar. One of those designs included a notch much like the Essential Phone, and at the time Xiaomi said it would try something different this year.

We now have a better idea of that will look like thanks to a render posted by Xiaomi president Lin Bin on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo. According to the render, the upcoming Mi Mix 3 will sport a camera slider that's similar to what we've seen on the Find X, with the front camera housing tucked behind the slider.

That said, there are a few key differences. Based on the render, it looks like Xiaomi is integrating the camera module into the chassis itself, with the display sliding down to reveal the camera array. It also looks like we'll see a similar IR-based face unlock system like the Mi 8 and the POCO F1.

Bin's post came on the heels of the Honor Magic 2 announcement, with Honor's upcoming phone also offering a mechanical slider that hides the camera sensors. The Mi Mix 2 debuted last September, but the Mix 3 is slated for an unveil in the month of October.