Discover the Huawei Mate X2 4G in this detailed review, exploring its foldable design, performance, camera setup, and battery life. A flagship phone that redefines innovation in mobile technology.
Introduction
The Huawei Mate X2 4G is one of the most innovative foldable smartphones on the market, released in July 2021. Known for pushing boundaries, Huawei has combined a foldable design with powerful hardware to create a unique smartphone experience. Even though this is a 4G model and lacks 5G connectivity, it retains the same premium features as its 5G counterpart, making it an attractive choice for users who prioritize cutting-edge technology over network speed.
The Mate X2 4G is powered by the Kirin 9000 chipset, sports an 8-inch foldable OLED display, and offers an impressive quad-camera setup co-engineered with Leica. Coupled with HarmonyOS 2.0, the Mate X2 4G provides a seamless and fluid user experience, despite the absence of Google Play Services.
This review will take a closer look at the design, display, camera system, performance, and other aspects of the Mate X2 4G, helping you decide if this foldable flagship is worth its premium price tag.
Design and Build Quality
Huawei has refined the foldable design with the Mate X2, moving away from its outward-folding predecessor. The new inward-folding design features a glass front (when folded), a glass back, and an aluminum frame, giving the phone a premium look and feel. The hinge mechanism is robust, and Huawei has done an impressive job of eliminating the visible crease in the unfolded display, offering a seamless viewing experience.
When unfolded, the Mate X2 4G measures 161.8 x 145.8 x 8.2 mm, while in its folded state, the dimensions reduce to 161.8 x 74.6 x 14.7 mm. Weighing 295g, it is quite heavy, but that’s expected with foldable devices. The weight distribution feels balanced, making it comfortable to use with two hands.
The phone is available in three sleek colors: Black, White, and Light Blue, all of which exude sophistication.
Display
The Huawei Mate X2 4G boasts an 8.0-inch foldable OLED display with a resolution of 2200 x 2480 pixels, offering an impressive 414 ppi pixel density. This large, immersive display is perfect for watching movies, gaming, and multitasking. The foldable OLED screen supports a 90Hz refresh rate, ensuring smooth scrolling and fluid animations.
When folded, the external 6.45-inch OLED display comes into play. It features a resolution of 1160 x 2700 pixels, which is sharp and vibrant, offering an excellent experience for tasks that don’t require the full unfolded screen, such as calls or quick app usage.
Both the main display and cover display support HDR, ensuring vibrant colors and deep contrast, making the Mate X2 4G a visual treat whether folded or unfolded.
Performance
Under the hood, the Huawei Mate X2 4G is powered by the Kirin 9000 chipset, built on a 5nm process. The chipset is an octa-core processor with 1×3.13 GHz Cortex-A77, 3×2.54 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4×2.05 GHz Cortex-A55 cores, delivering flagship-level performance. Paired with the Mali-G78 MP24 GPU, the phone handles intensive gaming, video editing, and multitasking with ease.
The device comes with 8GB of RAM and either 256GB or 512GB of internal storage, which is expandable via Nano Memory (NM) cards up to 256GB. The inclusion of UFS 3.X storage ensures fast data transfer speeds, enhancing the overall user experience.
While the absence of 5G connectivity might be a drawback for some, the Mate X2 4G remains a powerhouse in every other aspect, providing more than enough speed and performance for most users.
Software
The Huawei Mate X2 4G runs on HarmonyOS 2.0, Huawei’s in-house operating system developed as a response to the limitations imposed by the US ban. While it lacks Google Play Services, the OS is smooth, user-friendly, and supports a variety of apps through the AppGallery and third-party app stores.
HarmonyOS is optimized for the foldable form factor, offering unique multitasking capabilities such as split-screen and multi-window modes, allowing users to run multiple apps simultaneously on the large foldable display.
Camera
Huawei is known for its top-tier camera systems, and the Mate X2 4G does not disappoint. The quad-camera setup, engineered in partnership with Leica, includes:
- 50 MP primary sensor (f/1.9, 23mm wide, OIS, multi-directional PDAF): This large sensor captures stunningly detailed and vibrant photos in a variety of lighting conditions, while OIS ensures stability during handheld photography.
- 12 MP telephoto lens (f/2.4, 70mm, OIS, 3x optical zoom): Perfect for zoom shots with minimal loss of quality.
- 8 MP periscope telephoto lens (f/4.4, 240mm, OIS, 10x optical zoom): This lens offers incredible zoom capabilities, allowing users to capture distant subjects with sharpness and clarity.
- 16 MP ultrawide sensor (f/2.2, 17mm): Ideal for landscape shots and group photos, the ultrawide lens offers a wide field of view without distorting the edges.
The camera system is supported by features such as Laser autofocus, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, and HDR. The phone can record video in 4K at 30/60fps and 1080p at 30/60fps, with gyro-EIS providing stabilization during video recording.
On the front, the Mate X2 4G has a 16 MP selfie camera, capable of capturing high-quality wide-angle selfies and supporting 1080p video recording at 30fps.
Battery and Charging
The Huawei Mate X2 4G is powered by a 4500mAh battery, which is more than enough to get you through a full day of moderate use, even with the large foldable display. Battery life may vary depending on how much you use the internal screen versus the external one, but overall, the phone performs admirably in terms of power management.
One of the standout features is the 55W wired fast charging, which can charge the phone from 0 to 100% in just under an hour. Unfortunately, the Mate X2 4G does not support wireless charging, which might be a downside for some users.
Connectivity and Other Features
The Mate X2 4G offers a full suite of connectivity options, including Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and NFC. The phone also supports dual-band Wi-Fi Direct and has a USB Type-C 3.1 port for fast charging and data transfer.
For positioning, the device includes GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, and NavIC, ensuring accurate location tracking globally.
In terms of security, the Mate X2 4G includes a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, which is fast and responsive. Other sensors include an accelerometer, gyro, proximity sensor, compass, barometer, and color spectrum sensor.
Price and Availability
The Huawei Mate X2 4G is priced at around 2290 EUR, positioning it firmly in the premium category. While the price might seem steep, it reflects the cutting-edge technology and innovative foldable design that Huawei has integrated into this flagship device. For users who prioritize form factor and performance over 5G connectivity, the Mate X2 4G is a compelling option.
Specifications Table
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 161.8 x 145.8 x 8.2 mm / Folded: 161.8 x 74.6 x 14.7 mm |
| Weight | 295 g (10.41 oz) |
| SIM | Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Display (Main) | 8.0 inches, Foldable OLED, 2200 x 2480 pixels, 90Hz |
| Display (Cover) | 6.45 inches, OLED, 1160 x 2700 pixels, 90Hz |
| OS | HarmonyOS 2.0 |
| Chipset | Kirin 9000 (5nm) |
| CPU | Octa-core (1×3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3×2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4×2.05 GHz Cortex-A55) |
| GPU | Mali-G78 MP24 |
| Internal Storage | 256GB/512GB, 8GB RAM, UFS 3.X, NM Card slot (up to 256GB) |
| Main Camera | Quad: 50 MP (wide), 12 MP (telephoto), 8 MP (periscope telephoto), 16 MP (ultrawide) |
| Selfie Camera | 16 MP (wide) |
| Battery | 4500 mAh, 55W wired fast charging |
| Colors | Black, White, Light Blue |
| Price | Around 2290 EUR |
Conclusion
The Huawei Mate X2 4G is a premium foldable smartphone that offers an unparalleled experience in design, performance, and camera capabilities. Although it lacks 5G, the Mate X2 4G compensates with its Kirin 9000 chipset, large foldable OLED display, and Leica quad-camera system, making it an excellent choice for users who want a cutting-edge device without the need for 5G connectivity. At 2290 EUR, it’s a significant investment, but for those who value innovation and functionality, the Mate X2 4G is well worth the price.
Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
