Discover the Huawei Mate X2, a cutting-edge foldable smartphone with an 8″ OLED display, Kirin 9000 chipset, and 50MP quad-camera system. Explore its innovative design and top-tier performance in this detailed review.
Introduction
The Huawei Mate X2, released in February 2021, represents Huawei’s continued push to dominate the foldable smartphone market. With an impressive 8-inch foldable OLED display, Kirin 9000 5G chipset, and a 50MP Leica quad-camera system, the Mate X2 is designed to offer a premium experience for users seeking innovation and power in one device.
The Mate X2 refines the foldable design with a seamless inward fold, larger outer cover display, and a powerful set of cameras. However, the lack of Google Play Services might be a drawback for some. In this review, we’ll examine the Huawei Mate X2’s design, display, performance, camera capabilities, and battery life to see how it stacks up against other foldable devices.
Design and Build Quality
The Huawei Mate X2 features a dual-screen design, with a large 8.0-inch foldable OLED display on the inside and a 6.45-inch cover display on the outside. The inward folding design helps protect the larger display from scratches and damage, improving durability compared to its predecessor. The aluminum frame and glass front and back give the phone a premium feel, while the 295g weight is noticeable but acceptable given the device’s capabilities.
The device measures 161.8 x 145.8 x 8.2 mm when unfolded and 161.8 x 74.6 x 14.7 mm when folded, making it compact enough to fit in a pocket while offering a large tablet-like experience when fully open. Available in a variety of elegant colors, including Black, White, Light Blue, Rose Gold, and a special Collector’s Edition, the Mate X2 exudes a luxurious design.
The phone is hybrid dual-SIM, supporting Nano-SIMs with 5G connectivity and IP53 splash resistance, providing basic protection against water and dust.
Display
The 8.0-inch foldable OLED display is the standout feature of the Huawei Mate X2, offering an expansive and immersive screen with a resolution of 2200 x 2480 pixels and a pixel density of 413 ppi. The 90Hz refresh rate ensures smooth scrolling and fluid animations, making it perfect for multitasking, media consumption, and gaming. The colors are vivid, and the OLED panel delivers excellent contrast ratios, deep blacks, and vibrant colors.
The 6.45-inch cover display with a resolution of 1160 x 2700 pixels is no afterthought—it’s a fully functional screen that allows users to operate the phone even when it’s folded. The 90Hz refresh rate is also present on this outer display, ensuring a consistent experience regardless of how you’re using the phone.
Performance
The Huawei Mate X2 is powered by the Kirin 9000 5G chipset, built on a 5nm process, making it one of the most powerful mobile chipsets available. The octa-core CPU consists of 1×3.13 GHz Cortex-A77, 3×2.54 GHz Cortex-A77, and 4×2.05 GHz Cortex-A55, delivering blazing-fast performance for even the most demanding tasks. The Mali-G78 MP24 GPU ensures smooth graphics rendering, making it ideal for gaming and high-resolution media playback.
With up to 12GB of RAM and 512GB of UFS 3.X storage, the Mate X2 handles multitasking effortlessly. The device also supports NM cards for expandable storage of up to 256GB, although this requires using the second SIM slot.
Running EMUI 11 based on Android 10, the Mate X2 does not come with Google Play Services, which may limit app availability for some users. However, Huawei’s AppGallery and other third-party app stores provide a growing selection of apps.
Camera
Huawei’s collaboration with Leica continues to shine in the Mate X2’s quad-camera setup:
- 50 MP wide camera (f/1.9, 23mm): The main sensor delivers stunning photos with rich detail, accurate colors, and excellent low-light performance, thanks to OIS and Huawei’s AI-based enhancements.
- 12 MP telephoto lens (f/2.4, 70mm): Offers 3x optical zoom with PDAF and OIS, ensuring sharp and stable images even when zooming in.
- 8 MP periscope telephoto lens (f/4.4, 240mm): Provides an impressive 10x optical zoom with OIS, allowing users to capture distant subjects without sacrificing quality.
- 16 MP ultrawide camera (f/2.2, 17mm): Perfect for wide-angle shots, landscapes, and group photos.
The camera setup supports 4K video recording at 30/60fps and 1080p video at 30/60fps, with gyro-EIS for smooth video capture. The Laser AF, HDR, and panorama features further enhance the camera experience, making the Mate X2 one of the best foldable devices for photography.
The 16 MP front camera (f/2.2) handles selfies and video calls, supporting HDR and 1080p video recording at 30fps.
Battery and Charging
The Huawei Mate X2 is equipped with a 4500mAh battery, which provides solid battery life for a device with two large OLED screens. Even with heavy usage, the battery can last through a full day of moderate use. The device supports 55W fast wired charging, allowing the battery to reach 85% in just 30 minutes, ensuring minimal downtime.
Unfortunately, the Mate X2 lacks wireless charging, which may be a drawback for some users, especially given the premium price point.
Connectivity and Other Features
The Huawei Mate X2 offers a wide array of connectivity options, including 5G, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, and USB Type-C 3.1. The device also includes NFC for contactless payments and an infrared port for controlling home appliances.
Location services are handled by GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, and QZSS, ensuring precise navigation no matter where you are.
For security, the Mate X2 features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and supports facial recognition, providing fast and secure unlocking options.
Price and Availability
The Huawei Mate X2 is a premium device, with a price tag of around 2300 EUR, reflecting its cutting-edge technology and foldable design. It is available in several color options, including Black, White, Light Blue, Rose Gold, and the special Collector’s Edition.
Specifications Table
| Specifications | Details |
|---|---|
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| Dimensions (Unfolded) | 161.8 x 145.8 x 8.2 mm |
| Dimensions (Folded) | 161.8 x 74.6 x 14.7 mm |
| Weight | 295 g |
| Build | Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame |
| SIM | Hybrid Dual SIM (Nano-SIM, dual stand-by) |
| Display | 8.0 inches OLED, 2200 x 2480 pixels, 90Hz |
| Cover Display | 6.45 inches OLED, 1160 x 2700 pixels, 90Hz |
| OS | Android 10, EMUI 11 (No Google Play Services) |
| Chipset | Kirin 9000 5G (5 nm) |
| 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 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB/12GB RAM |
| Main Camera | Quad: 50 MP (wide), 12 MP (telephoto, 3x optical zoom), 8 MP (periscope telephoto, 10x optical zoom), 16 MP (ultrawide) |
| Selfie Camera | 16 MP (wide) |
| Battery | 4500 mAh, 55W wired fast charging |
| Colors | Black, White, Light Blue, Rose Gold, Collector’s Edition |
| Price | About 2300 EUR |
Conclusion
The Huawei Mate X2 is an impressive and innovative foldable smartphone that offers cutting-edge technology in a sleek and premium package. With its 8.0-inch foldable OLED display, Kirin 9000 5G chipset, and 50MP quad-camera system, the Mate X2 delivers outstanding performance in every aspect, from photography to multitasking.
Although it comes at a steep price of 2300 EUR, the Mate X2 is a strong competitor in the foldable market for users who want the best in both technology and design. The lack of Google Play Services might be a downside for some, but for those who can adapt to Huawei’s ecosystem, the Mate X2 is one of the most powerful and versatile smartphones available.
Disclaimer: We cannot guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
