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The Huawei Mate X is shaping up to be the foldable phone that fixes our concerns over the yet-to-be-held Samsung Galaxy Fold, but expect to pay more for it.
We got to see Mate X smartphone and its folding Falcon Wing hinge in action, and although Huawei wasnât ready to let us touch it, we know a lot of details.
For one thing. itâll be expensive. It cost âŹ2,299 (about $2,605, ÂŁ1,996, AU$4,769) with 512GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM. Itâs been in the works for three years, according to Huawei, and will launch in the UK via carrier EE this year.
Itâs poised to be one of many foldable phones at MWC 2019. But from what weâve seen so far, the Huawei Mate X holds a lot of promise, claiming to be âthe worldâs fastest foldable 5G phone.â Hereâs what we saw.
The foldable 8-inch Huawei Mate X screen
The Huawei Mate X folds out into a 8-inch Android tablet, with a 6.6-inch screen on one side and a 6.4-inch (technically 6.38-inch) screen on the other when folded up. Its screen size seems just right for what weâve envision from the future of foldables.
This OLED display is bigger than Samsungâs Fold, which is 7.4-inch unfolded with a folded 4.6-inch bezel-heavy screen⌠on just one side. Huawei knows it has a winner here in terms of size, one that Samsung canât address until the Fold 2.
When the Huawei Mate X is unfolded, thereâs no notch or corner cutout for the camera, either. Huaweiâs first foldable phone has a bezel-reduced FullView display.
[IMG alt="TpWx2gh8Y7gRsJFDKedTxX" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TpWx2gh8Y7gRsJFDKedTxX.jpg[/IMG]
The way it folds is a little different, too. The 8-inch screen folds so that it splits into two, broken-down displays faces the outside. Samsungâs phone folds inward, with an extra small outer screen.
Dimensions and grip
Huawei calls its sophisticated-looking folding hinge the Falcon Wing hinge, and it allows the Mate X to lay completely flat, measuring just 5.4mm thin. The company says the hinge has 100 components inside of it.
For a comparison, this foldable phone is thinner than an iPad when itâs laid out in tablet mode. Appleâs only managed to get its form factor down to 5.9mm thin.
[IMG alt="nhomob7RkfQrgj6Lqb8Q2Y" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nhomob7RkfQrgj6Lqb8Q2Y.jpg[/IMG]
There is a prominent grip on the Mate X that Huawei says is an âergonomic curvatureâ. Itâs made a good case for why this grip exists: firm, secure holding in the hand.
Really, the grip exists for another good purpose: itâs where a lot of the major components are stored. The camera system is here, so is a 2-in-1 fingerprint sensor / power button.
The Huawei Mate X will come in an Interstellar Blue color, according to the company, but youâll only see it on the thin top and bottom, and on the back unfolded. Itâll also have a case to protect those screens. No word on if the case is included for free.
Specs and battery life
Huawei claims to have the wordâs fastest foldable 5G phone, and thatâs not a claim as to how fast you can unfold and fold this thing. Thatâs what it sounded like at first.
No, the the company proudly claimed that â5G is onâ in its super-charged Kirin 980 chipset, another knock to the fact that the Galaxy Fold will have a 4G LTE at its lofty starting price. Samsung didnât even mention the price of the 5G version.
[IMG alt="iq9sGwZzPyApcqrDMjonVc" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iq9sGwZzPyApcqrDMjonVc.jpg[/IMG]
It has the worldâs first 7nm 5G chip and sports a quad 5G antenna design, which can reach speeds of 4.6Gbps. You can download a 1GB movie in three seconds, says Huawei.
The company touts that these speeds are 10x current 4G LTE capabilities and itâs able to pull them off in 2019 because itâs in the middle of building 5G networks, so itâs able to do live testing.
Here are more Huawei Mate X specs announced at the press conference: itâll come with 512GB of internal storage, 8GB of RAM, and support Huaweiâs smaller nano memory cards.
The battery life, despite the 8-inch screen size, is massive at 4,500mAh. It seems to be broken up into two parts, like the Galaxy Fold.
Itâs a bit bigger than Samsungâs battery capacity, but then again the screen is larger, so it should even out.
The Mate X should also break records for charging. Huaweiâs 55W SuperCharge tech not only surpasses the 40W charging in the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, it can reach 85% battery life in just 30 minutes.
The camera system
Huawei didnât go into detail regarding how many cameras the Huawei Mate X has, but its camera system is located in down the spin hinge, which ends up with a USB-C port at the bottom.
[IMG alt="eBVQ62pwAePd9YG9SsquLc" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eBVQ62pwAePd9YG9SsquLc.jpg[/IMG]
The ideas behind the camera system on a foldable are impressive. You can finally see yourself when you take a selfie with the main camera; not having to choose between blindly snapping a pic with the the better rear camera and using an underpowered lower-megapixel selfie camera.
Likewise, when someone else is taking a photo of you, you can primp and adjust your hair with a live view. Using the 6.6-inch screen, you can see what they see on the 6.4-inch side. This is a real-world use case of a foldable phone for average consumers.
Early thoughts on price and release date
Huawei is known for undercutting Samsung, Apple, and other top-tier smartphone makers on price. But itâll actually be more expensive than the nearly $2,000 Galaxy Fold.
Obviously, the tech inside is expensive, and the fact that it touts 5G means itâs pricey. Huawei needs to convince us its software is as good as or better than Samsungâs, which looks to make multi-tasking as easy as possible in tablet mode.
[IMG alt="wixENjw3WHWhZtiWJcBqxX" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wixENjw3WHWhZtiWJcBqxX.jpg[/IMG]
Weâre also interested in finding out about the bendable screen durability. How does it hold up? Does the plastic covering scratch easily? Two outer screens seems prone to danger, even with a case.
We still donât have the official release date. The Samsung Fold comes out on April 26, so Huawei may be itching to compete with this first true foldable phone sooner rather than later in 2019.
Weâre just as eager to know if youâll be able to buy it in the US, where Huawei phones arenât sold due to government pressure over potential spying (or at least theyâre not easy to buy from reputable retailers in America).
The Huawei Mate X seems almost too good to be true in some ways. It has a larger 8-inch screen closer to todayâs tablets, and folds with two outers screens closer to the size of current flagship smartphones. That we can get behind.
Durability remains our biggest question, along with availability besides the newly announced EE carrier details. Weâll have more on Huaweiâs first foldable in the coming days, as weâre bound to hear a lot of additional details at MWC 2019.
All image credit: TechRadar
[ul]
[li]MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the worldâs largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2019 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadarâs world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone.[/li][/ul]
Continue readingâŚ
We got to see Mate X smartphone and its folding Falcon Wing hinge in action, and although Huawei wasnât ready to let us touch it, we know a lot of details.
For one thing. itâll be expensive. It cost âŹ2,299 (about $2,605, ÂŁ1,996, AU$4,769) with 512GB of internal storage and 8GB of RAM. Itâs been in the works for three years, according to Huawei, and will launch in the UK via carrier EE this year.
Itâs poised to be one of many foldable phones at MWC 2019. But from what weâve seen so far, the Huawei Mate X holds a lot of promise, claiming to be âthe worldâs fastest foldable 5G phone.â Hereâs what we saw.
The foldable 8-inch Huawei Mate X screen
The Huawei Mate X folds out into a 8-inch Android tablet, with a 6.6-inch screen on one side and a 6.4-inch (technically 6.38-inch) screen on the other when folded up. Its screen size seems just right for what weâve envision from the future of foldables.
This OLED display is bigger than Samsungâs Fold, which is 7.4-inch unfolded with a folded 4.6-inch bezel-heavy screen⌠on just one side. Huawei knows it has a winner here in terms of size, one that Samsung canât address until the Fold 2.
When the Huawei Mate X is unfolded, thereâs no notch or corner cutout for the camera, either. Huaweiâs first foldable phone has a bezel-reduced FullView display.
[IMG alt="TpWx2gh8Y7gRsJFDKedTxX" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/TpWx2gh8Y7gRsJFDKedTxX.jpg[/IMG]
The way it folds is a little different, too. The 8-inch screen folds so that it splits into two, broken-down displays faces the outside. Samsungâs phone folds inward, with an extra small outer screen.
Dimensions and grip
Huawei calls its sophisticated-looking folding hinge the Falcon Wing hinge, and it allows the Mate X to lay completely flat, measuring just 5.4mm thin. The company says the hinge has 100 components inside of it.
For a comparison, this foldable phone is thinner than an iPad when itâs laid out in tablet mode. Appleâs only managed to get its form factor down to 5.9mm thin.
[IMG alt="nhomob7RkfQrgj6Lqb8Q2Y" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/nhomob7RkfQrgj6Lqb8Q2Y.jpg[/IMG]
There is a prominent grip on the Mate X that Huawei says is an âergonomic curvatureâ. Itâs made a good case for why this grip exists: firm, secure holding in the hand.
Really, the grip exists for another good purpose: itâs where a lot of the major components are stored. The camera system is here, so is a 2-in-1 fingerprint sensor / power button.
The Huawei Mate X will come in an Interstellar Blue color, according to the company, but youâll only see it on the thin top and bottom, and on the back unfolded. Itâll also have a case to protect those screens. No word on if the case is included for free.
Specs and battery life
Huawei claims to have the wordâs fastest foldable 5G phone, and thatâs not a claim as to how fast you can unfold and fold this thing. Thatâs what it sounded like at first.
No, the the company proudly claimed that â5G is onâ in its super-charged Kirin 980 chipset, another knock to the fact that the Galaxy Fold will have a 4G LTE at its lofty starting price. Samsung didnât even mention the price of the 5G version.
[IMG alt="iq9sGwZzPyApcqrDMjonVc" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/iq9sGwZzPyApcqrDMjonVc.jpg[/IMG]
It has the worldâs first 7nm 5G chip and sports a quad 5G antenna design, which can reach speeds of 4.6Gbps. You can download a 1GB movie in three seconds, says Huawei.
The company touts that these speeds are 10x current 4G LTE capabilities and itâs able to pull them off in 2019 because itâs in the middle of building 5G networks, so itâs able to do live testing.
Here are more Huawei Mate X specs announced at the press conference: itâll come with 512GB of internal storage, 8GB of RAM, and support Huaweiâs smaller nano memory cards.
The battery life, despite the 8-inch screen size, is massive at 4,500mAh. It seems to be broken up into two parts, like the Galaxy Fold.
Itâs a bit bigger than Samsungâs battery capacity, but then again the screen is larger, so it should even out.
The Mate X should also break records for charging. Huaweiâs 55W SuperCharge tech not only surpasses the 40W charging in the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, it can reach 85% battery life in just 30 minutes.
The camera system
Huawei didnât go into detail regarding how many cameras the Huawei Mate X has, but its camera system is located in down the spin hinge, which ends up with a USB-C port at the bottom.
[IMG alt="eBVQ62pwAePd9YG9SsquLc" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/eBVQ62pwAePd9YG9SsquLc.jpg[/IMG]
The ideas behind the camera system on a foldable are impressive. You can finally see yourself when you take a selfie with the main camera; not having to choose between blindly snapping a pic with the the better rear camera and using an underpowered lower-megapixel selfie camera.
Likewise, when someone else is taking a photo of you, you can primp and adjust your hair with a live view. Using the 6.6-inch screen, you can see what they see on the 6.4-inch side. This is a real-world use case of a foldable phone for average consumers.
Early thoughts on price and release date
Huawei is known for undercutting Samsung, Apple, and other top-tier smartphone makers on price. But itâll actually be more expensive than the nearly $2,000 Galaxy Fold.
Obviously, the tech inside is expensive, and the fact that it touts 5G means itâs pricey. Huawei needs to convince us its software is as good as or better than Samsungâs, which looks to make multi-tasking as easy as possible in tablet mode.
[IMG alt="wixENjw3WHWhZtiWJcBqxX" width="690px" height="388px"]https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/wixENjw3WHWhZtiWJcBqxX.jpg[/IMG]
Weâre also interested in finding out about the bendable screen durability. How does it hold up? Does the plastic covering scratch easily? Two outer screens seems prone to danger, even with a case.
We still donât have the official release date. The Samsung Fold comes out on April 26, so Huawei may be itching to compete with this first true foldable phone sooner rather than later in 2019.
Weâre just as eager to know if youâll be able to buy it in the US, where Huawei phones arenât sold due to government pressure over potential spying (or at least theyâre not easy to buy from reputable retailers in America).
The Huawei Mate X seems almost too good to be true in some ways. It has a larger 8-inch screen closer to todayâs tablets, and folds with two outers screens closer to the size of current flagship smartphones. That we can get behind.
Durability remains our biggest question, along with availability besides the newly announced EE carrier details. Weâll have more on Huaweiâs first foldable in the coming days, as weâre bound to hear a lot of additional details at MWC 2019.
All image credit: TechRadar
[ul]
[li]MWC (Mobile World Congress) is the worldâs largest showcase for the mobile industry, stuffed full of the newest phones, tablets, wearables and more. TechRadar is reporting live from Barcelona all week to bring you the very latest from the show floor. Head to our dedicated MWC 2019 hub to see all the new releases, along with TechRadarâs world-class analysis and buying advice about your next phone.[/li][/ul]
Continue readingâŚ