Huawei might have created the world’s most beautiful huawei foldable phone. The Huawei Mate X2 is a truly attractive piece of hardware, which is why I say “nicest.” It boasts two fantastic displays, outstanding specifications, and a very pleasant grip.
Of course, none of this matters to buyers who aren’t from China. Due to the U.S. trade embargo, Huawei’s phone runs on a customized version of Android 10 that lacks built-in Google apps & services, including the Google Play store.
This isn’t your typical review. I only had five days to test the smartphone, and some of its flaws made it hard for me to use it as a daily phone. But I can tell you something about the future of foldable phones since the Mate X2 has several fascinating features that Huawei or its competitors will almost certainly include in future products.
Once more, with feeling
Huawei’s Mate X2 is the company’s first folding phone, and it folds outwards rather than within. It may not be as attractive when closed, but it’s a far superior design option because the larger display won’t get damaged in your pocket. Huawei was able to get it right the first time around. The phone’s sturdy hinge instills trust, and unlike Samsung’s folding phones, there is no obvious gap when folded.
When fully unfolded, the Mate X2 is wedge-shaped, with the left side being smaller and lighter than the right. Unless you’re left-handed, you’ll likely grab the phone on the right, thicker side, where it’s heaviest, while it’s unfurled. The wedge design shifts the phone’s center of gravity to that side, making it simpler to grasp and handle.
Nice specs, with some notable omissions
In terms of specifications, the Mate X2 is currently the greatest Huawei has to offer: A Kirin 9000 5G CPU, 8GB of RAM, 256/512GB of storage, & stereo speakers are all included. The battery capacity is 4,500mAh, which is disappointing for a smartphone of this size, and other features like wireless charging and a headphone port are missing. But, for the most part, it’s a genuine Huawei flagship.
This also applies to the primary camera, which features a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 16-megapixel ultrawide camera, and a 12-megapixel telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, as well as an 8-megapixel periscope telephoto camera with 10x optical zoom.
The entire camera technology is comparable to that found on Huawei’s Mate 40 and P40 smartphones, implying that it should be among the best available, which it is. I shot some fantastic daytime photographs with a lot of detail and fairly true colors.
It’s nice, but you shouldn’t buy it
Even though the Mate X2 runs on a slightly outdated, proprietary version of Android 10, it is quick and most apps appear fine on the expanded display. However, because of the aforementioned difficulties, it is difficult to adore.
I’m aware that this phone is currently only available in China. However, Huawei sent this to me for some reason — possibly international availability will come later — and I have to give my assessment based on the information I have. And it comes down to this: if you’re a hacker or tinker who isn’t afraid to try new things and use the third-party software, the Mate X2 could be a good fit for you. Everyone else should keep their distance.