Huawei Mate X2 review

Alternatives

Typically, we close off our reviews with what we strive to be a comprehensive overlook on the market competitors and alternatives for the reviewed device. This usually includes things like price and feature matching.

As things currently stand, we see little reason to do this for the Mate X2. On the one hand, it is a device with very limited availability, currently locked in China, with no wider release plans. Then there is the question of price. With an eye-watering MSRP set at about EUR 2300, the Mate X2 is nothing short of a top one-percenter price-wise. Hence, even if you could buy one, money would have to basically be no object. And at that point, finding an alternative device to it is clearly not limited by price. Everything becomes a viable option.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 5G

How about feature-matching then? Well, that's yet another problem. The foldable display smartphone niche is still very tiny and not exactly sprawling. The only really viable contender would have to be the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2. The constant parallel between it and the Mate X2 is blatantly obvious and hardly news to anyone. Perhaps the only point worth making in that regard is that you can buy the Galaxy Z Fold 2 in many markets worldwide and at just around half the exuberant and frankly unrealistic price of the Mate X2.

Also, if you are at the point of actually considering the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2, why not hold off a bit, at least until June, just to see if the rumors about a Galaxy Z Fold3 come to fruition and get that one instead.

Verdict

We consider the Mate X2 a "halo" showcase device with very limited availability and a deliberately prohibitive price tag around EUR 2300. It is not a device anyone is going to physically be owning or daily-driving any time soon. At least not as reviewed, in its current form.

With that in mind, all we can do is judge whether it is a good device or not in general and more importantly, does it bear any important indication of the future of the foldable market?

It is hard not to fall in love with the Mate X2's hardware and the masterful engineering work that has gone into it making it a reality.

In one big and bold swoop, Huawei has managed to totally move past its original outward-folding design and not just adopt the more traditional inward-folding one but also advance it forward.

The new asymmetrical "wedge" or "teardrop" design, as Huawei calls it, in combination with the excellent Falcon Wing hinge and advancements in foldable panel tech as a whole, all add up to make for a next-gen device.

The annoying air-gap issue is essentially eradicated, and the crease problem is improved in a major and noticeable way. Sweetening the deal even further, Huawei has gone ahead and has also included an exquisite and versatile flagship camera system into the mix, as well as a solid battery setup.

Of course, no device is perfect. Especially ones that are borderline concept products, like the Mate X2. We can't exactly say that Huawei has the software side of the modern foldable experience all figured out. The foundation is there, but bugs and issues are abundant and easy to spot.

And that's without even touching the ongoing elephant in the room - Huawei's lack of Google Play Services and the questions surrounding it. Like, HarmonyOS, which has the potential to absolutely turn Huawei's software experience on its head for better or worse or, at the very least, change it drastically.

All things considered, the Mate X2 definitely raises more questions for the future than it answers. Especially within Huawei's own camp. If there is one positive takeaway to be had from our experience with the Mate X2, though, it is that the future of foldable smartphone hardware and design is looking brighter and brighter by the day.

Pros

• Ingenious wedge design and new Teardrop hinge effectively solve the air gap issue.
• Display is impressively flat when unfolded and the crease is notably decreased.
• Both panels are big, refresh at 90Hz, impressively bright and color-accurate.
• Solid battery life. Fast 55W SuperCharge.
• Huawei's automatic high refresh rate handling is solid.
• Amazing stereo speaker setup.
• Versatile and flagship-grade quad-camera setup with autofocus on all snappers and OIS on every one, but the ultrawide.
• 4K video recording with every camera and at every zoom level.
• Performance from the Kirin 9000 5G is very good.

Cons

• No official HDR certification on either display.
• Hinge does not provide linear motion and cannot be fixed at an arbitrary angle.
• Huawei insists on using its proprietary NM storage expansion card format.
• The powerful bundled charger is not PowerDelivery compliant unlike the Mate Xs'.
• No wireless charging support.
• EMUI 11 is based on Android 10, lacks Google Services and its future is uncertain, as the switch to HarmonyOS is imminent.
• No way to have both displays active at the same time and use the cover display as a mirrored viewfinder.