Huawei Mate X6 review

Introduction

Huawei has launched the Mate X6 globally, shaping it as quite an intriguing device. The book-style foldable has an impressively thin design, and it features stunning LTPO screens and premium cameras.

The Mate is a global device again, as the Mate X5 was a China-bound smartphone. It comes with the most premium possible build - an IPX8-rated design featuring a 2nd gen Kunlun Glass front, vegan fiber or vegan leather back, metal frame and carbon-fiber support for the foldable screen.

The handset is based on a 7.93-inch LTPO foldable 120Hz OLED with 10-bit color depth and HDR support. The cover screen uses a standard 6.45-inch LTPO OLED of 1080p resolution and 120Hz refresh rate.

The Mate X6 is based on the new Kirin 9020 chipset, which is an improvement over the Kirin 9010 in the Pura 70 series. It's the same one powering the Mate 70 phones. In global markets, the Mate X6 is only available in 512GB + 12GB RAM config.

The triple camera setup on the back is promising - there is a 50MP OIS primary with variable aperture lens, a 48MP OIS 4x telephoto with up to 10x high quality zoom, and a 48MP AF ultrawide. The two selfie cameras use 8MP sensors.

The Mate X6 has a 5,110mAh Si/C battery capable of fast wired and wireless charging, plus wired and wireless reverse charging.

Finally, the Mate X6 arrives with HarmonyOS 4.3 or rather - EMUI 15 - as it's called internationally.

Huawei Mate X6 specs at a glance:

• Body: 156.6x141.1x4.6mm, 239g; Glass front, vegan fiber back or eco-leather back, aluminum frame; IPX8 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min).
• Display: 7.93" Foldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR, 1800 nits (peak), 2240x2440px resolution, 9.8:9 aspect ratio, 418ppi; Carbon-fiber inner screen support layer; Cover display: LTPO OLED, 120Hz, HDR, 2500 nits (peak), 6.45 inches, 1080 x 2440 pixels.
• Chipset: Kirin 9020: Octa-core (1x2.5 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.15 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.53GHz Cortex-A510); Maleoon 920.
• Memory:512GB 12GB RAM.
• OS/Software: EMUI 15 (HarmonyOS 4.3).
• Rear camera: Wide (main): 50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm, PDAF, OIS; Telephoto: 48 MP, f/3.0, 90mm, PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom; Ultra wide angle: 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚, PDAF.
• Front camera: Inner camera: 8 MP, f/2.2; Cover camera: 8 MP, f/2.4.
• Video capture: Rear camera: 4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS; Front camera: 4K, 1080p.
• Battery: 5110mAh; 66W wired, 50W wireless, 7.5W reverse wireless, 5W reverse wired.
• Connectivity: 5G; Wi-Fi 6; BT 5.2, LDAC, L2HC; NFC; Infrared port.
• Misc: Fingerprint reader (side-mounted); stereo speakers; BDS Satellite Messages.

The Kirin chipset falls in the mid-range category by today's standards, so we do not expect a big leap when it comes to performance. And the limiting Android capabilities are surely not everyone's cup of tea. But the Mate X6 is among the most premium large foldables on the market.

Unboxing the Mate X6

The Mate X6 arrives in a large black box - typical for the Huawei Mate series. The bundle contains a 66W charger and a compatible USB cable, a protective two-piece case and a SIM ejection tool.

The cover screen has a thin protective film pre-applied in the factory.