The last time we saw a new folding phone from Huawei was way back in 2019 when the company released the Huawei Mate X. It was one of the first smartphones to offer a folding form factor and was competing with the Galaxy Fold at the time. The company did release an updated (but more powerful) Mate XS variant but it was more of a redesign than a next-gen device. Now, the company has finally announced its successor, the Huawei Mate X2, complete with a new design, displays, and internals.
At first glance, one can see that the Mate X2 sports very prominent changes to its body and design. Interestingly, the phone now unfolds from the inside. Described as an “industry-first innovation”, the Mate X2’s multi-dimensional hinge creates a “water drop-like cavity for stowing the device when folded.” This basically means that this hinge allows the Mate X2 to fold with nearly invisible gaps and also reduces creases on the outer screen when the device is folded.
As for its body, the Mate X2 looks a bit like a wide wedge when unfolded. This causes a shift in the device’s point of balance which the company says is deliberate. The Mate X2 is thickest near the cameras and gradually slims down towards the end. The shift in balance will supposedly make it easier to use the device whether folded or unfolded.
Housing slightly bigger displays than Samsung’s folding phone, the Huawei Mate X2 sports 8-inch OLED panels for its inner display with an FHD+ resolution of 2700×1660. When unfolded, the display offers what the company is calling the golden aspect ratio of 8:7.1. Though odd, the company says this ratio is able to offer more “immersive and impactful visual experiences” no matter the orientation. Both screens are also capable of a 90Hz refresh rate.
Similar to the Galaxy Fold series, the Mate X2 now also sports an external display so users can operate the device even when folded. The outer display is quite similar to the internal one as its also an OLED panel that’s capable of a 90Hz refresh rate. It is smaller at 6.45-inches and has a more normal aspect of 21:9 with FHD+ resolution.
There are a total of 5 cameras on this device — a quad-camera setup for the rear and a single shooter for selfies. Continuing their partnership with Leica, the Mate X2 is equipped with the Ultra Vision Leica Quad Camera setup which includes a 50-megapixel Super Sensing Wide camera, 16-megapixel ultra-wide camera, 12-megapixel telephoto, and an 8-megapixel SuperZoom capable of up to 10x optical zoom.
The Mate X’s cameras also house a couple of firsts for folding devices. The 50-megapixel wide camera has one of the first sensors to incorporate an RYYB color filter array that works with the 4-in-1 pixel binning and Full Pixel Octa PD AutoFocus to consistently produce high-quality photos even in low light scenarios. The telephoto camera also features a periscope lens which is a first for folding devices. As mentioned earlier it’s capable of up to 10x optical zoom as well as 20 times hybrid, and 100 times digital zoom.
Powering the Mate X2 is a Kirin 9000 processor matched with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage. It still, of course, doesn’t carry any Google apps or services but it will run on EMUI 11.0 based on Android 10 with plans of upgrading to Harmony OS later on.
The device is also 5G-capable and uses an all-new smart antenna to deliver the best signal strength. This new antenna is able to dynamically select the best antenna depending on the current state of the phone whether folded, unfolded, held vertically, or horizontally.
To get the most out of the device’s dual screens, Huawei has provided a handful of features designed to improve multitasking capabilities such as Smart Multi-Window, Floating Window, App Multiplier, App Bubble, and more.
Lastly, the Mate X2 runs on a 4500mAh battery with support for 55W Huawei SuperCharge. The company says this configuration is currently the fastest charging technology currently available for any foldable device available on the market.
There will be four colors available for the Huawei Mate X2 — White, Black, Crystal Blue, and Crystal Pink. It’s estimated to be available by February 25th of this year with a retail price of RMB 17,999 (Around US $2785) for the 256GB variant and RMB 18,999 (around $2940) for the 512GB variant.