ROOH FA: Huawei

Saturday, June 22, 2024

Huawei Mate X Hands-On : First Impressions, Specs and a New Release Date

Huawei’s Mate X is a foldable phone with a camera twist. But it comes at a price. Here are some initial impressions of the Mate X while we wait for its delayed release.

Editor's Note: Huawei is pushing back the release of the Mate X until September, as it wants to do more testing on its foldable phone.

The rumors were true: Huawei has entered the foldable fold fray, with the Huawei Mate X - a foldable phone that’s packed with innovation including 5G connectivity and a fast-charging dual battery.

Huawei bills the Mate X as "world’s slimmest" foldable phone. At a time when foldable phones are very much in their infancy, this isn’t the biggest-ever boast, but fold the Mate X - and it does fold flat - and the device is just 11 millimeters thick (or 0.43 inches). Compare that to the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which is reportedly 17mm thick, and this is one svelte device.

The Mate X, folded up

The Mate X's 8-inch display is divided into two panels when the device is folded - one 6.6-inch screen that would serve as your "main" smartphone display, and another on the back that measures 6.38-inches and sits flush with the bar that houses the phone's camera stack, USB Type-C port and much of its other circuitry.

The device is heavier than your average smartphone, but not as hefty as you’d expect. In fact, holding it our hands, the Mate X felt quite light when it was folded out in full tablet mode, and would certainly weigh in as one of the lighter 8-inch tablets out there. It was only when we held the device in our hands shut that all that extra hardware really made its presence known.