Quite soon it became clear that when it comes to folding, it is preferable to keep the screen indoors rather than leaving it outdoors. This was more out of necessity, however, the early folding screens were too fragile to leave unprotected.
Fold-out designs like the Huawei Mate Xs 2 have many advantages, however, and this is the second generation of the design (after 2020’s Mate Xs). Has the company finally solved the durability issues?
Unfortunately, this is a question that can only be answered in time – some foldable phones develop problems after months of use. But what we saw of the Mate Xs in our hands-on review impressed us.
One of the advantages of this type of design is that the fold of the screen has a larger radius, which puts less strain on the panel. It also significantly reduces folding problems. The new Falcon Wing hinge works much better than the Xs hinge and the new 3D fiberglass material made for a welcome weight reduction.
Furthermore, the display used in the Xs 2 is noticeably brighter and offers a refresh rate of 120Hz. Overall, the phone is much more pleasant to use both folded and unfolded.
Following its launch in China, the Huawei Mate Xs 2 is preparing to go global next month at a price point of € 2,000. A lot of money for sure, but that’s not unexpected for state-of-the-art hardware.
Let’s quickly review some alternative leaflets. A quick note: for political reasons the Mate Xs 2 has no 5G connectivity or access to the Google Play Store. There’s not much you can do about it, but it’s worth bearing in mind when considering $ 2,000 hardware.
We will start with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G. The limited availability of competitors makes this the only real option in many markets. Once folded, the Mate Xs 2 has a normal 19: 9 aspect ratio and a width of 75.5mm, compared to 25: 9 and 67.1mm for the Fold. We haven’t tested the cameras yet, but Huawei packs a 50MP main sensor (vs the Fold’s 12MP) and a 3x 8MP telephoto lens (vs 2x 12MP), the ultrawides are comparable. And all three are easily and conveniently usable for selfies too.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
The Oppo Find N is also more natural to use when folded. It has a small 5.5 “18: 9 external display and a 7.1” panel folded inside. Size is a pro or a con, depending on what you like. However, this also packs a 50MP main camera (1 / 1.56 “sensor), the 2x telephoto lens has a 13MP sensor.
Oppo Find N
If these are the cameras you want, the vivo X Fold is equipped with a 5x periscope (8 MP) and a 12 MP 2x vertical camera. There is also a 50 MP (1 / 1.57 “) main and 48 MP ultra wide angle. The 6.53” external display pushes the limits a bit with 21: 9 aspect ratio, but is still usable. The 8.03 “internal display is impressive in size, considering this folds onto a 74.5mm wide device (one millimeter narrower than the Huawei).
vivo X Fold
There is also the Honor Magic V with its triple 50MP cameras. Their lenses have an odd assortment of focal lengths, however: 23mm, 20mm, and 13mm (so no telephoto). This is a good size too, 72.7mm wide when folded (offering a 6.45 “21.3: 9 display) and a 7.9” display when unfolded (only 90Hz, though).
Honor Magic V
We cannot overlook the Huawei Mate X2. It may be a year old now, but it packs an impressive 10x (8MP) periscope, an additional 3x camera (12MP), a 50MP (1 / 1.28 “) main module and a 16MP ultra wide. advanced, but the dimensions are good: 6.45 “outside (21: 9, the body is 74.6 mm wide when closed) and 8.0” outside (both at 90Hz).
Huawei Mate X2 • Huawei Mate X2 4G
You have a few weeks to think about it before the Huawei Mate Xs 2 expands to new markets. But we’re curious which way you’re tilting – do you take the Xs 2 or not?
If you are having trouble voting using the poll above, try casting your vote here.
And while we’re at it, which foldable form factor do you prefer? External folders like the Xs series, internal folders like the Galaxy or maybe something smaller (shells) or something exotic like rollable phones?
If you are having trouble voting using the poll above, try casting your vote here.
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