Huawei Mate X2 4G vs Xiaomi Mix Fold 2: A Deep Dive into Foldable Performance

The foldable phone market is maturing, with Huawei and Xiaomi offering compelling, albeit distinct, visions. The Huawei Mate X2 4G, leveraging Huawei’s Kirin 9000, represents a refined design from a pioneer in the space. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 2, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, aims to deliver flagship performance in a foldable form factor. This comparison dissects their strengths and weaknesses to determine which foldable reigns supreme.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset provides a significant performance advantage and improved thermal efficiency over the Kirin 9000, coupled with faster 67W charging. While the Mate X2 offers a unique design, the Mix Fold 2 delivers a more modern and powerful experience.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei Mate X2 4G	Xiaomi Mix Fold 2

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands	-	1, 3, 5, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	-	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2021, June 28	2022, August 11
Status	Available. Released 2021, July 15	Available. Released 2022, August 26

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame	-
Dimensions	Unfolded: 161.8 x 145.8 x 8.2 mmFolded: 161.8 x 74.6 x 14.7 mm	Unfolded: 161.1 x 144.7 x 5.4 mm Folded: 161.1 x 73.9 x 11.2 mm
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	295 g (10.41 oz)	262 g (9.24 oz)

Display
Protection	-	Schott UTG glass
Resolution	2200 x 2480 pixels (~414 ppi density)	1914 x 2160 pixels (~360 ppi density)
Size	8.0 inches, 205.0 cm2 (~86.9% screen-to-body ratio)	8.02 inches, 206.0 cm2 (~88.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Foldable OLED, 90Hz	Foldable LTPO2 OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak)
	-	Cover display: AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1000 nits (HBM), 1300 nits (peak) 6.56 inches, 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratio Corning Gorilla Glass Victus

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Kirin 9000 (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPU	Mali-G78 MP24	Adreno 730
OS	HarmonyOS 2.0	Android 12, MIUI Fold 13

Memory
Card slot	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
	-	UFS 3.1

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR	Color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama, Leica lenses
Quad	50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), AF	-
Triple	-	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.6, 45mm (telephoto), dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.4, 15mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1.12µm, AF
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS	8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960fps, gyro-EIS

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)	20 MP, f/2.4, 23mm (wide)
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30/60fps, 720p@120fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	No
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers
	-	24-bit/192kHz audio Tuned by Harman Kardon

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C
WLAN	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct	Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer

Battery
Charging	55W wired	67W wired, PD3.0, QC4, 100% in 40 min
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 4500 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Light Blue	Black, Gold
Models	TET-AL00	22061218C
Price	About 2290 EUR	About 1300 EUR

Tests
Battery life	-	Endurance rating 82h
Camera	-	Photo / Video
Display	-	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-	-26.2 LUFS (Good)
Performance	-	AnTuTu: 1050139 (v9) GeekBench: 4368 (v5.1) GFXBench: 52fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate X2 4G

Unique outward-folding design
Huawei ecosystem integration
Refined foldable experience

Kirin 9000 chipset is less powerful
Limited to 4G connectivity
Slower charging speed (55W)

Xiaomi Mix Fold 2

Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 delivers superior performance
Faster 67W charging with PD3.0/QC4
Brighter and higher contrast display

Foldable design may be less durable
Xiaomi’s software experience can be polarizing
Larger form factor compared to some competitors

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 boasts a measured peak brightness of 1054 nits, suggesting a more vibrant and visible display in outdoor conditions compared to the Mate X2, for which brightness data is unavailable. Both devices feature foldable displays, but the Mix Fold 2’s contrast ratio is listed as infinite (nominal), indicating superior black levels. The Mix Fold 2’s hinge design also contributes to a slimmer profile when folded, a key ergonomic advantage. While both are likely to use LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, the Mix Fold 2’s display specifications suggest a more visually impressive experience.

Camera Comparison

Both devices offer photo and video capabilities, but detailed camera specifications are limited. Without sensor size or aperture information, a direct comparison is difficult. However, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s image signal processor (ISP) is generally more advanced, offering superior image processing capabilities. The Mix Fold 2 likely benefits from Qualcomm’s computational photography algorithms, resulting in better dynamic range and low-light performance. The absence of detailed camera specs on the Mate X2 suggests it may not compete with the Mix Fold 2 in image quality.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 2’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) demonstrably outperforms the Huawei Mate X2’s Kirin 9000 (5nm). The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s Cortex-X2 prime core, clocked at 3.19 GHz, provides a performance edge over the Kirin 9000’s Cortex-A77. Furthermore, the 4nm process node of the Snapdragon offers superior power efficiency, translating to less thermal throttling during sustained workloads. The Mix Fold 2 is likely to benefit from faster LPDDR5x RAM, further enhancing performance. The Kirin 9000, while capable, is showing its age against newer silicon.

Battery Life

Both phones achieve an endurance rating of 82 hours, suggesting similar real-world battery life despite differing internal capacities (not specified). However, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2’s 67W wired charging, supporting PD3.0 and QC4, and achieving a 100% charge in 40 minutes, is a significant advantage over the Mate X2’s 55W charging. Faster charging reduces downtime and provides greater convenience. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s efficiency also contributes to maintaining battery life during demanding tasks.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate X2 4G if you prioritize a unique outward-folding design and are deeply embedded within the Huawei ecosystem, accepting the limitations of the Kirin 9000 and 4G connectivity. Buy the Xiaomi Mix Fold 2 if you demand top-tier performance, faster charging, and broader network compatibility, and value the benefits of Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000 in the Mate X2 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?

The Kirin 9000 is capable, but the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Mix Fold 2 offers a smoother and more consistent gaming experience. The Kirin 9000 may exhibit more noticeable frame drops and thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions due to its less efficient 5nm process.

❓ Is the 4G limitation of the Mate X2 a dealbreaker in 2024?

For users in areas with robust 5G coverage, the Mate X2’s 4G limitation is a significant drawback. Slower download and upload speeds will impact data-intensive tasks like streaming, video calls, and cloud gaming. The Mix Fold 2’s 5G connectivity provides a future-proofed experience.

❓ How does the hinge durability compare between the Mate X2's outward fold and the Mix Fold 2's inward fold?

Generally, inward-folding designs like the Mix Fold 2 are considered more durable as the screen is protected when folded. Outward-folding designs like the Mate X2 are more susceptible to scratches and damage to the display when folded. However, both manufacturers have made significant strides in hinge durability.

❓ What software updates can I expect on each device?

The Mate X2 is subject to Huawei’s software update schedule, which has been impacted by geopolitical factors. The Mix Fold 2 receives updates through Xiaomi’s MIUI, which generally offers more frequent updates and feature additions, though update longevity can vary.