Huawei Mate X2 vs. Google Pixel Fold: A Deep Dive into Foldable Supremacy

The foldable phone market is maturing, with Huawei having established itself as an early innovator with the Mate X2. Now, Google enters the fray with the Pixel Fold, leveraging its software prowess. This comparison dissects these two devices, focusing on where their hardware and software choices create distinct advantages for different users.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing software support and a refined user experience, the Google Pixel Fold emerges as the winner. However, the Huawei Mate X2’s superior endurance rating and potentially lower price (depending on market) make it a compelling option for power users less concerned with the latest Android updates.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate X2 Google Pixel Fold
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bands1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2021, February 222023, May 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2021, February 25Available. Released 2023, June 27
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back, aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 161.8 x 145.8 x 8.2 mmFolded: 161.8 x 74.6 x 14.7 mmUnfolded: 139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8 mmFolded: 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight295 g (10.41 oz)283 g (9.98 oz)
 -IPX8 water resistant
Display
Resolution2200 x 2480 pixels (~413 ppi density)1840 x 2208 pixels (~378 ppi density)
Size8.0 inches, 206.0 cm2 (~87.3% screen-to-body ratio)7.6 inches, 183.3 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 90HzFoldable OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1450 nits (peak)
 Cover display: OLED, 90Hz, 6.45 inches, 1160 x 2700 pixelsCover display: OLED, 120Hz, HDR, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 5.8 inches, 1080 x 2092 pixels, 17.4:9 ratio, 408 ppi 1200 nits (HBM), 1550 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9000 5G (5 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUMali-G78 MP24Mali-G710 MP7
OSAndroid 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play ServicesAndroid 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.XUFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Quad50 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-48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10.8 MP, f/3.1, 112mm (telephoto), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 121˚, (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.25µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR, panorama
Single16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Cover camera: 9.5 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, tri-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging55W wiredWired, PD3.0 Wireless
TypeLi-Po 4500 mAhLi-Po 4821 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Light Blue, Rose Gold, Collector’s Edition Black/White/RedPorcelain, Obsidian
ModelsTET-AN00G9FPL
PriceAbout 2300 EUR€ 670.87 / $ 389.26 / £ 899.99
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 74h -
Camera Photo / Video-
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -26.8 LUFS (Good) -
Performance AnTuTu: 632818 (v8) GeekBench: 14393 (v4.4), 3389 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)-

Huawei Mate X2

  • Exceptional battery life (74h endurance)
  • Faster 55W wired charging
  • Potentially lower price point

  • Older Kirin 9000 chipset
  • Huawei ecosystem limitations
  • Software update uncertainty

Google Pixel Fold

  • Google Tensor G2 with AI enhancements
  • Guaranteed software updates
  • Seamless Google ecosystem integration

  • Likely shorter battery life
  • Potentially slower charging speeds
  • Higher price point

Display Comparison

The Huawei Mate X2 boasts a 542-nit peak brightness, a respectable figure, but the Pixel Fold’s display specifications are not provided, suggesting a focus on color accuracy and potentially adaptive refresh rates. The Mate X2’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio (nominal) indicates a true OLED panel, delivering deep blacks. The absence of detailed Pixel Fold display specs makes a direct comparison difficult, but Google’s history suggests a high-quality panel optimized for content consumption. The key difference likely lies in software calibration and potentially the hinge mechanism affecting crease visibility.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature capable camera systems, but detailed sensor information is lacking for both. The context data only indicates 'Photo / Video' capabilities. Given Huawei’s history, the Mate X2 likely prioritizes versatile zoom capabilities and strong computational photography. The Pixel Fold, leveraging Google’s renowned image processing algorithms and the Tensor G2’s AI capabilities, will likely excel in dynamic range and low-light performance. Without specific sensor sizes and lens apertures, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Pixel Fold’s software advantage is a significant factor.

Performance

The Huawei Mate X2 is powered by the Kirin 9000 5G (5nm), featuring an octa-core CPU with a prime Cortex-A77 core clocked at 3.13 GHz. This chipset, while powerful, is now several generations old. The Google Pixel Fold counters with the Google Tensor G2 (5nm), utilizing a more modern CPU architecture with Cortex-X1 cores clocked at 2.85 GHz. The Tensor G2’s strength isn’t raw CPU power, but its dedicated machine learning capabilities, enhancing features like voice recognition and image processing. While the Kirin 9000 might hold an edge in sustained CPU-intensive tasks, the Tensor G2 offers a more balanced and future-proofed experience, particularly for AI-driven features.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate X2 achieves an impressive endurance rating of 74 hours, indicating excellent battery optimization and a large capacity (though the exact mAh is not provided). The Pixel Fold’s battery specifications are not available, but its inclusion of both wired (PD3.0) and wireless charging suggests a focus on convenience. The Mate X2’s 55W wired charging is significantly faster than what’s typically offered on Pixels, allowing for quicker top-ups. The endurance rating strongly suggests the Mate X2 will last considerably longer on a single charge, making it ideal for users who frequently travel or rely heavily on their phone throughout the day.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate X2 if you need exceptional battery life and are comfortable with the Huawei ecosystem, potentially benefiting from a lower price point. Buy the Google Pixel Fold if you prioritize seamless software integration, guaranteed updates, and a more polished, mainstream foldable experience, even if it means sacrificing some battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9000 chipset in the Mate X2 struggle with demanding modern games?
While the Kirin 9000 was a flagship processor in its time, newer chipsets like the Tensor G2 offer improved efficiency and sustained performance. The Mate X2 can run most games, but you might experience more noticeable throttling or lower frame rates in graphically intensive titles compared to the Pixel Fold.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Huawei Mate X2 and the Google Pixel Fold?
The Pixel Fold offers a pure Android experience with guaranteed updates directly from Google, along with exclusive Pixel features. The Mate X2 runs Huawei’s EMUI, which offers a different aesthetic and feature set, but lacks Google Mobile Services (GMS) and may have limited app availability depending on your region.
❓ Is the lack of detailed camera specs a concern for comparing these two phones?
Yes, it is. Without knowing sensor sizes, lens apertures, and OIS capabilities, it's difficult to make a precise camera comparison. However, we can infer that the Pixel Fold will likely leverage Google's superior image processing algorithms, while the Mate X2 may focus on zoom versatility.