Huawei Mate X2 vs Xiaomi Mix Fold 3: A Deep Dive into Foldable Flagships

The foldable phone market is maturing, and the Huawei Mate X2 and Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 represent two distinct approaches to the form factor. The Mate X2, released earlier, focuses on a refined in-folding design and a mature software experience. The Mix Fold 3, however, arrives with the latest Qualcomm silicon and significantly faster charging, aiming to redefine performance and convenience in a foldable.

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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 emerges as the superior choice. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers substantially better performance and efficiency, while the 67W charging and 117-hour endurance rating address key foldable pain points. The Mate X2 remains a compelling option for those prioritizing a more established in-folding design.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei Mate X2	Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

Network
2G bands	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900	GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bands	HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100	HSDPA 800 / 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, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42
5G bands	1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA	1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA
Speed	HSPA, LTE, 5G	HSPA, LTE, 5G
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	-

Launch
Announced	2021, February 22	2023, August 14
Status	Available. Released 2021, February 25	Available. Released 2023, August 14

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame	Glass front (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back or aramid fiber back, aluminum frame
Dimensions	Unfolded: 161.8 x 145.8 x 8.2 mmFolded: 161.8 x 74.6 x 14.7 mm	Unfolded: 161.2 x 143.3 x 5.3 mm Folded: 161.2 x 73.5 x 10.9 mm
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	295 g (10.41 oz)	255 g or 259 g (8.99 oz)

Display
Resolution	2200 x 2480 pixels (~413 ppi density)	1916 x 2160 pixels (~360 ppi density)
Size	8.0 inches, 206.0 cm2 (~87.3% screen-to-body ratio)	8.03 inches, 206.5 cm2 (~89.4% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Foldable OLED, 90Hz	Foldable LTPO OLED+, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1300 nits (peak)
	Cover display: OLED, 90Hz, 6.45 inches, 1160 x 2700 pixels	-

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)	Octa-core (1x3.36 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
Chipset	Kirin 9000 5G (5 nm)	Qualcomm SM8550-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPU	Mali-G78 MP24	Adreno 740
OS	Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services	Android 13, upgradable to Android 14, HyperOS

Memory
Card slot	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)	No
Internal	256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
	UFS 3.X	-

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR	Color spectrum sensor, 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	50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.0, 75mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3.2x optical zoom 10 MP, f/2.9, 115mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 15mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.1", 1.12µm
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS	8K@24fps, 4K@24/30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/960/1920fps, Dolby Vision HDR

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	HDR, panorama
Single	16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)	20 MP, f/2.3, 23mm (wide), 1/4.0", 0.8µm Cover camera: 20 MP, f/2.3, 23mm (wide), 1/4.0", 0.8µm
Video	1080p@30fps	1080p@30/60fps

Sound
3.5mm jack	No	-
35mm jack	No	No
Loudspeaker	Yes, with stereo speakers	Yes, with stereo speakers

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.3, A2DP, LE
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 (G1), 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 3.2, OTG
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/7, dual-band (tri-band after future SW update)

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 50W wireless, 100% in 55 min
Type	Li-Po 4500 mAh	Li-Po 4800 mAh

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Light Blue, Rose Gold, Collector’s Edition Black/White/Red	Black, Gold
Models	TET-AN00	2308CPXD0C
Price	About 2300 EUR	About 1150 EUR

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

Refined in-folding design
Mature software experience
Respectable 74-hour battery endurance

Older Kirin 9000 chipset
Significantly lower display brightness
Slower charging speed (55W)

Xiaomi Mix Fold 3

Powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
Much brighter display (1277 nits)
Faster charging (67W wired, 50W wireless)
Superior battery life (117 hours)

Potentially less refined software (depending on MIUI version)
Larger form factor may be less pocketable

Display Comparison

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1277 nits compared to the Mate X2’s 542 nits. This translates to vastly improved outdoor visibility. While both utilize foldable OLED panels with an infinite contrast ratio, the brightness difference is substantial. The Mix Fold 3 likely employs LTPO technology for variable refresh rates, enhancing power efficiency, a feature not explicitly stated for the Mate X2. The larger brightness gap benefits content consumption and usability in bright environments for the Mix Fold 3.

Camera Comparison

Both devices feature capable photo and video cameras, but detailed sensor information is lacking. However, the Mix Fold 3’s superior processing power from the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 likely translates to faster image processing and potentially better low-light performance. Without specific sensor details, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner, but the Mix Fold 3’s chipset advantage gives it an edge in computational photography. The absence of details on OIS or lens apertures prevents a deeper analysis.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a generation ahead of the Huawei Mate X2’s Kirin 9000 (5nm). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s Cortex-X3 prime core, clocked at 3.36 GHz, offers a noticeable performance uplift over the Mate X2’s Cortex-A77. Furthermore, the 4nm process node of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 provides superior thermal efficiency, reducing throttling during sustained workloads like gaming. The Mix Fold 3’s CPU architecture (Cortex-A715/A710/A510) is also more modern and efficient than the Mate X2’s (Cortex-A77/A55).

Battery Life

The Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 dominates in battery endurance, achieving a measured 117 hours compared to the Mate X2’s 74 hours. This is a significant advantage for users who rely heavily on their phones throughout the day. The Mix Fold 3 also offers significantly faster charging: 67W wired (0-100% in 40 minutes), 50W wireless (0-100% in 55 minutes), compared to the Mate X2’s 55W wired only. The combination of longer endurance and faster charging makes the Mix Fold 3 far more convenient for power users.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate X2 if you prioritize a refined, well-established in-folding experience and are comfortable with a slightly older chipset. Its 74-hour endurance is respectable, but it won't match the Mix Fold 3's stamina. Buy the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 if you demand top-tier performance, faster charging (67W wired, 50W wireless), and longer battery life (117-hour endurance). The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 provides a significant leap in processing power and efficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

While the Kirin 9000 is a capable chipset, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the Mix Fold 3 offers a substantial performance advantage. Expect lower frame rates and potentially more noticeable thermal throttling in graphically intensive games on the Mate X2, especially during extended play sessions.

❓ How does the in-folding design of the Mate X2 affect durability compared to the Mix Fold 3?

In-folding designs like the Mate X2 generally offer better screen protection when closed, as the display is folded *inside* the device. However, the crease is often more visible. The Mix Fold 3's design may be more susceptible to scratches on the outer display, but the crease is typically less pronounced.

❓ Is the 50W wireless charging on the Mix Fold 3 truly faster than wired charging on other foldables?

While 50W wireless charging isn't always faster than *all* wired charging, it's exceptionally fast for wireless. The Mix Fold 3 achieves a full charge in 55 minutes wirelessly, which is competitive with many phones' wired charging speeds. This provides a convenient alternative to cables.

❓ What are the implications of the different CPU core architectures between the Kirin 9000 and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for everyday tasks?

The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2's newer Cortex-X3, A715, and A710 cores are more efficient and deliver better performance per watt than the Kirin 9000's older cores. This translates to snappier app launches, smoother multitasking, and improved overall responsiveness in everyday use on the Mix Fold 3.