Huawei Mate X3 vs Honor Magic Vs: The Ultimate Foldable Face-Off

The foldable phone market is heating up, and the Huawei Mate X3 and Honor Magic Vs are two of the leading contenders. Both offer impressive designs and powerful specs, but which one truly delivers the best experience? This comprehensive comparison will break down every aspect, helping you decide which foldable is right for you.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Honor Magic Vs edges out the Mate X3 with slightly better battery life and a marginally more efficient CPU. However, the Mate X3 boasts a brighter display and faster wireless charging. Ultimately, the choice depends on your priorities – battery endurance or display quality.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate X3 Honor Magic Vs
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, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 8, 28, 38, 41, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1x
Launch
Announced2023, March 232022, November 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 08Available. Released 2022, December 30
Body
BuildGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frameGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, magnesium alloy frame, titanium alloy folding mechanism
DimensionsUnfolded: 156.9 x 141.5 x 5.3 mmFolded: 156.9 x 72.4 x 11.1 mmUnfolded: 160.3 x 141.5 x 6.1 mmFolded: 160.3 x 72.6 x 12.9 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight239 g or 241 g (8.43 oz)261 g / 267 g (9.21 oz)
 IPX8 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)-
Display
ProtectionKunlun Glass (cover display only)-
Resolution2224 x 2496 pixels (~426 ppi density)1984 x 2272 pixels (~382 ppi density)
Size7.85 inches, 197.5 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)7.9 inches, 199.5 cm2 (~87.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 120HzFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 90Hz, HDR10+, 800 nits
 Cover display: OLED, 120Hz, 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2504 pixelsCover display: OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits, 6.45 inches, 1080 x 2560 pixels, 431 ppi
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSHarmonyOS 3.1 (China), EMUI 13.1 (Europe), no Google Play ServicesAndroid 13, MagicOS 7.1 - InternationalAndroid 12, MagicOS 7 - China
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFS-
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRDual-LED dual-tone flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF54 MP, f/1.9, 27mm (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 81mm (telephoto), PDAF, 3x optical zoom, OIS 50 MP, f/2.0, 13mm, 122˚ (ultrawide), AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps (10-bit), 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.4, (wide) Cover camera: 8 MP, f/2.4, (wide)16 MP, f/2.5, 24mm (wide)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
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 portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (B1I+B1c+B2a), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, altimeterFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
 BDS Satellite Message-
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless66W wired 5W reverse wired
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 4800 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5060 mAh (China only)Li-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Violet, Dark Green, GoldCyan, Black, Orange
ModelsALT-AL00, ALT-L29FRI-AN00, FRI-NX9
PriceAbout 1500 EURAbout 2940 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 81h Endurance rating 85h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -26.3 LUFS (Good) -23.4 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 993592 (v9) GeekBench: 4283 (v5.5), 4512 (v6) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 831175 (v9) GeekBench: 3971 (v5.1), 4497 (v6) GFXBench: 50fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate X3

  • Brighter Display (926 nits)
  • Faster Wireless Charging (50W)
  • Slightly faster CPU core

  • Slightly lower battery endurance
  • Huawei ecosystem limitations

Honor Magic Vs

  • Better Battery Endurance (85h)
  • More compact design (generally)
  • Potentially better power efficiency

  • Slightly dimmer display (876 nits)
  • Slower reverse wired charging (5W)

Display Comparison

Both phones feature excellent foldable displays with infinite contrast ratios. However, the Mate X3 takes the lead with a measured peak brightness of 926 nits, offering a noticeably brighter viewing experience, particularly outdoors. The Magic Vs's 876 nits are still very good, but not quite as impactful.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a key area where a detailed comparison requires more in-depth testing. Both phones are expected to deliver high-quality photos and videos, but specific strengths (e.g., low-light performance, zoom capabilities) will likely differentiate them. Based on general expectations, both offer versatile camera systems.

Performance

Both devices are powered by the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, ensuring flagship-level performance. The Mate X3 has a slightly higher clocked Cortex-X2 core (3.19 GHz vs 3.0 GHz), potentially offering a small edge in single-core tasks. The Magic Vs's slightly tweaked CPU core frequencies might result in marginally better power efficiency.

Battery Life

The Honor Magic Vs secures a slight victory in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 85 hours compared to the Mate X3's 81 hours. This suggests the Magic Vs might offer slightly better longevity between charges, especially with moderate to heavy usage.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate X3 is ideal for users who prioritize a vibrant display and fast wireless charging, and are comfortable with Huawei's ecosystem. The Honor Magic Vs is a great choice for those seeking exceptional battery life and a slightly more compact design, especially if you prefer a more open Android experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which foldable is more durable?
Both phones utilize robust hinge mechanisms, but long-term durability remains to be seen. Reviews suggest both are well-built, but hinge longevity is a common concern with foldable devices.
❓ Do these phones have 5G connectivity?
Both the Huawei Mate X3 and Honor Magic Vs support 5G connectivity, allowing for fast download and streaming speeds where available.