Huawei Mate X3 vs Mate Xs 2: The Ultimate Foldable Face-Off

Huawei's foldable phone lineup continues to evolve, offering unique designs and features. The Mate X3 and Mate Xs 2 represent different iterations of this technology. But which one is the better choice for you? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Huawei Mate X3 emerges as the clear winner, boasting a significantly better battery life, a brighter display, and a more powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset. While the Xs 2 has a unique outward-folding design, the X3's overall performance and longevity make it the more compelling option.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei Mate X3	Huawei Mate Xs 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 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41	1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
Speed	HSPA, LTE	HSPA, LTE
Technology	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE	GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO	CDMA2000 1xEV-DO

Launch
Announced	2023, March 23	2022, April 28
Status	Available. Released 2023, April 08	Available. Released 2022, May 07

Body
Build	Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame	-
Dimensions	Unfolded: 156.9 x 141.5 x 5.3 mmFolded: 156.9 x 72.4 x 11.1 mm	Unfolded: 156.5 x 139.3 x 5.4 mmFolded: 156.5 x 75.5 x 11.1 mm
SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM	Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight	239 g or 241 g (8.43 oz)	255 g / 257 g (8.99 oz)
	IPX8 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)	-

Display
Protection	Kunlun Glass (cover display only)	-
Resolution	2224 x 2496 pixels (~426 ppi density)	2200 x 2480 pixels (~424 ppi density)
Size	7.85 inches, 197.5 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)	7.8 inches, 195.8 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)
Type	Foldable OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz	Foldable OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
	Cover display: OLED, 120Hz, 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2504 pixels	Folded cover display: OLED, 6.5 inches, 1176 x 2480 pixels

Platform
CPU	Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)	Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
Chipset	Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)	Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)
GPU	Adreno 730	Adreno 660
OS	HarmonyOS 3.1 (China), EMUI 13.1 (Europe), no Google Play Services	EMUI 12, no Google Play Services (International); HarmonyOS 2.0 (China)

Memory
Card slot	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)	Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal	256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM	256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
	UFS	UFS

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR
Single	-	10.7 MP, f/2.2
Triple	50 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), AF	50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), PDAF 8 MP, f/2.4, 81mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚ (ultrawide)
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/240fps

Selfie camera
Features	HDR, panorama	HDR
Single	8 MP, f/2.4, (wide) Cover camera: 8 MP, f/2.4, (wide)	10.7 MP, f/2.2
Video	4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps	4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps

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

Comms
Bluetooth	5.2, A2DP, LE	5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port	Yes	Yes
NFC	Yes	Yes
Positioning	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (B1I+B1c+B2a), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), 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, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct

Features
Sensors	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, altimeter	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
	BDS Satellite Message	-

Battery
Charging	66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless	66W wired 5W reverse wired
Type	Market-dependent versions:· Li-Po 4800 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5060 mAh (China only)	Market-dependent versions:· Li-Po 4600 mAh (w/ 8GB RAM)· Li-Po 4880 mAh (w/ 12GB RAM)

Misc
Colors	Black, White, Violet, Dark Green, Gold	Black, White, Purple
Models	ALT-AL00, ALT-L29	PAL-AL00, PAL-LX9
Price	About 1500 EUR	About 2000 EUR

Tests
Battery life	Endurance rating 81h	Endurance rating 49h
Camera	Photo / Video	Photo / Video
Display	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)	Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker	-26.3 LUFS (Good)	-25.8 LUFS (Very good)
Performance	AnTuTu: 993592 (v9) GeekBench: 4283 (v5.5), 4512 (v6) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)	AnTuTu: 641608 (v9) GeekBench: 3131 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate X3

Significantly better battery life
Brighter display
More powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
Faster charging (66W wired)

Outward folding design might be preferred by some
Potentially higher price

Huawei Mate Xs 2

Unique outward-folding design
Slightly more compact when folded

Weaker battery life
Lower display brightness
Older Snapdragon 888 chipset
Slower charging (5W reverse wired)

Display Comparison

The Mate X3 takes a clear lead in display brightness, measuring 926 nits compared to the Xs 2's 725 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but the X3's higher brightness makes it more usable outdoors. Both utilize flexible OLED panels, providing vibrant colors and deep blacks. The Xs 2's outward folding design might offer a slightly different viewing experience, but the X3's superior brightness is a significant advantage.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature capable camera systems, but detailed camera comparisons require more in-depth testing. Generally, the Mate X3 is expected to offer slightly improved image processing and low-light performance due to its more modern chipset. Both likely offer versatile shooting modes and high-quality video recording.

Performance

The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in the Mate X3 is a substantial upgrade over the Snapdragon 888 in the Mate Xs 2. This translates to noticeably faster app loading times, smoother multitasking, and better performance in demanding games. The X3's CPU and GPU configurations are simply more powerful, providing a more responsive and fluid user experience. While the Xs 2 is still capable, the X3 is in a different league.

Battery Life

This is where the Mate X3 truly shines. Its endurance rating of 81 hours vastly surpasses the Mate Xs 2's 49 hours. This means the X3 can easily last a full two days on a single charge, while the Xs 2 will likely require daily charging. The X3's 66W wired charging is also faster than the Xs 2's.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate X3 is ideal for users prioritizing battery life, performance, and a refined foldable experience. The Mate Xs 2 might appeal to those who prefer its outward-folding design and a slightly more compact form factor when folded, but are willing to compromise on battery and processing power.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which foldable phone is more durable?

Both phones utilize robust hinge mechanisms, but the Mate X3's design may offer slightly better dust and water resistance. However, foldable phones are inherently more susceptible to damage than traditional smartphones.

❓ Does the Mate Xs 2's outward folding design offer any practical advantages?

The outward folding design can be more convenient for one-handed use and may offer a slightly more secure feel when folded. However, it also means the screen is exposed when folded.