Huawei Mate X6 vs OnePlus Open: A Deep Dive into Foldable Flagships

The foldable phone market is heating up, with the Huawei Mate X6 and OnePlus Open representing two of the most compelling options. While both aim for a premium experience, they diverge significantly in their core philosophies – Huawei relying on its in-house Kirin chipset and a focus on balanced features, while OnePlus leverages Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and prioritizes performance and battery endurance.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For most users, the OnePlus Open emerges as the stronger contender. Its Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset delivers demonstrably better performance and efficiency, translating to nearly three more hours of active use. While the Mate X6 offers competitive display brightness and fast charging, it can't match the Open's overall package.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate X6 OnePlus Open
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 bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 66, 71, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / HSPA / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, November 262023, October 19
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, November 26Available. Released 2023, October 26
Body
BuildGlass front, nylon fiber or silicone polymer back (eco leather), aluminum frameGlass front (Ceramic Guard) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 156.6 x 144.1 x 4.6 mmFolded: 156.6 x 73.8 x 9.9 mmUnfolded: 153.4 x 143.1 x 5.8 mmFolded: 153.4 x 73.3 x 11.7 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight239 g (8.43 oz)239 g or 245 g (8.43 oz)
Display
Resolution2240 x 2440 pixels (~418 ppi density)2268 x 2440 pixels (~426 ppi density)
Size7.93 inches, 202.1 cm2 (~91.5% screen-to-body ratio)7.82 inches, 196.7 cm2 (~89.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR Vivid, 1800 nits (peak)Foldable LTPO3 Flexi-fluid AMOLED, 1B colors, Dolby Vision, 120Hz, 2800 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5 GHz & 3x2.15 GHz & 4x1.53GHz)Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 9020 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 920Adreno 740
OSEMUI 15 (International), HarmonyOS 4.3 (China)Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, OxygenOS 15
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRHasselblad Color Calibration, LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.0, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF48 MP, f/1.7, 24mm (wide), 1/1.43", 1.12µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 64 MP, f/2.6, 70mm (telephoto), 1/2.0", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, PDAF
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR Vivid4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240/480fps gyro-EIS, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) Cover camera: 8 MP, f/2.4, (wide)20MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1/4.0", 0.7µm Cover camera: 32MP, f/2.4, 22mm (ultrawide), 1/3.14", 0.7µm
Video4K, 1080p4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers (Dolby Atmos enhanced)
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB Type-C 3.1, 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/7, tri-band
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired67W wired, PD, 100% in 42 min Reverse wired
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 5110 or 5200 mAhLi-Po 4805 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Gray, Blue, RedEmerald Dusk, Voyager Black, Apex Edition
ModelsICL-AL10, ICL-LX9CPH2551
PriceAbout 2000 EUR$ 1,059.99 / € 926.54
SAR-0.98 W/kg (head)     0.76 W/kg (body)

Huawei Mate X6

  • Fast 66W wired charging
  • Versatile charging options (wireless & reverse)
  • Competitive display brightness

  • Less powerful Kirin 9020 chipset
  • Significantly shorter battery life
  • Potentially limited software updates

OnePlus Open

  • Superior Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 performance
  • Exceptional battery life (11:59h active use)
  • Fast 67W wired charging

  • Reverse charging options are limited to wired
  • May lack some of Huawei's software features

Display Comparison

Both devices boast impressive displays, but the OnePlus Open edges out the Huawei Mate X6 with a measured peak brightness of 1238 nits compared to the Mate X6’s 1173 nits. This difference, while not massive, will be noticeable in direct sunlight. While both likely employ LTPO technology for variable refresh rates (not specified in the data), the Open’s higher brightness provides a more vibrant and readable experience. Bezels are not specified, but both are expected to be minimal given their flagship status.

Camera Comparison

The provided data lacks specific camera details, making a direct comparison challenging. However, given OnePlus’s recent focus on camera improvements and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s advanced ISP, the Open is likely to offer superior image processing capabilities. The Mate X6, while potentially capable, is hampered by the older chipset’s processing limitations. Without sensor size or aperture information, it’s difficult to assess low-light performance, but the Open’s ISP is a significant advantage.

Performance

The performance gap is significant. The OnePlus Open’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4nm) is a clear upgrade over the Huawei Mate X6’s Kirin 9020 (7nm). The 4nm process node of the Snapdragon offers superior thermal efficiency, meaning less throttling during sustained workloads. The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s CPU configuration – a Cortex-X3 prime core alongside A715 and A710 performance cores – provides a substantial performance advantage over the Kirin 9020’s octa-core setup. This translates to faster app loading, smoother multitasking, and a better gaming experience.

Battery Life

Battery life is where the OnePlus Open truly shines. The active use score of 11:59h significantly surpasses the Mate X6’s 8:56h. This difference is attributable to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2’s superior power efficiency. While the Mate X6 offers a versatile charging solution with 66W wired, 50W wireless, and reverse wireless capabilities, the Open’s 67W wired charging (and 42-minute 0-100% claim) is competitive. The Open’s older endurance rating of 96h further reinforces its battery advantage.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate X6 if you prioritize a balanced feature set, appreciate Huawei’s software ecosystem, and value fast wired and wireless charging. Buy the OnePlus Open if you demand top-tier performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and require exceptional battery life to power through a full day and beyond. The Open is the clear choice for power users.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020 in the Mate X6 struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Kirin 9020, while capable, is likely to exhibit more thermal throttling and lower sustained performance in graphically intensive games like Genshin Impact compared to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in the OnePlus Open. Expect lower frame rates and potential stuttering during extended gaming sessions.
❓ How does the OnePlus Open's charging speed compare to real-world usage?
OnePlus claims a 100% charge in 42 minutes with 67W wired charging. While this is a fast charging speed, the actual time may vary slightly depending on battery temperature and background processes. However, it remains significantly faster than the Mate X6's 66W charging.
❓ Is the difference in battery life between the two phones noticeable in everyday use?
Absolutely. The nearly three-hour difference in active use scores translates to a tangible difference in daily usability. The OnePlus Open will comfortably last a full day with moderate to heavy use, while the Mate X6 may require a top-up before the end of the day.