Huawei Mate X6 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6: A Deep Dive into Foldable Supremacy

The foldable phone market is maturing, and the Huawei Mate X6 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 represent the pinnacle of this technology. While both aim to redefine mobile productivity and entertainment, they take distinctly different approaches. This comparison dissects their core components to determine which foldable best suits your needs, focusing on real-world performance and user experience.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing longevity and a vibrant display, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 emerges as the winner. Its significantly longer 11:31h active use battery life and 1630 nits peak brightness provide a more reliable and immersive experience. However, the Mate X6’s 66W charging offers a compelling advantage for those who value speed.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate X6 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 26, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, November 262024, July 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, November 26Available. Released 2024, July 24
Body
BuildGlass front, nylon fiber or silicone polymer back (eco leather), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus 2) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus 2), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 156.6 x 144.1 x 4.6 mmFolded: 156.6 x 73.8 x 9.9 mmUnfolded: 153.5 x 132.6 x 5.6 mmFolded: 153.5 x 68.1 x 12.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· eSIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM (SM-F9560)
Weight239 g (8.43 oz)239 g (8.43 oz)
Display
Resolution2240 x 2440 pixels (~418 ppi density)1856 x 2160 pixels (~374 ppi density)
Size7.93 inches, 202.1 cm2 (~91.5% screen-to-body ratio)7.6 inches, 185.2 cm2 (~91.0% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR Vivid, 1800 nits (peak)Foldable Dynamic LTPO AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 2600 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.5 GHz & 3x2.15 GHz & 4x1.53GHz)8-core (1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 & 3x3.1GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.9GHz Cortex-A720 & 2x2.2GHz Cortex-A520)
ChipsetKirin 9020 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8650-AC Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 920Adreno 750 (1 GHz)
OSEMUI 15 (International), HarmonyOS 4.3 (China)Android 14, up to 7 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLED 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), PDAF50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 66mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1/3.2", 1.12µm
Video4K, 1080p, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR Vivid8K@30fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/120/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDR, panoramaHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) Cover camera: 8 MP, f/2.4, (wide)4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm
Video4K, 1080p4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC5.3, 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, GALILEO, GLONASS, BDS, QZSS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB 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
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired25W wired, QC2.0, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 5110 or 5200 mAhLi-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Gray, Blue, RedNavy, Silver Shadow, Pink, Black, White
ModelsICL-AL10, ICL-LX9SM-F956B, SM-F956B/DS, SM-F956U, SM-F956U1, SM-F956N, SM-F956W, SM-F9560
PriceAbout 2000 EUR€ 670.13 / $ 799.95 / £ 789.99 / ₹ 109,999
SAR EU-1.24 W/kg (head)     1.39 W/kg (body)

Huawei Mate X6

  • Blazing-fast 66W wired charging
  • Versatile reverse wireless charging options (50W & 7.5W)
  • Potentially more affordable price point (depending on market)

  • Shorter battery life (8:56h active use)
  • Less efficient 7nm Kirin 9020 chipset
  • Software ecosystem may lack the polish of Samsung’s One UI

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6

  • Exceptional battery life (11:31h active use)
  • Brighter and more vibrant display (1630 nits)
  • Powerful and efficient Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset

  • Slower 25W wired charging
  • Less powerful reverse wireless charging (4.5W)
  • Higher price tag

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 boasts a significantly brighter display, reaching a measured 1630 nits compared to the Mate X6’s 1173 nits. This translates to superior visibility in direct sunlight. While both utilize foldable OLED technology, the higher brightness of the Z Fold6 provides a more vibrant and engaging viewing experience. Details regarding panel technology (LTPO) and refresh rates are missing, but Samsung’s history suggests a variable refresh rate for power efficiency. The difference in brightness is substantial enough to be noticeable in everyday use.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, given Samsung’s camera prowess, it’s reasonable to assume the Z Fold6 will offer a more refined and versatile camera system. The focus should be on the main sensor size and aperture, as these directly impact low-light performance. The Mate X6’s camera performance will likely rely heavily on Huawei’s computational photography algorithms, but the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s ISP in the Z Fold6 provides a powerful foundation for image processing. We can assume both will omit or downplay the usefulness of 2MP macro lenses.

Performance

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (4nm) chipset represents a significant leap in performance and efficiency over the Huawei Mate X6’s Kirin 9020 (7nm). The 4nm process node allows for greater transistor density and reduced heat generation, potentially mitigating thermal throttling during demanding tasks. The Z Fold6’s CPU configuration – a 1x3.39GHz Cortex-X4 prime core alongside three 3.1GHz Cortex-A720 cores – offers a clear advantage in multi-core performance. While the Kirin 9020 is a capable chip, it’s likely to struggle against the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 in sustained workloads like video editing or high-end gaming.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6’s 11:31h active use battery score decisively outperforms the Huawei Mate X6’s 8:56h. This difference is substantial and indicates a significant advantage in battery life. While the Mate X6 compensates with incredibly fast 66W wired charging, allowing for quicker top-ups, the Z Fold6’s superior endurance reduces the need for frequent charging. The Z Fold6 also offers 15W wireless charging, while the Mate X6 provides both 50W wireless and 7.5W/5W reverse wireless options, offering more flexibility in charging methods.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate X6 if you prioritize incredibly fast charging and are comfortable with a potentially less optimized software experience. Its 66W wired charging is unmatched in this comparison. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 if you value all-day battery life, a brighter and more color-accurate display, and the proven performance of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 platform, alongside Samsung’s robust software ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020 chipset in the Mate X6 suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
Given the 7nm process node and the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3’s superior thermal efficiency, the Kirin 9020 is likely to experience more noticeable thermal throttling during prolonged, demanding tasks like gaming. While the Mate X6 can handle gaming, expect potential performance dips over extended periods.
❓ How does the 25W charging on the Z Fold6 compare to the 66W charging on the Mate X6 in real-world scenarios?
While 66W charging on the Mate X6 is significantly faster, the Z Fold6’s 25W charging is still respectable. The Mate X6 can likely go from 0-100% in under 40 minutes, while the Z Fold6 will take closer to 60-70 minutes. However, the Z Fold6’s superior battery life means you may not need to charge as frequently.
❓ Is the difference in display brightness between the two phones noticeable in everyday use?
Yes, the 467-nit difference in peak brightness is quite noticeable, especially outdoors or in brightly lit environments. The Z Fold6’s brighter display will offer a much more comfortable and clear viewing experience in these conditions.