Huawei Mate X7 vs. Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4: A Deep Dive into Foldable Flagships

The foldable phone market is maturing, with Huawei and Samsung leading the charge. The Huawei Mate X7, powered by its in-house Kirin 9030 Pro, aims to challenge Samsung’s established Galaxy Z Fold4 and its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. This comparison dissects the key differences, focusing on performance, battery life, and the overall foldable experience to determine which device offers the best value.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing raw performance and established software support, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 emerges as the winner. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 delivers a more consistent experience, and the 101-hour endurance rating provides peace of mind. However, the Mate X7’s faster 66W charging is a compelling advantage for those who value speed.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate X7 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4
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, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2025, November 252022, August 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, November 26Available. Released 2022, August 25
Body
BuildGlass front, nylon fiber or silicone polymer back (eco leather), aluminum frameGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 156.8 x 144.2 x 4.5 mmFolded: 156.8 x 73.8 x 9.5 mmUnfolded: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3 mmFolded: 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2-15.8 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)
Weight235 g (8.29 oz)263 g (9.28 oz)
 -IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus support
Display
Resolution2210 x 2416 pixels (~409 ppi density)1812 x 2176 pixels (~373 ppi density)
Size8.0 inches, 205.6 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)7.6 inches, 183.2 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, 1440Hz PWM, HDR Vivid, 2500 nits (peak)Foldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
 -Cover display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ 6.2 inches, 904 x 2316 pixels, 23.1:9 ratio
Platform
CPU9-core (1x2.75 GHz & 4x2.27 GHz & 4x1.72 GHz)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 9030 Pro (6 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 935Adreno 730
OSHarmonyOS 6.0Android 12L, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM, 1TB 20GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
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* 50 MP, f/2.2, 81mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF *1/1.28" sensor size for 256GB / 512GB 12GB RAM models 1/1.56" sensor size for 512GB/1TB 16/20GB RAM models50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 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, 12mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm
Video4K, 1080p, 1080p@960fps, HDR, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR Vivid8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (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
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth6.0, A2DP, LE, L2HC5.2, 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, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2USB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6/7, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
 -Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired25W wired, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
Type5525 mAhLi-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, Purple, Blue, RedGraygreen, Phantom Black, Beige, Burgundy
ModelsDEL-AL10SM-F936B, SM-F936B/DS, SM-F936U, SM-F936U1, SM-F936N, SM-F936W, SM-F9360
PriceAbout 1590 EUR$ 457.00 / € 511.80 / £ 485.00 / ₹ 73,899
SAR-0.96 W/kg (head)     0.92 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.30 W/kg (head)     1.51 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life- Endurance rating 101h
Camera- Photo / Video
Display- Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker- -28.3 LUFS (Average)
Performance- AnTuTu: 964530 (v9) GeekBench: 3981 (v5.1) GFXBench: 43fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate X7

  • Significantly faster 66W wired charging
  • Faster 50W wireless charging
  • Potentially more versatile reverse wireless charging options

  • Less efficient 6nm Kirin 9030 Pro chipset
  • Software ecosystem limitations compared to Samsung
  • Limited information on display specifications

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4

  • More efficient 4nm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Excellent 101-hour battery endurance
  • Refined software experience and long-term support

  • Slower 25W wired charging
  • Slower 15W wireless charging
  • Higher price point (typically)

Display Comparison

Both devices feature foldable displays, but the specifics differ. The Galaxy Z Fold4 boasts a measured peak brightness of 1000 nits, ensuring excellent visibility even outdoors. While the Mate X7’s display specs aren’t provided, Huawei typically focuses on color accuracy in its flagship devices. The Z Fold4’s ‘Infinite’ contrast ratio suggests a superior viewing experience with deeper blacks. The hinge mechanism and crease visibility are critical factors, but without direct comparison data, it’s difficult to definitively declare a winner. The Z Fold4’s display is likely more refined due to Samsung’s longer experience in foldable display technology.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but detailed specifications are limited. Both are listed as having Photo/Video capabilities. The Z Fold4 likely benefits from Samsung’s advanced image processing algorithms and potentially larger sensor sizes, though this is speculative without specific sensor details. The Mate X7’s camera performance will depend heavily on Huawei’s computational photography expertise. Without knowing sensor sizes, apertures, or OIS implementation, a definitive camera comparison is impossible. We can assume both phones will deliver excellent results in good lighting conditions, but the Z Fold4 likely holds an edge in low-light performance due to Samsung’s established camera technology.

Performance

The core of the performance difference lies in the chipsets. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4’s Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) is built on a more efficient node than the Huawei Mate X7’s Kirin 9030 Pro (6nm). This translates to better thermal management and sustained performance under load. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s octa-core configuration, with a Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.19 GHz, provides a performance edge over the Kirin 9030 Pro’s 9-core setup. While the Kirin 9030 Pro is a capable chip, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s superior architecture and efficiency give the Z Fold4 a clear advantage in demanding tasks like gaming and video editing.

Battery Life

The Galaxy Z Fold4’s endurance rating of 101 hours suggests excellent battery life, despite not having a massive battery capacity. This is likely due to the efficiency of the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 and Samsung’s software optimizations. The Mate X7 offers faster charging with 66W wired, significantly quicker than the Z Fold4’s 25W wired charging. The Mate X7 also supports 50W wireless charging, a substantial upgrade over the Z Fold4’s 15W wireless charging. While the Z Fold4 excels in longevity, the Mate X7 prioritizes charging speed, allowing users to quickly replenish the battery when needed. The 7.5W and 5W reverse wireless charging options on the Mate X7 are also more versatile than the Z Fold4’s 4.5W reverse wireless.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate X7 if you prioritize incredibly fast charging speeds (66W) and are comfortable with the Huawei ecosystem. It’s ideal for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. Buy the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 if you value a more refined software experience, consistently high performance thanks to the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, and a proven track record of software updates. It’s the better choice for power users and those heavily invested in the Android ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9030 Pro in the Mate X7 suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
The 6nm process of the Kirin 9030 Pro is less efficient than the 4nm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. This means the Mate X7 is more likely to experience thermal throttling during prolonged, demanding tasks like gaming. While the Kirin 9030 Pro is a powerful chip, the Z Fold4 will likely maintain higher sustained performance.
❓ How does the software experience differ between the Huawei Mate X7 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, and what are the implications for updates?
The Galaxy Z Fold4 runs on Samsung’s One UI, built on Android, offering a mature and well-supported software experience with guaranteed updates. The Mate X7 runs on Huawei’s EMUI, which lacks full Google Mobile Services (GMS) due to ongoing restrictions. This means users may need to rely on workarounds for certain apps and services, and software updates may be less frequent.
❓ Is the 66W charging on the Mate X7 significantly faster in real-world use compared to the Z Fold4's 25W charging?
Yes, the 66W charging on the Mate X7 is substantially faster. While the Z Fold4 can reach 50% charge in 30 minutes, the Mate X7 will likely achieve a full charge in a similar timeframe. This is a significant advantage for users who frequently need to quickly top up their battery.