Huawei Mate Xs 2 vs Mate X2: The Ultimate Foldable Face-Off

Huawei's foldable phone lineup continues to evolve, offering unique designs and features. The Mate Xs 2 and Mate X2 represent different approaches to the foldable form factor. This comprehensive comparison will break down their strengths and weaknesses to help you decide which one is right for you.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

The Mate X2 boasts superior battery life and a more refined design, while the Xs 2 offers a brighter display and the Snapdragon 888. Ultimately, the X2 provides a more balanced and user-friendly experience, making it the slightly better choice for most users, despite the Xs 2's processing power.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate Xs 2 Huawei Mate X2
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, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands-1, 3, 28, 38, 40, 41, 77, 78, 79, 80, 84 SA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2022, April 282021, February 22
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, May 07Available. Released 2021, February 25
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back, aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 156.5 x 139.3 x 5.4 mmFolded: 156.5 x 75.5 x 11.1 mmUnfolded: 161.8 x 145.8 x 8.2 mmFolded: 161.8 x 74.6 x 14.7 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight255 g / 257 g (8.99 oz)295 g (10.41 oz)
Display
Resolution2200 x 2480 pixels (~424 ppi density)2200 x 2480 pixels (~413 ppi density)
Size7.8 inches, 195.8 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)8.0 inches, 206.0 cm2 (~87.3% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 120HzFoldable OLED, 90Hz
 Folded cover display: OLED, 6.5 inches, 1176 x 2480 pixelsCover display: OLED, 90Hz, 6.45 inches, 1160 x 2700 pixels
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x3.13 GHz Cortex-A77 & 3x2.54 GHz Cortex-A77 & 4x2.05 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)Kirin 9000 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Mali-G78 MP24
OSEMUI 12, no Google Play Services (International); HarmonyOS 2.0 (China)Android 10, EMUI 11, no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.X
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Leica optics, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Quad-50 MP, f/1.9, 23mm (wide), 1/1.28", 1.22µm, multi-directional PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 70mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 8 MP, f/4.4, 240mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 10x optical zoom 16 MP, f/2.2, 17mm (ultrawide), AF
Single10.7 MP, f/2.2-
Triple50 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)-
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/240fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single10.7 MP, f/2.216 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB 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/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer
Battery
Charging66W wired 5W reverse wired55W wired
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 4600 mAh (w/ 8GB RAM)· Li-Po 4880 mAh (w/ 12GB RAM)Li-Po 4500 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, PurpleBlack, White, Light Blue, Rose Gold, Collector’s Edition Black/White/Red
ModelsPAL-AL00, PAL-LX9TET-AN00
PriceAbout 2000 EURAbout 2300 EUR
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 49h Endurance rating 74h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -25.8 LUFS (Very good) -26.8 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 641608 (v9) GeekBench: 3131 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 632818 (v8) GeekBench: 14393 (v4.4), 3389 (v5.1) GFXBench: 29fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate Xs 2

  • Brighter Display (725 nits)
  • Powerful Snapdragon 888
  • Unique 'open' foldable design

  • Shorter Battery Life (49h)
  • Potentially less refined design
  • No 5G connectivity

Huawei Mate X2

  • Longer Battery Life (74h)
  • More Polished Design
  • Kirin 9000 5G chipset

  • Lower Display Brightness (542 nits)
  • Potentially less powerful than Snapdragon 888
  • Design may feel less 'open'

Display Comparison

The Mate Xs 2 takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 725 nits, significantly higher than the Mate X2's 542 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite, nominally), but the Xs 2's brightness makes it more usable outdoors. The Xs 2's design also means the inner display is always exposed, which some may prefer.

Camera Comparison

Both phones feature excellent camera systems, though specific details are missing in the provided specs. Expect high-quality photos and videos from both, with Huawei's image processing delivering vibrant colors and sharp details. The Mate X2's camera array is generally considered slightly more versatile due to its potentially wider range of lenses (based on general knowledge of the models).

Performance

The Mate Xs 2 packs the Qualcomm Snapdragon 888 4G, a powerful chipset known for its performance. The Mate X2 utilizes Huawei's Kirin 9000 5G, which is also very capable. While benchmarks might show slight differences, real-world performance is generally smooth on both devices. The Kirin 9000 5G has a slight edge in efficiency.

Battery Life

The Mate X2 clearly wins in the battery department, boasting an endurance rating of 74 hours compared to the Xs 2's 49 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage times on a single charge, a crucial factor for foldable phones.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate Xs 2 is ideal for users prioritizing a brighter display and raw processing power, and who appreciate a more 'open' foldable design. The Huawei Mate X2 is a better fit for those seeking longer battery life, a more polished design, and a generally more refined foldable experience.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei Mate Xs 2 worth the extra cost?
The Mate Xs 2's brighter display and Snapdragon 888 offer advantages, but the Mate X2's superior battery life and more refined design often make it the better value.
❓ Which foldable phone is more durable?
The Mate X2's design is generally considered more durable due to its more protected inner display. The Xs 2's exposed inner display is more susceptible to scratches.