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

Huawei's foldable phone lineup continues to evolve, and the Mate Xs 2 and Mate X3 represent significant steps forward. But which one offers the better experience? We're diving deep into a comprehensive comparison to help you decide which foldable is right for you.

Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Huawei Mate X3 emerges as the clear winner, boasting a brighter display, more powerful chipset, significantly improved battery life, and added wireless charging capabilities. While the Xs 2 has a unique outward-folding design, the X3’s overall refinement and performance make it the superior choice.

PHONES
Phone Names	Huawei Mate Xs 2	Huawei Mate X3

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

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

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

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

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

Main Camera
Features	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDR	Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Single	10.7 MP, f/2.2	-
Triple	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)	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
Video	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/240fps	4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS

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

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 (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)	GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (B1I+B1c+B2a), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
Radio	No	No
USB	USB Type-C 3.1, OTG	USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, 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	Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, altimeter
	-	BDS Satellite Message

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

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

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

Huawei Mate Xs 2

Unique outward-folding design
Relatively compact when folded
66W wired charging

Older chipset
Lower peak brightness
Shorter battery life
No wireless charging

Huawei Mate X3

Brighter display
More powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
Exceptional battery life
Wireless charging (50W)
Reverse wireless charging (7.5W)

More expensive
Slightly bulkier than Xs 2

Display Comparison

The Mate X3 takes a commanding lead in the display department. Its 926 nits peak brightness significantly surpasses the Xs 2's 725 nits, making it much easier to view content outdoors. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite, nominally), but the X3's brightness advantage is undeniable. Color accuracy is likely comparable, given both utilize high-quality OLED panels.

Camera Comparison

While both phones feature capable camera systems, detailed camera comparisons require more in-depth testing. However, the X3's newer image processing capabilities and potentially improved sensors likely give it an edge in image quality, especially in challenging lighting conditions. Video recording capabilities are likely similar, offering high-resolution options.

Performance

The Mate X3's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) is a substantial upgrade over the Xs 2's Snapdragon 888 (5nm). The newer chipset delivers noticeably faster processing speeds and improved efficiency, resulting in smoother multitasking and gaming. Expect the X3 to handle demanding applications with greater ease.

Battery Life

Battery life is a major differentiator. The Mate X3's endurance rating of 81 hours significantly outpaces the Xs 2's 49 hours. This translates to considerably longer usage between charges, a crucial factor for foldable phone users.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate Xs 2 is ideal for users who prioritize a unique outward-folding design and don't mind slightly older hardware. The Mate X3 is best suited for those seeking top-tier performance, exceptional battery life, and a more polished overall experience, especially if wireless charging is a must-have.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei Mate X3 worth the extra cost compared to the Mate Xs 2?

Yes, the Mate X3's significant improvements in performance, battery life, and display brightness justify the higher price for most users.

❓ 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 in certain situations, but the X3's overall refinement and features outweigh this advantage for many.