Huawei Mate Xs 2 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G: The Ultimate Foldable Face-Off

Foldable phones are no longer a futuristic fantasy; they're a reality. The Huawei Mate Xs 2 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G represent two distinct approaches to this innovative form factor. But which one offers the better experience? Let's dive into a comprehensive comparison.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G takes the crown due to its superior battery life, brighter display, 5G connectivity, and more versatile software features. While the Mate Xs 2 boasts a unique outward-folding design, the Z Fold3 offers a more polished and feature-rich overall package.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate Xs 2 Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G
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 bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 411, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 46, 48, 66 - Europe
5G bands-1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International
SpeedHSPA, LTEHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTEGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO 2, 5, 25, 41, 66, 71, 78, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave - USA
Launch
Announced2022, April 282021, August 11
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, May 07Available. Released 2021, August 27
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 156.5 x 139.3 x 5.4 mmFolded: 156.5 x 75.5 x 11.1 mmUnfolded: 158.2 x 128.1 x 6.4 mmFolded: 158.2 x 67.1 x 14.4-16 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight255 g / 257 g (8.99 oz)271 g (9.56 oz)
 -IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus support
Display
Resolution2200 x 2480 pixels (~424 ppi density)1768 x 2208 pixels (~374 ppi density)
Size7.8 inches, 195.8 cm2 (~89.8% screen-to-body ratio)7.6 inches, 179.9 cm2 (~88.8% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable OLED, 1B colors, 120HzFoldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)
 Folded cover display: OLED, 6.5 inches, 1176 x 2480 pixelsCover display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 6.2 inches, 832 x 2268 pixels, 25:9 ratio
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)Octa-core (1x2.84 GHz Cortex-X1 & 3x2.42 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 4G (5 nm)Qualcomm SM8350 Snapdragon 888 5G (5 nm)
GPUAdreno 660Adreno 660
OSEMUI 12, no Google Play Services (International); HarmonyOS 2.0 (China)Android 11, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1
Memory
Card slotNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)No
Internal256GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 8GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 UFSUFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, Dual-LED dual-tone flash, panorama, HDRLED flash, HDR, panorama
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)12 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/1.76", 1.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.4, 52mm (telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 123˚, 12mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/240fps4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single10.7 MP, f/2.24 MP, f/1.8, 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 26mm (wide), 1/3", 1.22µm
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30/240fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 -32-bit/384kHz audio Tuned by AKG
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYes-
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC (L5)GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDS
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, 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 5W reverse wired25W wired 11W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless
TypeMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 4600 mAh (w/ 8GB RAM)· Li-Po 4880 mAh (w/ 12GB RAM)Li-Po 4400 mAh
Misc
ColorsBlack, White, PurplePhantom Black, Phantom Silver, Phantom Green, Thom Browne Edition, Wooyoungmi Edition
ModelsPAL-AL00, PAL-LX9SM-F926B, SM-F926B/DS, SM-F926U, SM-F926U1, SM-F926W, SM-F9260, SM-F926N
PriceAbout 2000 EUR€ 453.57 / $ 367.74 / £ 449.99
SAR-0.73 W/kg (head)     1.22 W/kg (body)
SAR EU-1.04 W/kg (head)     1.44 W/kg (body)
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 49h Endurance rating 75h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)-
Loudspeaker -25.8 LUFS (Very good) -25.6 LUFS (Very good)
Performance AnTuTu: 641608 (v9) GeekBench: 3131 (v5.1) GFXBench: 28fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 635918 (v8), 752218 (v9) GeekBench: 12719 (v4.4), 3239 (v5.1) GFXBench: 38fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Huawei Mate Xs 2

  • Unique outward-folding design
  • Relatively slim profile
  • 66W fast charging

  • No 5G connectivity
  • Lower battery life
  • Less polished software experience
  • Under-display camera quality

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G

  • Excellent battery life
  • Brighter display
  • 5G connectivity
  • More versatile software features
  • Water resistance

  • Thicker and heavier design
  • Slower charging (25W)
  • Expensive

Display Comparison

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G wins here. While the Mate Xs 2 hits 725 nits, the Z Fold3 reaches a brighter 922 nits, offering better outdoor visibility. Both have excellent contrast, but the Z Fold3's adaptive refresh rate (120Hz) provides a smoother scrolling experience. The Z Fold3's cover screen is also more usable for quick tasks.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is a close contest. Both offer capable photo and video capabilities, but the Z Fold3 generally produces more consistent results, especially in challenging lighting conditions. The Z Fold3's under-display camera is also a notable feature, though image quality is understandably lower than the main cameras.

Performance

Both phones share the same Snapdragon 888 chipset, so performance is largely comparable. However, the Z Fold3's 5G connectivity gives it an edge in network speeds. Real-world performance differences will be minimal for most users.

Battery Life

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G clearly wins in battery life, boasting an endurance rating of 75 hours compared to the Mate Xs 2's 49 hours. This translates to significantly longer usage between charges.

Buying Guide

The Huawei Mate Xs 2 is ideal for users who prioritize a unique, outward-folding design and don't mind the lack of 5G. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is best suited for those seeking a more mature foldable experience with excellent battery life, a brighter display, and broader software support.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Huawei Mate Xs 2 worth buying if I don't need 5G?
If you're drawn to the unique outward-folding design and don't rely on 5G, the Mate Xs 2 can be a compelling option. However, be aware of its limitations in battery life and software support.
❓ Which foldable phone is more durable?
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold3 5G is generally considered more durable due to its water resistance and more refined hinge mechanism. The Mate Xs 2's hinge design, while innovative, may be more susceptible to wear and tear over time.