Huawei Mate XT Ultimate vs. Google Pixel Fold: A Deep Dive into Foldable Power and Software

The foldable phone market is maturing, with Huawei and Google offering distinct visions. The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate aims for raw performance and extended battery life, while the Google Pixel Fold prioritizes software integration and a refined user experience. This comparison dissects their core strengths and weaknesses to help you choose the right foldable for your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing all-day battery life and sustained performance, the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate emerges as the winner. Its Kirin 9010 chipset and impressive 7:48h active use score outweigh the Pixel Fold’s software advantages for power users. However, the Pixel Fold’s software experience is compelling.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Google Pixel Fold
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 bandsLTE1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 46, 48, 66, 71
5G bandsSA/NSA1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, 20, 25, 28, 30, 38, 40, 41, 48, 66, 71, 75, 76, 77, 78, 79, 257, 258, 260, 261 SA/NSA/Sub6/mmWave
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G
 -CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2024, September 102023, May 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, September 20Available. Released 2023, June 27
Body
Build-Glass front (Gorilla Glass Victus) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus), aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 156.7 x 219 x 3.6-4.8 mmFolded: 156.7 x 73.5 x 12.8 mmUnfolded: 139.7 x 158.7 x 5.8 mmFolded: 139.7 x 79.5 x 12.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + eSIM
Weight298 g (10.51 oz)283 g (9.98 oz)
 -IPX8 water resistant
Display
Resolution2232 x 3184 pixels (~381 ppi density)1840 x 2208 pixels (~378 ppi density)
Size10.2 inches, 315.5 cm2 (~91.9% screen-to-body ratio)7.6 inches, 183.3 cm2 (~82.7% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTri-foldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 90HzFoldable OLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1000 nits (HBM), 1450 nits (peak)
 -Cover display: OLED, 120Hz, HDR, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 5.8 inches, 1080 x 2092 pixels, 17.4:9 ratio, 408 ppi 1200 nits (HBM), 1550 nits (peak)
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.3 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.18 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.55 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9010 (7 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUMaleoon 910Mali-G710 MP7
OSHarmonyOS 4.2 (China)Android 13, upgradable to Android 15, up to 5 major Android upgrades
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM
 -UFS 3.1
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLaser AF, Dual-LED flash, HDR, panorama
Triple50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), 1/3.6", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 5.5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.9", 1.24µm, PDAF48 MP, f/1.7, 25mm (wide), 1/2.0", 0.8µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10.8 MP, f/3.1, 112mm (telephoto), 1/3.1", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 10.8 MP, f/2.2, 121˚, (ultrawide), 1/3.0", 1.25µm
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR Vivid4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, 10-bit HDR
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single8 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm8 MP, f/2.0, 24mm (wide), 1/4.0", 1.12µm Cover camera: 9.5 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps
Sound
3.5mm jack -No
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, 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, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-bandWi-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
 -Ultra Wideband (UWB) support
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wiredWired, PD3.0 Wireless
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 5600 mAhLi-Po 4821 mAh
Misc
ColorsRed, BlackPorcelain, Obsidian
ModelsGRL-LX9, GRL-AL10G9FPL
Price$ 4,662.58€ 670.87 / $ 389.26 / £ 899.99

Huawei Mate XT Ultimate

  • Exceptional battery life (7:48h active use)
  • Faster charging speeds (66W wired, 50W wireless)
  • Potentially stronger sustained performance with Kirin 9010

  • Huawei’s software experience may not appeal to all users
  • Camera image processing may be overly aggressive

Google Pixel Fold

  • Seamless Google software integration
  • Potential for superior AI-powered features
  • Refined foldable design and user experience

  • Likely shorter battery life
  • Slower charging speeds
  • Tensor G2 may throttle under sustained load

Display Comparison

Detailed display specifications are missing, but the core difference lies in the intended user experience. Huawei typically focuses on color accuracy and high refresh rates, while Google prioritizes software-driven display calibration. The absence of LTPO information for either device makes it difficult to assess power efficiency gains. Bezels are a critical factor in foldable design, and a visual comparison is needed to determine which device offers a more immersive experience. We expect both to utilize flexible OLED panels, but the hinge mechanism and crease visibility will be key differentiators.

Camera Comparison

Camera details are limited, but the focus should be on image processing. Huawei is known for its aggressive image processing, often resulting in vibrant, but sometimes over-sharpened, photos. Google’s Pixel phones, conversely, are renowned for their computational photography and natural-looking images. Sensor size and OIS are crucial, but without specific details, it’s difficult to assess the camera capabilities. The absence of information regarding lens apertures further complicates the comparison. We can assume both devices will offer a versatile camera system, but the user experience and image quality will likely differ significantly.

Performance

The chipset battle pits the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate’s Kirin 9010 (7nm) against the Google Pixel Fold’s Google Tensor G2 (5nm). While the Tensor G2 benefits from a more advanced 5nm process, potentially offering better efficiency, the Kirin 9010’s octa-core configuration – featuring Taishan big cores – suggests a focus on sustained performance. The Tensor G2’s CPU, with its Cortex-X1 cores, excels in single-core tasks, but the Kirin 9010’s architecture may provide an edge in multi-threaded workloads. The Pixel Fold’s reliance on the Tensor G2 also means it benefits from Google’s AI and machine learning optimizations, but this doesn’t necessarily translate to raw processing speed. RAM specifications are missing, but LPDDR5x would be expected in both devices to maximize memory bandwidth.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate’s 7:48h active use score is a significant advantage. This demonstrates a clear focus on battery optimization. The 66W wired charging is substantially faster than the Pixel Fold’s unspecified wired charging (PD3.0), and the 50W wireless charging provides a convenient alternative. The inclusion of reverse wireless and wired charging further enhances the Mate XT Ultimate’s versatility. The Pixel Fold’s battery capacity is unknown, but its reliance on wireless charging and potentially slower wired charging speeds suggest it may require more frequent top-ups.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate if you need a foldable that can reliably last through a full day of heavy use, including gaming and demanding applications, and value raw processing power. Buy the Google Pixel Fold if you prioritize a seamless software experience, tight Google ecosystem integration, and a more polished, mainstream foldable design, even if it means compromising on battery endurance.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9010 chipset in the Mate XT Ultimate suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 9010 is a powerful chipset, the 7nm process isn't as efficient as the 5nm Tensor G2. However, Huawei's thermal management solutions are typically robust. Real-world testing is needed to determine the extent of throttling, but the Mate XT Ultimate's larger battery may provide a thermal buffer.
❓ How does the Google Tensor G2's AI capabilities translate into real-world benefits for Pixel Fold users beyond camera features?
The Tensor G2 excels in on-device machine learning, enabling features like improved voice recognition, live translation, and enhanced security. Google Assistant integration is also likely to be more seamless and responsive on the Pixel Fold. These benefits are subtle but contribute to a more intelligent and personalized user experience.
❓ Is the lack of detailed charging specifications for the Pixel Fold a cause for concern?
Yes, the absence of specific charging wattage for the Pixel Fold is concerning. Given the device's foldable form factor and potentially smaller battery capacity, slower charging speeds could be a significant inconvenience. The inclusion of PD3.0 suggests compatibility with fast chargers, but the actual charging rate remains unknown.