Huawei Mate XT Ultimate vs. Honor Magic Vs2: A Deep Dive into Foldable Power

The foldable phone market is heating up, with Huawei and Honor offering compelling options. The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate, leveraging Huawei’s in-house Kirin 9010, aims for all-day battery and robust performance. Meanwhile, the Honor Magic Vs2, powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, prioritizes raw processing power and gaming capabilities. This comparison dissects these two titans to determine which foldable best suits your needs.
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🏆 Quick Verdict

For the average user prioritizing sustained performance and gaming, the Honor Magic Vs2 emerges as the winner. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s 4nm process provides a clear advantage in efficiency and raw power, despite the Mate XT Ultimate’s impressive battery life. However, the Mate XT Ultimate is a strong contender for users who value extended battery life above all else.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Honor Magic Vs2
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 bandsLTELTE
5G bandsSA/NSASA/NSA
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE, 5G
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G
Launch
Announced2024, September 102023, October 12
StatusAvailable. Released 2024, September 20Available. Released 2023, October 17
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, magnesium alloy frame, titanium alloy folding mechanism
DimensionsUnfolded: 156.7 x 219 x 3.6-4.8 mmFolded: 156.7 x 73.5 x 12.8 mmUnfolded: 157.5 x 146.2 x 5.1 mmFolded: 157.5 x 74.4 x 10.7 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight298 g (10.51 oz)229 g (8.08 oz)
Display
Resolution2232 x 3184 pixels (~381 ppi density)2156 x 2344 pixels (~402 ppi density)
Size10.2 inches, 315.5 cm2 (~91.9% screen-to-body ratio)7.92 inches, 201.6 cm2 (~87.6% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeTri-foldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 90HzFoldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x2.3 GHz Taishan Big & 3x2.18 GHz Taishan Mid & 4x1.55 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetKirin 9010 (7 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)
GPUMaleoon 910Adreno 730
OSHarmonyOS 4.2 (China)Android 13, MagicOS 7.2
Memory
Card slotNoNo
Internal256GB 16GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDRLED 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, PDAF50 MP, f/1.9, 25mm (wide), PDAF 20 MP, f/2.4, 62mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2.5x optical zoom, OIS 12 MP, f/2.2, 16mm (ultrawide), AF
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, OIS, HDR Vivid4K@30/60fps (10-bit), 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS, HDR10+
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR
Single8 MP, f/2.2, (wide), 1/3.6", 1.22µm16 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
Video4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps, gyro-EIS
Sound
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
Comms
Bluetooth5.2, A2DP, LE, L2HC5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD
Infrared portYesYes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a+E5b), QZSS (L1+L5), NavICGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (L1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, OTG, Display Port 1.2
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-bandWi-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
Battery
Charging66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless 5W reverse wired66W wired 5W reverse wired
TypeSi/C Li-Ion 5600 mAhLi-Po 5000 mAh
Misc
ColorsRed, BlackBlack, Blue, Purple
ModelsGRL-LX9, GRL-AL10VER-AN00
Price$ 4,662.58About 910 EUR

Huawei Mate XT Ultimate

  • Exceptional battery life (7:48h active use)
  • Versatile charging options (66W wired, 50W wireless, reverse wireless)
  • Potential for optimized software experience within Huawei ecosystem

  • Less powerful chipset (Kirin 9010) compared to Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
  • 7nm process may lead to thermal throttling under sustained load
  • Limited access to Google Mobile Services (GMS) depending on region

Honor Magic Vs2

  • Superior performance with Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm)
  • Better thermal management and sustained performance
  • Wider app compatibility and access to Google Mobile Services (GMS)

  • Potentially shorter battery life compared to Mate XT Ultimate
  • Limited reverse charging options (5W wired only)
  • May require more frequent charging for heavy users

Display Comparison

While both devices are foldables, detailed display specs are missing. However, given the Mate XT Ultimate’s positioning, it likely prioritizes color accuracy and potentially a higher refresh rate for media consumption. The Magic Vs2, geared towards performance, may lean towards a slightly more responsive panel. The absence of LTPO information is a key omission; LTPO would significantly impact battery efficiency by dynamically adjusting refresh rates.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specifications, a direct comparison is limited. However, both brands typically focus on computational photography. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s ISP (Image Signal Processor) is generally regarded as more advanced, offering superior noise reduction and dynamic range. The Mate XT Ultimate may rely more heavily on Huawei’s software algorithms to compensate for potential hardware limitations. The absence of sensor size information is critical; larger sensors generally capture more light and detail.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Honor Magic Vs2’s Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4nm) boasts a Cortex-X2 prime core clocked at 3.0 GHz, offering a significant performance uplift compared to the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate’s Kirin 9010 (7nm). The Snapdragon’s 4nm fabrication process translates to superior thermal efficiency, mitigating throttling during prolonged intensive tasks. The Kirin 9010’s Taishan cores, while capable, are less efficient and likely to exhibit more thermal throttling. This means the Magic Vs2 will maintain higher sustained performance in gaming and demanding applications.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate shines in battery life, achieving an impressive 7:48h of active use. While the Honor Magic Vs2’s battery capacity is unknown, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1’s efficiency helps offset the potential difference. Both devices offer 66W wired charging, providing rapid replenishment. The Mate XT Ultimate further includes 50W wireless and reverse wireless charging options (7.5W/5W), offering greater versatility, while the Magic Vs2 only offers 5W reverse wired charging.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate if you need exceptional battery life and prefer a more self-contained ecosystem, potentially benefiting from Huawei’s software optimizations. Buy the Honor Magic Vs2 if you prioritize peak performance for demanding tasks like gaming and video editing, and prefer the broader compatibility and established ecosystem of Qualcomm-powered devices.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9010 in the Mate XT Ultimate struggle with demanding games like Genshin Impact?
The Kirin 9010 is a capable chipset, but its 7nm process and core architecture are less efficient than the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Expect noticeable frame drops and potential thermal throttling during extended Genshin Impact sessions, particularly at higher graphics settings. The Magic Vs2 will provide a smoother, more consistent gaming experience.
❓ How does the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) on the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate affect app availability?
The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate relies on Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and the AppGallery. While many popular apps are available through these channels, some Google-dependent apps may require workarounds or may not function correctly. This is a significant consideration for users heavily invested in the Google ecosystem.
❓ Will the 66W charging on both phones fully charge the device in under an hour?
Yes, both the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate and the Honor Magic Vs2 support 66W wired charging, which should fully charge the devices from 0% to 100% in approximately 45-60 minutes, depending on battery capacity and charging conditions. The Mate XT Ultimate's 50W wireless charging is a slower, but convenient, alternative.