Huawei Mate XTs Ultimate vs. Google Pixel Fold: A Deep Dive into Foldable Power

The foldable phone market is maturing, with Huawei and Google offering compelling, yet distinct, visions. The Huawei Mate XTs Ultimate, leveraging its Kirin 9020 chipset, represents a continuation of Huawei’s foldable expertise. Conversely, the Google Pixel Fold marks Google’s first foray into the space, powered by the custom Tensor G2. This comparison dissects their core differences, focusing on performance, charging, and the overall user experience.
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

For users prioritizing raw charging speed and potentially sustained performance in specific workloads, the Huawei Mate XTs Ultimate edges out the Pixel Fold. However, the Pixel Fold’s Tensor G2 offers a more refined software experience and benefits from Google’s AI capabilities, making it the better choice for the average user.

PHONES
Phone Names Huawei Mate XTs 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
Announced2025, September 042023, May 10
StatusAvailable. Released 2025, September 29Available. 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, 90Hz, 1440Hz PWMFoldable 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 (1x2.4 GHz & 3x2.00 GHz & 4x1.6GHz)Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55)
ChipsetKirin 9020 (7 nm)Google Tensor G2 (5 nm)
GPUMaleoon 920Mali-G710 MP7
OSHarmonyOS 5.1 (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 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), 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@30fps, HDR Vivid4K@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/6/7, 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, Black, Purple, WhitePorcelain, Obsidian
ModelsGRL-AL20G9FPL
PriceAbout 2160 EUR€ 670.87 / $ 389.26 / £ 899.99

Huawei Mate XTs Ultimate

  • Significantly faster charging speeds (66W wired, 50W wireless)
  • Potentially more sustained performance in specific workloads due to Kirin 9020
  • Reverse wireless and wired charging capabilities

  • Software experience may lack the polish of Google’s Pixel UI
  • Potential concerns regarding app availability due to geopolitical factors

Google Pixel Fold

  • Seamless Android experience with guaranteed updates
  • Google’s AI-powered features and computational photography
  • Modern chipset architecture (Tensor G2) with improved efficiency

  • Slower charging speeds compared to the Mate XTs Ultimate
  • Potential for thermal throttling under sustained heavy load

Display Comparison

While both devices feature foldable displays, specifics beyond the form factor are missing. However, given Huawei’s history with OLED panels, the Mate XTs Ultimate likely prioritizes color accuracy and peak brightness. The Pixel Fold, benefiting from Google’s software optimization, will likely focus on adaptive refresh rates and color calibration. The absence of LTPO information makes a direct comparison difficult, but the foldable nature of both displays will inherently present crease visibility concerns.

Camera Comparison

Without detailed camera specs, a direct comparison is limited. However, Huawei has historically excelled in camera technology. The Mate XTs Ultimate likely features a sophisticated image processing pipeline leveraging the Kirin 9020’s ISP. The Pixel Fold benefits from Google’s computational photography expertise, known for its excellent dynamic range and accurate color reproduction. The Tensor G2’s dedicated image processing unit will be crucial for features like Magic Eraser and Photo Unblur. Sensor size and lens apertures will be key differentiators, but are currently unknown.

Performance

The core difference lies in the chipsets. The Huawei Mate XTs Ultimate’s Kirin 9020 (7nm) utilizes a tri-cluster CPU configuration, aiming for efficiency and performance balance. The Google Pixel Fold’s Tensor G2 (5nm) employs a more modern architecture with Cortex-X1 cores, designed for peak performance. The 5nm process of the Tensor G2 inherently offers better transistor density and thermal efficiency compared to the 7nm Kirin 9020, potentially leading to less throttling under sustained load. The Tensor G2’s focus on AI and machine learning tasks will also provide a noticeable advantage in features like voice recognition and image processing. The Pixel Fold's LPDDR5x RAM will also contribute to faster data transfer speeds.

Battery Life

The Huawei Mate XTs Ultimate boasts a significant charging advantage with 66W wired, 50W wireless, and even reverse wireless charging capabilities. The Pixel Fold offers wired charging with PD3.0 and wireless charging, but lacks the speed of Huawei’s solution. While battery capacity is unknown for both, the faster charging of the Mate XTs Ultimate mitigates the impact of a potentially smaller battery. The 66W charging could deliver a 0-100% charge in under 40 minutes, while the Pixel Fold will likely take considerably longer.

Buying Guide

Buy the Huawei Mate XTs Ultimate if you need exceptionally fast 66W wired and 50W wireless charging, and value a potentially more consistent performance profile in demanding tasks due to its Kirin chipset. Buy the Google Pixel Fold if you prioritize a seamless Android experience, Google’s AI-powered features, and a more balanced overall package, even if it means slightly slower charging speeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Does the Kirin 9020 chipset in the Mate XTs Ultimate suffer from significant thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions?
While the Kirin 9020 is a capable chipset, its 7nm process is less efficient than the 5nm Tensor G2. This means the Mate XTs Ultimate is more likely to experience thermal throttling during prolonged, demanding tasks like gaming. However, Huawei’s thermal management system may mitigate this to some extent.
❓ How does Google’s Tensor G2 chip handle AI tasks compared to the Kirin 9020, and what real-world benefits does this translate to for Pixel Fold users?
The Tensor G2 is specifically designed with a focus on AI and machine learning. This translates to faster and more accurate voice recognition, improved image processing (like Magic Eraser), and enhanced on-device translation capabilities. The Kirin 9020 also has AI capabilities, but the Tensor G2’s dedicated TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) provides a significant advantage.
❓ Given the lack of detailed camera specs, what can we infer about the image quality differences between the two phones?
Huawei historically prioritizes camera hardware and image processing, potentially resulting in more detailed images in optimal conditions. Google excels in computational photography, delivering consistently good results across various lighting scenarios. Expect the Pixel Fold to offer more natural-looking images, while the Mate XTs Ultimate might lean towards more vibrant and saturated colors.