Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 vs Huawei Mate X3: The Ultimate Foldable Face-Off

Foldable phones have matured, offering impressive features and designs. Today, we pit two titans against each other: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 and the Huawei Mate X3. Both promise premium experiences, but which one delivers the best value and performance?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 edges out the Mate X3 thanks to its superior software support, brighter display, and faster charging. While the Mate X3 boasts impressive charging speeds and a sleek design, Samsung's ecosystem and overall polish give it the slight advantage.

PHONES
Phone Names Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 Huawei Mate X3
Network
2G bandsGSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900
3G bandsHSDPA 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100
4G bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 38, 39, 40, 41, 66 - International1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41
5G bands1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 25, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 75, 77, 78 SA/NSA/Sub6 - International-
SpeedHSPA 42.2/5.76 Mbps, LTE (7CA) Cat20 2000/200 Mbps, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 CDMA2000 1xEV-DO CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2022, August 102023, March 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2022, August 25Available. Released 2023, April 08
Body
BuildGlass front (Gorilla Glass Victus+) (folded), plastic front (unfolded), glass back (Gorilla Glass Victus+), aluminum frameGlass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 155.1 x 130.1 x 6.3 mmFolded: 155.1 x 67.1 x 14.2-15.8 mmUnfolded: 156.9 x 141.5 x 5.3 mmFolded: 156.9 x 72.4 x 11.1 mm
SIM· Nano-SIM + eSIM· Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM + eSIM (max 2 at a time)Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight263 g (9.28 oz)239 g or 241 g (8.43 oz)
 IPX8 water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) Armor aluminum frame with tougher drop and scratch resistance (advertised) Stylus supportIPX8 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min)
Display
Protection-Kunlun Glass (cover display only)
Resolution1812 x 2176 pixels (~373 ppi density)2224 x 2496 pixels (~426 ppi density)
Size7.6 inches, 183.2 cm2 (~90.9% screen-to-body ratio)7.85 inches, 197.5 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, HDR10+, 1200 nits (peak)Foldable OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
 Cover display: Dynamic AMOLED 2X, 120Hz, Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+ 6.2 inches, 904 x 2316 pixels, 23.1:9 ratioCover display: OLED, 120Hz, 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2504 pixels
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 730Adreno 730
OSAndroid 12L, up to 4 major Android upgrades, One UI 6.1.1HarmonyOS 3.1 (China), EMUI 13.1 (Europe), no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 3.1UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesLED flash, HDR, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, 23mm (wide), 1/1.56", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 10 MP, f/2.4, 66mm (telephoto), 1/3.94", 1.0µm, PDAF, OIS, 3x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.2, 12mm, 123˚ (ultrawide), 1/3.06", 1.12µm50 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
Video8K@24fps, 4K@60fps, 1080p@60/240fps (gyro-EIS), HDR10+4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single4 MP, f/1.8, 26mm (wide), 1/3.0", 2.0µm, under display Cover camera: 10 MP, f/2.2, 24mm (wide), 1/3.0", 1.22µm8 MP, f/2.4, (wide) Cover camera: 8 MP, f/2.4, (wide)
Video4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
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, LE, aptX HD5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BDSGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (B1I+B1c+B2a), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 3.2, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e, dual-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-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, barometer, altimeter
 Bixby natural language commands and dictation Samsung DeX (desktop experience support) Samsung Pay (Visa, MasterCard certified) Ultra Wideband (UWB) supportBDS Satellite Message
Battery
Charging25W wired, 50% in 30 min 15W wireless 4.5W reverse wireless66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless
TypeLi-Po 4400 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 4800 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5060 mAh (China only)
Misc
ColorsGraygreen, Phantom Black, Beige, BurgundyBlack, White, Violet, Dark Green, Gold
ModelsSM-F936B, SM-F936B/DS, SM-F936U, SM-F936U1, SM-F936N, SM-F936W, SM-F9360ALT-AL00, ALT-L29
Price$ 457.00 / € 511.80 / £ 485.00 / ₹ 73,899About 1500 EUR
SAR0.96 W/kg (head)     0.92 W/kg (body)-
SAR EU1.30 W/kg (head)     1.51 W/kg (body)-
Tests
Battery life Endurance rating 101h Endurance rating 81h
Camera Photo / Video Photo / Video
Display Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal)
Loudspeaker -28.3 LUFS (Average) -26.3 LUFS (Good)
Performance AnTuTu: 964530 (v9) GeekBench: 3981 (v5.1) GFXBench: 43fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) AnTuTu: 993592 (v9) GeekBench: 4283 (v5.5), 4512 (v6) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4

  • Brighter Display
  • Longer Battery Life
  • Faster Charging (wired)
  • 5G Connectivity
  • Mature Software & Updates
  • Robust Ecosystem

  • Higher Price
  • Bulky Design
  • Fragility of Foldable Screen (inherent to all foldables)

Huawei Mate X3

  • Faster Wired Charging (66W)
  • Sleek Design
  • Premium Build Quality

  • Shorter Battery Life
  • 4G-Only Connectivity
  • Potential Software Limitations (Huawei)
  • Lower Peak Brightness

Display Comparison

The Z Fold4 takes the display crown with a measured peak brightness of 1000 nits compared to the Mate X3's 926 nits. Both offer excellent contrast ratios (infinite nominal), but Samsung's higher brightness provides better visibility in direct sunlight. Both have excellent foldable displays, but Samsung's panel is generally considered more durable.

Camera Comparison

Camera performance is subjective and requires more in-depth testing. Both phones offer versatile camera systems, but Samsung's software processing is generally considered more refined. The Z Fold4's camera system is more established and has received more software updates. Detailed camera comparisons would require extensive testing, but initial impressions suggest a slight advantage for the Z Fold4.

Performance

Both phones utilize the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, ensuring flagship-level performance. However, the Mate X3 is a 4G-only variant, which could be a drawback for users needing 5G connectivity. CPU differences (Cortex-A510 clock speed) are minor and unlikely to be noticeable in everyday use. Overall, performance is comparable, but the Z Fold4's 5G support gives it a slight edge.

Battery Life

The Z Fold4 demonstrates significantly better battery endurance with a rating of 101h compared to the Mate X3's 81h. This translates to noticeably longer real-world usage. The Z Fold4 also charges faster with 25W wired charging, while the Mate X3 offers a faster 66W wired charging, but the Z Fold4's overall battery life is a more significant advantage.

Buying Guide

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 is ideal for power users who value software updates, a vibrant display, and a robust ecosystem. The Huawei Mate X3 is a compelling choice for those prioritizing fast charging, a premium design, and a more streamlined user experience, provided they are comfortable with potential software limitations due to Huawei's situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Is the Z Fold4 more durable than the Mate X3?
While both are foldable and inherently more fragile than standard phones, Samsung has a longer track record with foldable devices and generally has improved durability over time. However, both require careful handling.
❓ Does the Mate X3 have Google Play Services?
No, the Huawei Mate X3 does not have Google Play Services due to ongoing trade restrictions. Users will need to rely on Huawei's AppGallery and alternative app stores.