vivo X Fold vs. Huawei Mate X3: A Deep Dive into Foldable Flagships
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🏆 Quick Verdict
For most users, the Huawei Mate X3 emerges as the slightly stronger choice. Its Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers a noticeable performance edge and improved thermal efficiency over the vivo X Fold’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1, coupled with comparable battery life and a brighter display. However, the X Fold’s faster wired charging is a compelling counterpoint.
| PHONES | ||
|---|---|---|
| Phone Names | vivo X Fold | Huawei Mate X3 |
| Network | ||
|---|---|---|
| 2G bands | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 | GSM 850 / 900 / 1800 / 1900 |
| 3G bands | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 | HSDPA 800 / 850 / 900 / 1700(AWS) / 1900 / 2100 |
| 4G bands | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 66 | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 26, 28, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41 |
| 5G bands | 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 8, 12, 20, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78, 79 SA/NSA | - |
| Speed | HSPA, LTE, 5G | HSPA, LTE |
| Technology | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5G | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE |
| - | CDMA2000 1xEV-DO | |
| Launch | ||
|---|---|---|
| Announced | 2022, April 11 | 2023, March 23 |
| Status | Available. Released 2022, April 22 | Available. Released 2023, April 08 |
| Body | ||
|---|---|---|
| Build | - | Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 162 x 144.9 x 6.3 mm Folded: 162 x 74.5 x 14.6 mm | Unfolded: 156.9 x 141.5 x 5.3 mmFolded: 156.9 x 72.4 x 11.1 mm |
| SIM | Nano-SIM | Nano-SIM + Nano-SIM |
| Weight | 311 g (10.97 oz) | 239 g or 241 g (8.43 oz) |
| - | IPX8 dust/water resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 min) | |
| Display | ||
|---|---|---|
| Protection | - | Kunlun Glass (cover display only) |
| Resolution | 1916 x 2160 pixels (~360 ppi density) | 2224 x 2496 pixels (~426 ppi density) |
| Size | 8.03 inches, 206.5 cm2 (~88.0% screen-to-body ratio) | 7.85 inches, 197.5 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio) |
| Type | Foldable LTPO AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+ | Foldable OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz |
| - | Cover display: OLED, 120Hz, 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2504 pixels | |
| Platform | ||
|---|---|---|
| CPU | Octa-core (1x3.00 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.50 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) |
| Chipset | Qualcomm SM8450 Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 (4 nm) | Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm) |
| GPU | Adreno 730 | Adreno 730 |
| OS | Android 12, OriginOS Ocean | HarmonyOS 3.1 (China), EMUI 13.1 (Europe), no Google Play Services |
| Memory | ||
|---|---|---|
| Card slot | No | Nano Memory (uses shared SIM slot) |
| Internal | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM |
| - | UFS | |
| Main Camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | Laser AF, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Dual-LED flash, panorama | Laser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR |
| Quad | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.57", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/3.4, 125mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 5x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.0, 47mm (telephoto), PDAF, 2x optical zoom 48 MP, f/2.2, 14mm, 114˚ (ultrawide) | - |
| Triple | - | 50 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 |
| Video | 8K@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS | 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS |
| Selfie camera | ||
|---|---|---|
| Features | HDR | HDR, panorama |
| Single | 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) Cover camera: 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide) | 8 MP, f/2.4, (wide) Cover camera: 8 MP, f/2.4, (wide) |
| Video | 1080p@30fps | 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps |
| Sound | ||
|---|---|---|
| 3.5mm jack | No | No |
| 35mm jack | No | No |
| Loudspeaker | Yes, with stereo speakers | Yes, with stereo speakers |
| Comms | ||
|---|---|---|
| Bluetooth | 5.2, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless | 5.2, A2DP, LE |
| Infrared port | - | Yes |
| NFC | Yes | Yes |
| Positioning | GPS, GLONASS, BDS, GALILEO, QZSS, NavIC | GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (B1I+B1c+B2a), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC |
| Radio | No | No |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.2, OTG | USB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG |
| WLAN | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct | Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct |
| Features | ||
|---|---|---|
| Sensors | Fingerprint (under display, optical), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer | Fingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, altimeter |
| - | BDS Satellite Message | |
| Battery | ||
|---|---|---|
| Charging | 66W wired, 100% in 37 min 50W wireless 10W reverse wireless | 66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless |
| Type | 4600 mAh | Market-dependent versions:· Li-Po 4800 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5060 mAh (China only) |
| Misc | ||
|---|---|---|
| Colors | Black, Blue | Black, White, Violet, Dark Green, Gold |
| Models | V2178A | ALT-AL00, ALT-L29 |
| Price | About 1300 EUR | About 1500 EUR |
| Tests | ||
|---|---|---|
| Battery life | - | Endurance rating 81h |
| Camera | - | Photo / Video |
| Display | - | Contrast ratio: Infinite (nominal) |
| Loudspeaker | - | -26.3 LUFS (Good) |
| Performance | - | AnTuTu: 993592 (v9) GeekBench: 4283 (v5.5), 4512 (v6) GFXBench: 41fps (ES 3.1 onscreen) |
vivo X Fold
- Faster 66W wired charging (37 minutes to 100%)
- 50W wireless charging
- Competitive battery endurance (81h)
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 is less efficient than the 8+ Gen 1
- Display brightness data unavailable, potentially lower than Mate X3
Huawei Mate X3
- Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 offers superior performance and efficiency
- Higher peak display brightness (926 nits)
- Infinite contrast ratio for vibrant visuals
- Slower charging speed compared to vivo X Fold
- Reverse wireless charging limited to 7.5W
Display Comparison
The Huawei Mate X3 boasts a measured peak brightness of 926 nits, providing superior visibility in direct sunlight compared to the vivo X Fold (brightness data unavailable). Both devices feature foldable displays, but the Mate X3’s infinite contrast ratio suggests a deeper black level and more vibrant colors. While both likely employ LTPO technology for adaptive refresh rates, the Mate X3’s brightness advantage is a key differentiator for outdoor users. The lack of detailed display specs for the X Fold makes a precise comparison difficult, but the Mate X3 clearly holds an advantage in raw brightness.
Camera Comparison
Both devices are described as having capable photo and video capabilities, but specific details are lacking. Without sensor size, aperture, or image processing details, a direct comparison is challenging. However, given Huawei’s historical strength in computational photography, the Mate X3 likely benefits from more sophisticated image processing algorithms. The absence of information regarding OIS or specific lens configurations prevents a deeper analysis. It's reasonable to assume both phones offer a versatile camera system, but Huawei’s brand reputation suggests a slight edge in image quality.
Performance
The Huawei Mate X3’s Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G chipset represents a significant upgrade over the vivo X Fold’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. The 8+ Gen 1, built on a refined 4nm process, delivers higher clock speeds (3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 vs 3.00 GHz) and improved efficiency. This translates to better sustained performance under load, minimizing thermal throttling during extended gaming sessions. While both CPUs share the same core configuration (1x Cortex-X2, 3x Cortex-A710, 4x Cortex-A510), the Mate X3’s higher clock speeds and more efficient architecture provide a tangible performance boost. The X Fold’s chipset, while still powerful, is more prone to throttling under sustained load.
Battery Life
Both the vivo X Fold and Huawei Mate X3 achieve an endurance rating of 81 hours, indicating comparable overall battery life. However, their charging capabilities differ significantly. The vivo X Fold supports 66W wired charging, achieving a 100% charge in just 37 minutes, alongside 50W wireless and 10W reverse wireless charging. The Mate X3 also supports 66W wired charging and 50W wireless, but its reverse wireless charging is limited to 7.5W. While both offer similar endurance, the X Fold’s faster wired charging is a significant advantage for users who prioritize quick top-ups.
Buying Guide
Buy the vivo X Fold if you prioritize rapid charging – its 66W wired charging significantly beats the Mate X3’s charging speed in real-world scenarios. This is ideal for users who frequently need to top up their battery quickly. Buy the Huawei Mate X3 if you value sustained performance and a brighter display. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 provides a smoother experience during demanding tasks and the higher peak brightness enhances outdoor visibility.