vivo X Fold2 vs Huawei Mate X3: The Ultimate Foldable Face-Off

Foldable phones are becoming increasingly sophisticated, offering a unique blend of portability and screen real estate. Today, we're pitting two contenders against each other: the vivo X Fold2 and the Huawei Mate X3. Both boast impressive features, but which one truly delivers the best foldable experience?
Phones Images

🏆 Quick Verdict

The vivo X Fold2 takes the crown with its significantly brighter display, faster charging, and the more powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset. While the Mate X3 offers a premium design and excellent build quality, the X Fold2's performance and display advantages make it the overall winner.

PHONES
Phone Names vivo X Fold2 Huawei Mate X3
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 bands1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 17, 18, 19, 20, 25, 26, 28, 32, 34, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 661, 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, 28, 38, 40, 41, 66, 77, 78 SA/NSA-
SpeedHSPA, LTE, 5GHSPA, LTE
TechnologyGSM / CDMA / HSPA / CDMA2000 / LTE / 5GGSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE
 CDMA2000 1x CDMA2000 1xEV-DO
Launch
Announced2023, April 202023, March 23
StatusAvailable. Released 2023, April 28Available. Released 2023, April 08
Body
Build-Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame
DimensionsUnfolded: 161.3 x 143.4 x 6 mmFolded: 161.3 x 73.4 x 12.9 mmUnfolded: 156.9 x 141.5 x 5.3 mmFolded: 156.9 x 72.4 x 11.1 mm
SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIMNano-SIM + Nano-SIM
Weight279 g (9.84 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)
Resolution1916 x 2160 pixels (~360 ppi density)2224 x 2496 pixels (~426 ppi density)
Size8.03 inches, 206.5 cm2 (~89.3% screen-to-body ratio)7.85 inches, 197.5 cm2 (~88.9% screen-to-body ratio)
TypeFoldable LTPO4 AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1800 nits (peak)Foldable OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz
 Cover display: AMOLED, 120Hz, HDR10+, Dolby Vision, 1600 nits (peak) 6.53 inches, 1080 x 2520 pixels, 21:9 ratioCover display: OLED, 120Hz, 6.4 inches, 1080 x 2504 pixels
Platform
CPUOcta-core (1x3.2 GHz Cortex-X3 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A715 & 2x2.8 GHz Cortex-A710 & 3x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)Octa-core (1x3.19 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.75 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x2.0 GHz Cortex-A510)
ChipsetQualcomm SM8550-AB Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 (4 nm)Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 4G (4 nm)
GPUAdreno 740Adreno 730
OSAndroid 13, OriginOS 3HarmonyOS 3.1 (China), EMUI 13.1 (Europe), no Google Play Services
Memory
Card slotNoNano Memory (uses shared SIM slot)
Internal256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 1TB 12GB RAM
 UFS 4.0UFS
Main Camera
FeaturesLaser AF, Zeiss optics, Zeiss T* lens coating, Dual-LED flash, panoramaLaser AF, color spectrum sensor, LED flash, panorama, HDR
Triple50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/1.49", 1.0µm, dual pixel PDAF, OIS 12 MP, f/2.0, 47mm (telephoto), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF, 2x optical zoom 12 MP, f/2.0, 16mm, 108˚ (ultrawide), 1/2.93", 1.22µm, dual pixel PDAF50 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@30fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60fps, gyro-EIS
Selfie camera
FeaturesHDRHDR, panorama
Single16 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)
Video1080p@30fps4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps
Sound
3.5mm jack NoNo
35mm jackNoNo
Loudspeaker Yes, with stereo speakersYes, with stereo speakers
 24-bit/192kHz audio-
Comms
Bluetooth5.3, A2DP, LE, aptX HD, aptX Adaptive, aptX Lossless5.2, A2DP, LE
Infrared port-Yes
NFCYesYes
PositioningGPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (G1), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a+B2b), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5)GPS (L1+L5), GLONASS (B1I+B1c+B2a), BDS (B1I+B1c+B2a), GALILEO (E1+E5a), QZSS (L1+L5), NavIC
RadioNoNo
USBUSB Type-C 2.0, OTGUSB Type-C 3.1, DisplayPort 1.2, OTG
WLANWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6e/7, tri-band, Wi-Fi DirectWi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac/6, dual-band, Wi-Fi Direct
Features
SensorsDual screen fingerprint (under display, ultrasonic), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometerFingerprint (side-mounted), accelerometer, gyro, proximity, compass, barometer, altimeter
 -BDS Satellite Message
Battery
Charging120W wired, 100% in 26 min 50W wireless, 100% in 40 min 10W reverse wireless66W wired 50W wireless 7.5W reverse wireless
Type4800 mAhMarket-dependent versions:· Li-Po 4800 mAh (Global)· Si/C Li-Ion 5060 mAh (China only)
Misc
ColorsBlack, Blue, RedBlack, White, Violet, Dark Green, Gold
ModelsV2266AALT-AL00, ALT-L29
PriceAbout 1330 EURAbout 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 Fold2

  • Significantly brighter display
  • Faster charging (120W wired)
  • More powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset
  • Longer battery life (96h endurance)
  • Reverse wireless charging

  • Potentially higher price
  • Software experience may vary depending on region

Huawei Mate X3

  • Premium design and build quality
  • Seamless integration within the Huawei ecosystem
  • Compact folded form factor
  • Excellent display contrast

  • Less powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 chipset
  • Slower charging (66W wired)
  • Shorter battery life (81h endurance)
  • Limited availability in some regions

Display Comparison

The vivo X Fold2's display shines with a measured peak brightness of 1308 nits, significantly outperforming the Mate X3's 926 nits. Both offer excellent contrast, with the Mate X3 boasting a nominal 'infinite' contrast ratio. The X Fold2's superior brightness makes it more usable outdoors and provides a more immersive viewing experience. Both devices feature vibrant AMOLED panels with smooth refresh rates.

Camera Comparison

Both phones offer capable camera systems, but detailed comparisons require in-depth testing. Generally, both offer versatile setups with wide, ultrawide, and telephoto lenses. The X Fold2 is expected to leverage the 8 Gen 2's image processing capabilities for slightly better results, particularly in low light. Huawei's camera processing often leans towards vibrant colors, while vivo tends to offer more natural tones.

Performance

The vivo X Fold2 holds a clear advantage here, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This chipset offers a noticeable performance boost over the Mate X3's Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1. Expect smoother multitasking, faster app loading times, and better gaming performance on the X Fold2. Both phones handle everyday tasks with ease, but the X Fold2 is the clear winner for demanding applications.

Battery Life

The vivo X Fold2 boasts a substantial advantage in battery life, with an endurance rating of 96 hours compared to the Mate X3's 81 hours. Furthermore, the X Fold2's 120W wired charging is incredibly fast, reaching 100% in just 26 minutes, while the Mate X3's 66W charging takes longer. The X Fold2 also offers faster wireless charging (50W vs 50W) and reverse wireless charging (10W vs 7.5W).

Buying Guide

The vivo X Fold2 is ideal for power users who demand top-tier performance, a vibrant display, and rapid charging. The Huawei Mate X3 is a great choice for those prioritizing a refined design, seamless software experience (especially within the Huawei ecosystem), and a more compact form factor when folded.

Frequently Asked Questions

❓ Which foldable phone is more durable?
Both phones are built with robust materials, but the Mate X3's hinge mechanism has received praise for its durability. However, foldable phones are inherently more susceptible to damage than traditional smartphones.
❓ Does the vivo X Fold2 support 5G?
Yes, the vivo X Fold2 supports 5G connectivity.