Huawei Mate X Unfolds the Future of Smartphones Today

Huawei today announced its own smartphone with a folding display, the Mate X. Unlike Samsung’s entry, it looks polished and ready.

“The Huawei Mate X’s revolutionary form factor is achieved by Huawei’s relentless effort in R&D,” Huawei CEO Richard Yu said in a prepared statement. “It represents a voyage into the uncharted. As a new breed of smartphones, the Mate X combines 5G, foldable screen, AI, and an all-new mode of interfacing to provide consumers with an unprecedented user experience. The Huawei Mate X will be the first key for consumers to open the door to 5G smart living.”

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The announcement is a blow to Samsung, which announced its Galaxy Fold last week ahead of MWC, formerly called Mobile World Congress. The Fold looks impressive when unfolded, but the external screen is relatively tiny and has massive bezels. I predicted this would be the case, and that Huawei and other China-based tech giants will continue to out-perform Samsung going forward.

The Mate X, by comparison, seems like a complete product that is read for the market today. Its display measures 6.6-inches when the device is folded and it expands into a tablet-like 8-inch form factor when opened. Unlike the Fold, the Mate X has a single screen on the outside of the device, not a small exterior display and a separate, larger internal display. This design also allows Huawei to use the same LEICA camera system for both the front and rear of the device.

The Mate X is also outfitted with 5 Gbps 5G connectivity and is powered by a massive 4500 mAh battery with fast charging capabilities.

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Conversation 41 comments

  • mmcpher

    Premium Member
    24 February, 2019 - 12:07 pm

    <p>How does it feel, to be be proved right, as so quickly? I balked at the earlier article predicting this but I like this form factor so much more. </p>

  • jimchamplin

    Premium Member
    24 February, 2019 - 12:08 pm

    <p>Nice! I kinda like the thick bit on the side, it seems like it would be a better place to hold than the thin edges. </p><p><br></p><p>On the other hand, it’s only LTE unless you live near to one of the nine 5G towers in the entire universe. ?</p><p><br></p><p>That’ll be better in the next couple of years, but I still think a lot of these makers are jumping the gun on 5G.</p>

    • wright_is

      Premium Member
      25 February, 2019 - 4:54 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406900">In reply to jimchamplin:</a></em></blockquote><p>Agreed. I have an "up to" 500mbps LTE contract, at work I get around 300bps to 1kbps, so I'd like to see them sort out the LTE first – I could have paid more for a 750mbps contract, but given the low speeds, I'm glad I decided that paying for extra speed wasn't worth it.</p>

  • derekaw

    24 February, 2019 - 12:10 pm

    <p>This design looks better and makes more sense that the Samsung Fold.</p>

    • VancouverNinja

      Premium Member
      24 February, 2019 - 12:51 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406901">In reply to derekaw:</a></em></blockquote><p>It looks.like a cheaper quality device from what I can see. Since, with both devices, they need to be opened the Samsung design is clearly superior. </p>

    • hassan_timite

      24 February, 2019 - 3:56 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406901">In reply to derekaw:</a></em></blockquote><p>To the contrary the Samsung is more reliable and efficient.</p><p>Moreover the price of the Mate X is insane and i bet that if Samsung was aiming for such a price, the Fold would have a way better design and way better capabilities.</p>

  • Daekar

    24 February, 2019 - 12:25 pm

    <p>Meh, it's different but I don't know that it's better. I feel like the large screen is incredibly vulnerable in this design, and I would have discarded it on the drawing board for this reason alone. </p><p><br></p><p>The Samsung has a large chin and forehead, but my wife said "Oh, good, so you can reach the whole screen easily, that's nice," when she saw that.</p><p><br></p><p>Don't assume too much at this stage… </p>

    • captobie

      24 February, 2019 - 2:47 pm

      <blockquote><a href="#406902"><em>In reply to Daekar:</em></a><em> </em>Don't assume too much at this stage…</blockquote><p>Exactly. The whole tech press is gaga over Huawei's device, yet they haven't put their hands on either company's device yet. </p>

  • Shel Dyck

    24 February, 2019 - 12:41 pm

    <p>and someone is testing microsoft launcher and other ms apps to see how it/they handle</p><p> the layout? in both portrait and landscape?</p>

  • VancouverNinja

    Premium Member
    24 February, 2019 - 12:47 pm

    <p>$2600?? </p><p><br></p><p>From the photos the device looks unbalanced. The screen at the hinge area seems to be unprotected. The Samsung Fold looks to be a much higher quality build compared to the Mate X. </p><p><br></p><p>Both these companies have blown the initial opportunity to get a true head start with these devices. Odd strategic decision by both of them.</p>

  • mattemt294

    24 February, 2019 - 1:25 pm

    <p>The folded area shows when extended you can see a line there. It actually looks like the display on the Royale device. At first I was blown away but compared to the new footage of the galaxy fold today the Samsung device looks much more reliable and polished. </p>

    • mattbg

      Premium Member
      24 February, 2019 - 4:43 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406909">In reply to mattemt294:</a></em></blockquote><p>Agree – normally device screens have something like Gorilla Glass to be very scratch resistant, but I assume that's not used in the foldables because GG isn't flexible to support the fold. It's likely plastic of some kind. Having the screen on the outside is likely cheaper and may have some usability advantages but I'd be interested to see how long the screen lasts.</p><p><br></p><p>At least on the Samsung it would be protected. If this isn't durable you're going to end up with a screen where the face-down part wears faster than the face-up part and your screen will be two-toned.</p>

  • dontbe evil

    24 February, 2019 - 1:29 pm

    <p>waiting for apple to invent it … oh wait :D</p>

    • red.radar

      Premium Member
      24 February, 2019 - 6:08 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406911">In reply to dontbe_evil:</a></em></blockquote><p>Well in truth they could. So far these are just prototypes. It’s not even clear what problem they try to solve or what value they bring to the consumer other than nift. It will take apple to embrace the concept so others can figure out how to sell it. </p><p><br></p><p>not really seeing too many things that android vendors brought to the table other than they went big screen phone first and that was because android in tablets was a dumpster fire. </p>

      • Tsang Man Fai

        25 February, 2019 - 12:03 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#406951">In reply to red.radar:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>The problem they try to solve is indeed very clear – the inconvenience of bringing a phone and tablet. Common sense, isn't it?</p><p><br></p><p>Whether you think they have solved the problem nicely or not is another question.</p><p><br></p><p>Android also bought low-end phones to the market. That is a greater contribution than bring the notch.</p><p><br></p>

        • Necron

          25 February, 2019 - 1:59 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#406984">In reply to tsangmanfai:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>And how many people are having such a problem? Personally, I never had such issues. You either bring your tablet or not – usually it’s quite obvious when you may need one. There are not such many people who need a tablet outside their home anyway. </p>

          • locust infested orchard inc

            25 February, 2019 - 8:22 am

            <blockquote><a href="#406994"><em>Quote by Necron, "There are not such people who need a tablet outside their home anyway."</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Evidently you haven't been on public transport to witness the numerous people who use their tablets, attempting to make their journeys more productive (with a multitasking ability of a magnificent grand total of…just one app).</p>

        • dontbe evil

          25 February, 2019 - 9:34 am

          <blockquote><em><a href="#406984">In reply to tsangmanfai:</a></em></blockquote><p>don't try to show facts to iSheeps, they bring you down to their level and beat you… funny that they call these prototypes, when they're the final model and will be on sale soon</p>

    • locust infested orchard inc

      25 February, 2019 - 7:48 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406911">In reply to dontbe_evil:</a></em></blockquote><p>iSheeple need not fret, for the iFold (with the highly anticipated trademark notch) is expected sometime in 2020, if the reports from March 2018 by the senior analyst at Merrill Lynch Bank of America is to be trusted.</p><p><br></p><p>I am of the opinion the iFold will be a raving success at a price point I previously suggested at $2300, but now revised between $3200 and $3500 in light of the Huawei Marmite X.</p><p><br></p><p>The iFold will presumably have the awesomely fast A13X / A14X SoC (the successor to the current A12X, and probably in development), and will have native Adobe Photoshop available too.</p><p><br></p><p>By 2023-2025, I expect the entire Adobe CC suite to be available for iØS, paving the way for other software developers of professional software to natively code for the iFold.</p><p><br></p><p>For this very reason, amongst others, Microsoft needs to get their Andromeda and Centaurus out within the next 15 months, else Satya Nadella's "new form factor" will have been outgunned by both iØS and Blandroid products.</p>

  • codymesh

    24 February, 2019 - 1:36 pm

    <p>It honestly does looks like Huawei has out-engineered Samsung, not only did they make better design decisions, but the device itself is somehow thinner.</p>

    • hassan_timite

      24 February, 2019 - 3:51 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406913">In reply to codymesh:</a></em></blockquote><p>Well, we shall see the final design/capabilities of this product before claiming that Huawei has out-engineered Samsung especially as i find some of their design choices questionable to say the least.</p><p>Moreover Huawei needs to justify a 30 % higher price, doesn't it ?</p>

  • provision l-3

    24 February, 2019 - 1:47 pm

    <p>I was looking at the hands on pictures at Cnet and it looks a bit more clunky/clumsy than the pictures here and the U.I. running on the front and back when it is folded seems a bit wonky to me. Overall I feel like this and the Fold feel way more prototype-y than well polished products. This one is also $2600 dollars which is just a mere 700 dollars more than the fold. So much for Paul's theory that Huawei will wipe the floor with Samsung on the price front. </p>

  • Rob_Wade

    24 February, 2019 - 2:18 pm

    <p>That thing is as ugly and badly designed as Samsung's device. This is just a stupid idea with different but equally horrible approaches.</p>

  • RobertJasiek

    24 February, 2019 - 2:49 pm

    <p>So here are the breakable devices. How long until they crack?</p>

  • captobie

    24 February, 2019 - 2:50 pm

    <p>The headline for this story reads like a Huawei press release.</p>

  • hassan_timite

    24 February, 2019 - 3:39 pm

    <p>Sure the Mate X looks prettier than the Fold but it seems obvious to me that Samsung has a better, more reliable and productive offering. Not forgetting that the Fold is significantly cheaper and seems to have a more advanced software. And last but not the least the Mate X seems closer to a prototype than to a ready for production device.From what i have seen up to now, i would choose the Fold over the Mate X without hesitation !</p>

    • locust infested orchard inc

      25 February, 2019 - 8:18 am

      <blockquote><a href="#406934"><em>Quote by Hassan_Timite, "…and [the Galaxy Fold] seems to have a more advanced software."</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I believe 'bloatware' was the word that seemed to escape you whilst writing "software". :-D</p>

  • j_c

    24 February, 2019 - 4:05 pm

    <p>No interest in either but the phone state on Samsung’s looks terrible so I give it to Huawei.</p><p><br></p><p>If it takes more than a few years to get these close to a $1,000 price point I don’t see this category going anywhere. Even then. Feels like 3D TV. A gimmick to try to bolster sales.</p><p><br></p><p>Plus tablet apps on Android (general statement with exceptions, I know) aren’t very good.</p>

  • red.radar

    Premium Member
    24 February, 2019 - 5:21 pm

    <p>So… I buy this because I am that upset about having to carry a tablet and phone. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>

    • j_c

      24 February, 2019 - 5:39 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#406941">In reply to red.radar:</a></em></blockquote><p>&amp; you pay more money than if you bought a much better high end phone and a much better tablet.</p>

      • irfaanwahid

        25 February, 2019 - 1:03 am

        <blockquote><em><a href="#406946">In reply to j_c:</a></em></blockquote><p>Right.</p><p>I can buy an iPad &amp; iPhone 10S yet I go home with some change.</p>

        • locust infested orchard inc

          25 February, 2019 - 8:12 am

          <blockquote><a href="#406993"><em>Quote by irfaanwahid, "I can buy an iPad &amp; iPhone 10S yet I go home with some change."</em></a></blockquote><p><br></p><p>Your assumption is correct compared to the SameSong Galaxy Flop and Huawei Marmite X. However should you compare the price to the yet-to-be-released iFold, you'd be in for a shock.</p><p><br></p><p>That said, Cupertino has performed dark arts on their bleating faithful iSheeple, who shall never question, but rather cheer the ever-increasing exorbitance of the iPharces and iFads.</p><p><br></p><p>In short, be prepared to be smitten by the price of the iFold — my guess come 2020, between $3200 to $3500.</p>

  • Rycott

    Premium Member
    24 February, 2019 - 5:36 pm

    <p>So I have a screen sitting on things no matter what way I sit it unless it is unfolded. Pass.</p>

  • harrymyhre

    Premium Member
    24 February, 2019 - 6:05 pm

    <p>8 inches is better for tablet mode.</p>

  • BrianEricFord

    24 February, 2019 - 7:11 pm

    <p>This is clearly a more thoughtful design than the Fold — would be hard for something NOT to be, frankly — but I have the same expectation when it comes to durability that I had for the Fold: It’ll be terrible.</p>

  • littlejohnjt

    Premium Member
    24 February, 2019 - 9:19 pm

    <p>Paul you called this one on last weeks WTT</p>

  • jrickel96

    25 February, 2019 - 12:21 am

    <p>The price is still way out there, but that will improve over time. Much better design than Samsung's. Seems like Samsung knew they were behind and rushed something out so they could claim to be first.</p><p><br></p><p>Huawei is killing Samsung in design across the board. The S10 is not appealing whereas the Mate 20X and Mate 20 Pro are top end Android. They still have other issues (as Huawei does across the board, but not for tech). </p>

  • nbates66

    25 February, 2019 - 3:45 am

    <p>having the entire screen on the outside it'd better hope it's not covered with plastic (scratch away!!!)</p>

  • Tony Barrett

    25 February, 2019 - 5:52 am

    <p>I have no doubt that the Fold is the better designed device – more robust, with the main screen on the inside of the device rather than the outside, which will offer much better protection. The Fold may not be as pretty, but I think that's a small price to pay to be an early adopter of the next wave of mobile devices.</p>

  • locust infested orchard inc

    25 February, 2019 - 7:37 am

    <p>This product, as witnessed by the comments here and elsewhere, is surely the Huawei Marmite X – you'll either love it, or hate it (only the Brits will understand the nature of the Mate to Marmite word substitution; for everyone else, refer to <a href="https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmite&quot; target="_blank">https://wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmite</a&gt; ).</p>

  • Alexander Rothacker

    Premium Member
    25 February, 2019 - 11:31 am

    <p>From a pure usability I like the Huawei approach better, but there are still many questions:</p><ul><li>How does the screen wear? Scratches?</li><li>Samsung did some really cool things with Android modifications to handle multiple apps. What are Huawei's usability improvements?</li><li>How does it work in real life? Nobody independent has had a proper opportunity to use/test these devices yet</li><li>What are the release dates? Samsung gave a data in April, Huawei does not have a date yet, and presumably everything shown at MWC is hand build pre-production. Based on that fact, Huawei has NOT beat Samsung to the punch yet</li></ul><p>Overall, I think this an emerging category, all these devices are expensive gen one devices for early adopters. This battle gets decided in the next 2-3 generations and when prices come down to a level that a broader audience can afford.</p>

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