2 years ago, I reviewed the Huawei Mate Xs. Since then, Huawei attempted an inward folding Mate X2 similar to the Samsung Z Fold series. For the Mate Xs 2, Huawei returned to the original and further improved on the overall design and quality. Compared even to the latest Samsung Z Fold4, the Mate Xs 2 offers better design cues. Indeed, the Mate Xs 2 breaks new grounds as the thinnest and lightest foldable phone, weighing 255 grams and 5.4mm when unfolded.
The leather textured back is a departure from the metal or glass rear which reinforces an opulent indulgence. The new-generation double-rotating hinge which Huawei calls “Falcon Wing” is improved to deliver full-angle consistent length control, resulting in a much flatter display with no visible surface creases. As the phone unfolds, the excess surface slides and tucks to the left of the panel underneath the frame. I like to keep the phone unfolded most of the time to show it off, only to fold it when I have to keep it in my pocket.
The outward folding design risks casual damage to the display panel, so Huawei has included a PU case that covers the rear when folded so that the phone gets protection like a normal smartphone. The well-designed case allows the Mate Xs 2 to be unfolded easily without removing the case completely.
A foldable phone is clearly all about the large display, and the Mate Xs 2 comes with premium specs. Its 7.8-inch 2480 x 2200 display achieves a high 120Hz refresh rate, P3 wide colour gamut, and 1.07 billion colours. With 424 ppi pixel density, images appear big, bright, and sharp, and as the day goes by, you will find it harder to go back to the fold-up display size.
Furthermore, in the unfolded mode, multi-window interactions makes multi-tasking a breeze. Just drag the window to the upper left corner for split-screen display, or upper right corner for floating window. Drag and dock the floating window into split-screen mode, and vice versa.
The absence of Google Mobile Services (GMS) continues to be a setback to prevent Huawei smartphones from being as competitive as the peers. Despite, its OS has matured so much that the phone has replacement apps for all the Google-branded apps, like email, maps, cloud storage, health tracking, video and audio. Still, one could feel somewhat alienated from other Google users and could face some challenges sharing content over Google Photos or Google Drive. Third party apps that use Google API will also have problems working with Huawei smartphones.
The camera system on the Mate Xs 2 offers great versatility in shooting from 0.7x wide to 30x telephoto, though losing the LEICA co-brand. During shoots, the camera switches from one lens to another for seamless capture. The 50MP True-Chroma camera delivers the best image quality and performance, handling low-light conditions with ease, even video. The telephoto lens is natively 3x zoom, hence at 30x setting, the image quality appears heavily pixelated and lacks details compared to the P50 Pro which can get up to 100x digital zoom. As for the ultra-wide angle, it is also lacking in low-light exposure details. Below are some still images grabbed from the video footage shot with the Mate Xs 2.
The Mate Xs 2 comes with 4600 mAh battery capacity split into 2 cells, and this allows the battery to be super-charged up to 90% in just 30 minutes using the included 66W SuperCharger. I would prefer a larger battery to last longer during extended outdoor situations.
Conclusion
The Huawei Mate Xs 2 is easily the best-looking slimmest foldable smartphone in the market. A large majority of Android apps can be installed by searching from the Petal Search app, though users reliant on Google Android ecosystem apps will find it severely handicapped in using the Mate Xs 2. It also does not support the new 5G network due to processor chip limitations. No wonder Huawei has worked doubly hard on the tech and design to attract consumers. It is also a lot cheaper than the Mate Xs, starting at just S$2598.
