The Huawei Mate Xs in the test
The folding phone Mate X from Huawei was supposed to be delivered and on the shelves a year ago. But Huawei postponed the market launch, not least because of the trade dispute between China and the USA, which is why Google services are currently denied access to the phone.
However, since no quick solution was found, Huawei went on the offensive and now published a revised version of the device, which was given the addition of “s”. The new name: Huawei Mate Xs.
The device is based on the previous year’s model, but has been given all sorts of current technology. The current Kirin 990 5G processor ensures the necessary work speed, so the Xs is among the top ranks of current smartphones in our ranking.
8 GB of working memory and 512 GB of permanent storage are available to the user. You can also tell from the 5G addition on the chip that the device supports the latest 5G cellular standard. A battery with 4,500 mAh acts as an energy source, which thanks to the included power supply unit can be charged 85% within 30 minutes.
In the Mate Xs, the battery is divided, and part of it is built into each half of the device — common practice with folding cell phones.
PROS -CONS
Can be used as a tablet and smartphone, battery charges extremely quickly, high storage space, usable camera setup smartphone is always on the display, doubts about longevity, no Google services
Selfies with the main camera
The phone has a quad camera. In addition to the 40 megapixel main lens, a wide-angle and a telephoto lens were installed. There is also a TOF sensor in the camera setup.
The notch creates high-contrast, colorful photos and is able to provide good results even in poor lighting conditions. A special feature arises when taking selfies. Due to the design, the Mate Xs does not have a selfie camera, which is why self-portraits can only be taken by the main camera when it is folded.
On the other hand, the images achieve an unprecedented and unusual top quality for selfies. Due to the size of the device, several unusual aspects arise in photography. The image preview is huge due to the display size, but the operation is a bit crooked.
Anyone who has ever photographed with a tablet will know what that is meant. Of course, there are also advantages that result from the size of the device.
The large display enables the photos to be viewed on a large screen, and the detection of blurring or errors in the images is much easier than on a conventional smartphone.
The thing with the fold:
Speaking of the large screen: This is the greatest added value that the Huawei Mate Xs offers. When unfolded, it measures a whopping 8 inches and is tablet-level when used.
This enables two apps to be used at the same time, even if this function is not currently available for every application. When folded, the display is still 6.6 inches, but then the phone can be operated like a conventional smartphone.
If you want to open the smartphone, you have to press a button on the back, which causes the device to partially open.
You then have to fully unfold it yourself. The hinge seems quite stable, even if we cannot make a long-term prognosis regarding the durability after a few weeks of testing.
We are positively surprised by how well the device can hide the crease that logically has to be on a clamshell phone. It is hardly noticeable when used in tablet mode, even if it is of course noticeable.
Suitable for multitasking
With a display size of a full 8 inches, the Huawei Mate Xs is suitable for the simultaneous use of two apps, even if not all have been optimized for this type of use.
Shut up?
No question about it: the hinge looks high quality and extremely well made. If you look at what technology has to do, you can undoubtedly imagine the amount of work that Huawei has put into development. Only the future will tell whether it will last for several years.
Several weaknesses
We cannot judge how long the folding mechanism lasts, but what we see critically is the fact that the device is opened “outwards”. So no matter how you put it on the table, the phone is always on the display.
Since this is also not protected by glass, but only by plastic, small notches are only a matter of a few days. Huawei does include a smartphone cover, but it only protects the edge and also has to be glued to the device. At an MSRP of 2,499 euros, this case is just as unworthy of the device as the trade dispute between the USA and China, the Google
