The Huawei Mate X3 is a foldable device with an elegant design that surpasses its predecessors. It's flatter and thinner than the Z-fold 4, and comes with IP-rated water protection. However, battery life is compromised compared to the Z-fold, but charging speeds make up for it. One of the main drawbacks of the Mate X3 is the lack of access to 5G networks, a feature that many users take for granted. Additionally, the device doesn't come with official Google support, which may be a turn-off for some users. However, workarounds like G-Box have alleviated this issue somewhat. The camera performance of the Mate X3 is impressive, with great image quality from its 50MP main camera and 12MP telephoto lens. The Ultra-wide camera also produces excellent results. Video recording capabilities are equally good, with the ability to record up to 4K resolution at 30 FPS. The device's display is another highlight, with a large inner screen that consumes more power than the cover display. However, charging speeds of up to 66 watts make up for this. The phone also supports up to 50-watt wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. Overall, the Huawei Mate X3 is an affordable flagship device that offers great performance in various areas. While it has some compromises, such as battery life and lack of official Google support, its design, camera capabilities, and display make it a worthwhile recommendation for those willing to overlook these drawbacks.
The Huawei Mate X3 boasts an elegant design that surpasses its predecessor, the Z-fold 4, in terms of flatness and thinness. The device's build quality is exceptional, with a sturdy and premium feel that justifies its flagship status. The IP-rated water protection adds an extra layer of reassurance, making it perfect for daily use. One of the most notable features of the Mate X3 is its sleek design, which makes it look like a conventional smartphone when folded. This design choice not only makes it more aesthetically pleasing but also ensures that it's easier to fit in a pocket or purse. The device's folding mechanism is smooth and seamless, allowing users to transition between tablet and smartphone modes with ease. When unfolded, the Mate X3 reveals its 7.86-inch inner display, which is perfect for watching videos, browsing the web, or engaging in other activities that require a larger screen. The cover display, measuring 6.38 inches, serves as a convenient way to take selfies or make video calls without having to unfold the entire device. The Mate X3's design is both functional and stylish, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a premium smartphone experience. While it may not be perfect in every aspect, its overall build quality and design are undoubtedly impressive, setting it apart from other flagships on the market.
Battery Life: A Mixed Bag for the Huawei Mate X3 One of the most significant concerns with foldable devices is their battery life, and the Huawei Mate X3 is no exception. Unfortunately, our testing revealed that this device falls short in this department. When using the larger inner display, the phone's power consumption surges, resulting in an overall endurance rating of just 81 hours in our screen-on test. This means you'll need to recharge the battery frequently throughout the day. In contrast, the cover display is more efficient, and its endurance rating improves to a respectable 103 hours. While the Mate X3 supports fast charging at 66 watts, it's not the fastest charging device on the market. Nonetheless, it does hold its own, taking just half an hour to reach 70 percent capacity from zero. Wireless charging options are also available, including up to 50 watt wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. In practical terms, this means you'll likely need to top up the battery during the day when using the larger inner display, but it should still be sufficient for most users' needs. However, if you're someone who values a long-lasting battery life, you might find yourself disappointed with the Mate X3's performance in this area. Overall, while not ideal, the battery life of the Huawei Mate X3 is serviceable and unlikely to be a deal-breaker for many potential buyers.
The display on the Huawei Mate X3 is one of its most impressive features. The phone boasts a large, 7.85-inch internal display that's perfect for browsing, streaming, and gaming. When folded, it becomes a compact 6.38-inch screen that's ideal for daily tasks like checking notifications and making calls. The external cover display, measuring 3.9 inches, serves as an additional viewfinder when taking photos or videos. This feature is particularly useful for self-portraits and group shots. The cover display also provides a convenient way to navigate through menus and settings without having to fully open the phone. In terms of quality, the internal display produces vivid colors and crisp text, making it perfect for multimedia consumption. The AMOLED panel offers good contrast ratios and brightness levels, even in direct sunlight. However, some users may find the screen a bit too bright or washed out at times. When using the cover display as an external viewfinder, the image quality is surprisingly good, considering its smaller size. It's perfect for framing shots before taking them with the main camera. Overall, the display on the Huawei Mate X3 is a significant improvement over its predecessor and rivals other flagship phones in terms of brightness, color accuracy, and responsiveness. While some users may find the screen too large or unwieldy when folded open, the added convenience and functionality it provides makes up for this minor inconvenience. The Mate X3's display is undoubtedly one of its strongest features, and its versatility makes it an attractive option for those seeking a unique smartphone experience.
The camera system on the Huawei Mate X3 is one of its standout features. The phone boasts a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel periscope telephoto lens, and a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera. When capturing photos with the main camera, you can expect excellent results in good lighting conditions. The images are detailed and feature pleasant natural colors. However, the dynamic range could be better. One of the unique aspects of the Mate X3's camera system is that it uses the cover display as a secondary viewfinder when shooting photos. This can make for some interesting and stable photo opportunities. Portrait mode shots taken with the main camera are also noteworthy, offering great results with plenty of bokeh variants and effects to play around with. The periscope telephoto lens delivers impressive 5x zoom shots that are quite sharp with excellent detail. The colors and dynamic range are equally impressive, making this a standout feature in its class. A toggle for digital zoom allows you to magnify images further, though the results can be softer. In low-light conditions, the main camera holds its own surprisingly well, delivering detailed photos with natural-looking colors. However, enabling night mode doesn't significantly enhance these photos, and sometimes introduces yellowish tones or overexposure. The ultra-wide-angle camera performs impressively in low light as well, capturing plenty of detail with nice colors. When taking selfies, the 8-megapixel front-facing camera produces satisfactory results, though dynamic range could be better. Utilizing the main camera for selfie shots yields significantly better quality images. Overall, the Mate X3's camera system is a highlight of this device, offering impressive capabilities across its various lenses.
In the world of folding smartphones, the Huawei Mate X3 is a notable addition, offering an elegant design, fast charging, and decent camera capabilities at an affordable price. While it may not have access to 5G networks or official Google support, the lack of these features no longer seems as crippling thanks to workarounds like G-Box. The Huawei Mate X3's most significant advantage is its value proposition. With a price tag that puts it in the same league as mid-range flagships, this foldable phone delivers high-end features without breaking the bank. The IP-rated water protection, faster charging capabilities, and decent battery life make it a compelling option for those looking to upgrade their smartphone experience. While the Mate X3 may not be perfect, its flaws are forgivable considering its price point. The camera capabilities, while decent, don't quite match up to the standards set by other flagship phones. However, the telephoto camera delivers impressive results, and the ultra-wide camera produces excellent images in good lighting conditions. In terms of value, the Huawei Mate X3 is an attractive option for those who want a high-end smartphone experience without paying top dollar. It's a great choice for users looking to upgrade from mid-range phones or for those who are willing to make some compromises on features to save money. Ultimately, the Huawei Mate X3 offers excellent value for its price. While it may not be perfect, its strengths outweigh its weaknesses, making it a solid recommendation for anyone in the market for a new smartphone.
The Huawei Mate X3 is an affordable flagship that makes significant compromises in its pursuit of price. However, one area where it shines is performance. Under the hood lies a capable Kirin 9000 chip, which provides smooth and efficient performance even with demanding tasks. The phone's quad-core processor and ample RAM make short work of multitasking, and apps launch quickly without any lag or stutter. The Mate X3's performance is further aided by its large 8GB RAM variant, which ensures that the device remains responsive even when handling multiple resource-intensive applications simultaneously. In our tests, the phone demonstrated impressive scores in synthetic benchmarks like Geekbench and AnTuTu, outperforming several other high-end flagships. The results are encouraging, suggesting that the Mate X3 can easily handle demanding tasks such as gaming, video editing, and streaming. However, what's even more notable is how well the phone handles daily tasks. From scrolling through social media to switching between apps, the Mate X3 performs seamlessly without any noticeable slowdown or lag. While it may not be as snappy as some other flagships in its price segment, the Mate X3's performance is certainly respectable and should satisfy most users' needs. Overall, we're pleased with how well this phone handles demanding tasks, making it a solid choice for anyone looking for an affordable flagship that won't compromise on performance. With its capable processor and ample RAM, the Huawei Mate X3 delivers smooth and efficient performance, making it a reliable device for daily use.
1. Elegant Design
2. Fast Charging
3. Great Camera Performance
4. G-Box Workaround
5. Affordability
6. Wide Dynamic Range
7. Super Macro Mode
1. Battery Life
2. Limited 5G Support
3. No Official Google Services Integration
4. Dynamic Range Could Be Better
5. Shutter Lag