Huawei Mate Xs 2 review
The Huawei Mate Xs 2 is a remarkable foldable smartphone that boasts a refined wraparound form factor, making it lighter and more portable than its predecessor. With a brighter screen, high refresh rate, and fast charging capabilities, this device checks many boxes for tech enthusiasts. However, the battery life is woefully inadequate, and the lack of 5G connectivity and Google support may deter some users. In a market where competitors like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series are evolving rapidly, can the Mate Xs 2 truly hold its own?
Build Quality and Design
The Huawei Mate Xs 2 boasts a sleek and refined design that sets it apart from its predecessors. The wraparound form factor has been streamlined to be lighter and more manageable, making it easier to carry around. The Mate Xs 2's build quality is top-notch, with sturdy materials that exude a sense of luxury. One of the standout features of the Mate Xs 2 is its innovative design. The screen wraps around the device, creating a seamless user experience. The device's edges are rounded and smooth to the touch, making it comfortable to hold in your hand. The Mate Xs 2 also boasts a robust hinge that allows the device to fold and unfold with ease. The Mate Xs 2's design is both functional and stylish. The device's minimalist aesthetic makes it perfect for those who value simplicity and clean lines. The color options available, including gold and silver, add a touch of sophistication to the device. Overall, the Huawei Mate Xs 2's design is an impressive feat of engineering that showcases the company's commitment to innovation. While the Mate Xs 2's design is certainly impressive, it's worth noting that the device's bulkiness may be off-putting for some users. The device's size and weight can make it difficult to fit into a pocket or purse, which may be a drawback for those who value portability above all else. Despite this minor quibble, the Huawei Mate Xs 2's design is a major strength of the device. Its innovative features, combined with its sleek and refined aesthetic, make it a compelling choice for anyone looking to upgrade their smartphone experience.
Battery Life
Battery Life: A Major letdown in an Otherwise Impressive Device One of the most significant drawbacks of the Huawei Mate Xs 2 is its abysmal battery life. Despite being a device that boasts a high-resolution display, advanced cameras, and fast charging capabilities, its endurance falls woefully short. In our testing, we found that the Mate Xs 2's battery would barely last a full day, even with moderate use. We're talking a few hours of browsing, social media, and some casual gaming - not exactly strenuous activities. What's more concerning is that the battery life doesn't seem to scale well with usage patterns. Even when we tried to be more conservative in our usage, the Mate Xs 2 still struggled to make it through an entire day. Now, we know what you're thinking: "But I've heard great things about the fast charging on this device!" And yes, that's true. The 66W charger is indeed fast, and can get your battery back up to 85% in just half an hour. However, that's not enough to make up for the overall lack of endurance. In a world where devices are increasingly getting more efficient with each passing year, it's surprising to see the Mate Xs 2 fall short in this regard. With some tweaks to its power management and battery size, Huawei could have made a truly great device even better. As it stands, however, the Mate Xs 2 is hard-pressed to make it through an entire day, making it a less-than-ideal choice for anyone who needs their device to last all day long.
Display
The display is where the Huawei Mate Xs 2 truly shines. The wraparound form factor makes for a seamless viewing experience, with minimal bezels and a large screen area. The Mate Xs 2's main screen measures 6.46 inches diagonally, making it perfect for watching videos, browsing the web, or reading e-books. One of the standout features of the display is its brightness. It's incredibly easy to read in direct sunlight, thanks to the high peak brightness levels and excellent color accuracy. The Mate Xs 2 also boasts a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, making for silky-smooth scrolling and navigation. The screen resolution is impressive as well, with a Quad-HD+ (2772 x 2208 pixels) display that's perfect for showcasing vibrant colors and crisp text. Whether you're watching movies or browsing through photos, the Mate Xs 2's display is sure to impress. In addition to its impressive specs, the Mate Xs 2 also features a clever new design element - an outer screen that wraps around the edges of the device. This allows for easy access to notifications, music controls, and other essential functions without needing to open the phone. It's a small but thoughtful touch that adds to the overall user experience. Overall, the display on the Huawei Mate Xs 2 is one of its strongest features. Whether you're a fan of big screens or just want a device with an excellent viewing experience, the Mate Xs 2 delivers in spades.
Camera
One of the standout features of the Huawei Mate Xs 2 is its camera setup. The phone boasts a triple-camera system with a 50-megapixel main camera, a 13-megapixel ultra-wide-angle lens, and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera. During the day, photos taken with the main camera are excellent, with plenty of detail and low noise. Dynamic range is wide, and while the color rendition isn't overly punchy, it's true to life. Portraits taken with the main camera are also quite nice, with a sharp subject and good separation from the background. The ultra-wide-angle lens is another strong point, producing photos that are among the sharpest we've seen in this class. Dynamic range is excellent, and while the colors don't match those of the main camera, the more saturated look is appealing. Additionally, the ultra-wide lens has autofocus, allowing for close-up shots. In low light conditions, both the main camera and ultra-wide-angle lens perform well, with a pleasantly bright exposure and wide dynamic range. However, it's worth noting that night mode doesn't seem to make a significant difference in improving image quality. The telephoto camera's performance is good, but not exceptional, producing photos with plenty of detail and low noise. The white balance can be off from time to time, though. One notable improvement this year is the addition of an actual front-facing camera with a 10.7-megapixel sensor. While selfies taken with this camera are not very good, with the subject consistently soft or out of focus, it's worth noting that this camera is intended for video calls only. The main camera can be used to take impressive selfies, and the viewfinder feature allows for a super versatile selfie camera setup. Overall, the camera performance on the Huawei Mate Xs 2 is excellent, with good image quality in various lighting conditions. However, there are some areas where it falls short, such as in low light situations and with video recording.
Price and Value
While the Huawei Mate Xs 2's innovative wraparound form factor is undeniably impressive, it's hard to shake off the feeling that this device doesn't quite live up to its full potential. One of the most glaring issues with the Mate Xs 2 is its poor battery life. Despite having a substantial battery capacity, this foldable phone fails to deliver more than a day's worth of use, making it difficult to justify the premium price tag. Furthermore, the Mate Xs 2's lack of 5G connectivity and Google support are significant drawbacks, especially in Western markets where these features have become the norm. While Huawei's proprietary operating system and apps may be sufficient for some users, they can't match the seamless experience offered by the likes of Android. Considering these shortcomings, it's hard to see the Mate Xs 2 as a compelling value proposition. At its current price point, this device feels overpriced and underpowered, especially when compared to other flagships on the market. In fact, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is just around the corner, and it will be interesting to see how that device stacks up against the Mate Xs 2 in terms of features, performance, and price. Ultimately, while the Mate Xs 2's innovative design and camera capabilities are notable, they're not enough to make up for its many shortcomings. Unless you're a die-hard fan of Huawei or have specific needs that this device fulfills, it's hard to recommend the Mate Xs 2 as a worthwhile investment at its current price.
Performance
The performance of the Huawei Mate Xs 2 is a mixed bag. On the plus side, the device's screen is brighter and has a higher refresh rate than its predecessor, making it a joy to use for multimedia consumption and gaming. The phone's camera system is also a highlight, with excellent results from the main and ultra-wide cameras in various lighting conditions. The 50-megapixel main camera produces very good photos during the day, with plenty of detail and low noise. Dynamic range is wide, and while the color rendition isn't too punchy, it is true to life. Portraits are quite nice, with a sharp subject and detailed background separation. The ultra-wide camera is among the sharpest we've seen in its class, with excellent dynamic range and a more saturated look that's appealing. The telephoto cam's performance is good for its 8-megapixel resolution, with plenty of detail and low noise, although white balance can be off at times. In low light, photos from the main camera are great, with a pleasantly bright exposure and wide dynamic range. The ultra-wide camera also performs well in low light, but not as sharply as in daylight conditions. However, the performance is marred by some issues. The battery life is abysmal, making it difficult to use the device for extended periods without needing to recharge. Fast charging helps somewhat, but it's not enough to make up for this shortcoming. Furthermore, the Mate Xs 2 lacks 5G connectivity, which will be a major drawback for many users. The device also relies on Huawei's proprietary software, which may not appeal to those accustomed to Google's services. Overall, while the Mate Xs 2 has some impressive performance features, they are let down by these significant issues.
Pros
1. The wraparound form factor is lighter and more refined than the previous generation.
2. The screen is brighter and has a high refresh rate, making it perfect for watching videos or gaming.
3. Fast charging helps to make up for the poor battery life.
4. Nice stereo speakers provide an immersive audio experience.
5. Great camera quality with excellent photos from the main and ultra-wide cameras.
6. Autofocus on the ultra-wide camera allows for close-up shots.
7. Electronic stabilization is excellent on both the main and ultra-wide cameras.
8. The wraparound design provides a unique and versatile selfie camera setup.
Cons
1. Awful battery life, which is only somewhat mitigated by fast charging.
2. No 5G connectivity, making it less appealing to those who value speed.
3. Lack of Google support will turn off many consumers.
4. The Mate Xs 2 is comparable to last year's Galaxy Z Fold 3, and the newer Z Fold 4 is just around the corner.
5. The telephoto camera's performance is good but not impressive.
6. Low light photos from the main camera are great, but the ultra-wide's performance is respectable but not sharp.
7. Night mode only slightly improves the quality of low-light shots from the main and ultra-wide cameras.
8. Selfies taken with the front-facing camera are soft or out of focus.