HUAWEI China has just officiated the launch of the Mate X2 foldable phone. Though the design and specifications are impressive, this is a phone that most can only dream of owning. The announced launch price is a whopping ¥17,999 (~RM11,266) for the 256GB model.

While foldable phone designs are no longer groundbreaking or new to the market, the Mate X2 does introduce some really great improvements to the overall foldable design.

But before diving into the phone design, let’s quickly run through the overall specifications of the Mate X2.

Mate X2 Specs:

Dimensions	Height: 161.8 mm Width: 145.8 mm (unfolded) | 74.6 mm (folded) Depth: 4.4 mm ~ 8.2 mm (unfolded) | 13.6 mm ~ 14.7 mm (folded) Weight: ~295g (with battery)
Display	Interior: 8 inches, OLED, up to 90 Hz refresh rate，180 Hz touch sampling rate, 2480 x 2200px Exterior: 6.45 inches, OLED, up to 90 Hz refresh rate，240 Hz touch sampling rate, 2700 x 1160px
Processor	CPU: HUAWEI Kirin 9000, Octa-core, 1 x Cortex-A77@3.13 GHz + 3 x Cortex-A77@2.54 GHz + 4 x Cortex-A55@2.05 GHz GPU 24-core Mali-G78
OS	EMUI 11 (Based on Android 10)
Memory	8 GB RAM + 256/512 GB ROM
Camera	Rear Quad Camera: 1. 50 MP Ultra Vision Camera (Wide Angle, f/1.9 aperture, OIS) 2. 16 MP Cine Camera (Ultra-Wide Angle, f/2.2 aperture) 3. 12 MP Telephoto Camera (3x Optical Zoom, f/2.4 aperture, OIS) 4. 8 MP SuperZoom Camera (10x Optical Zoom, f/4.4 aperture, OIS), support AF Selfie Camera: 16 MP Selfie Camera (Wide Angle, f/2.2)
Battery	4500 mAh, 55W quick charge
Price:	¥17,999 – ¥18,999 (RM11,266 – RM11,888)

Overall, the phone does incorporate the latest chipset, Kirin 9000 and an impressive Leica camera set. Nevertheless, these features can also be found on the Huawei Mate 40 Pro device for over half the price. In other words, the specs featured on the Mate X2 isn’t much to shout about.

Design Improvements

1.Multi-Dimensional Hinge Design

The multi-dimensional hinge is a patented technology that allows the phone to fold without a gap in between the interior display.

This patented hinge is achieved by using intricate dual-spiral structure made with high-intensity steel and enforced with Zirconium-based liquid metal in the central hinge for extra durability in the hinges.

HUAWEI even went as far as to compare directly with Samsung Z Fold 2’s design which shows a rather pronounced gap between the displays when folded.

Lastly, the multi-dimensional hinge also improves over flatness of back surface when the device is flipped open.

2. Adjusted Center of Mass

Rather keeping the Mate X2’s center of mass in the center of the device, the Mate X2, is designed such that when the device is flipped open, the center of mass shifts over to the right side of the device.

In other words, the device when flipped open will feel a lot more comfortable and manageable for single-hand usage. Unfortunately, this design will only benefit the right-handers.

3. Golden Display Ratio 8:7:1

Perhaps most important is the display tweaks found on the Mate X2. No more awkward dimensions both when the device is folded and unfolded.

When unfolded, users will enjoy a full 8″ display which is essentially the size and display estate of 2 typical mobile devices with a screen ratio of 20.5:9.

As for the front screen when folded, users will enjoy a 6.45″ display with an aspect ratio of 21:9. This golden screen ratio will allow all apps to perform optimally when the device is folded and unfolded.

Final Thoughts

The launch of the HUAWEI Mate X2 is more than just a new foldable smartphone into the market. It’s a showcase of how the foldable design can be further improved and optimized.

Due to its high price point, we don’t foresee a huge demand for the device at present. Nevertheless, as foldable devices continue to mature, we do hope that more affordable options will be available soon!

Watch the official launch here:

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