HUAWEI Huawei announces folding smartphone "HUAWEI Mate X2", featuring a significantly changed display

Huawei's "HUAWEI Mate X2" presentation held online

Huawei held an online new product presentation on the 22nd (local time) and announced the high-end smartphone "HUAWEI Mate X2" with a foldable display. In China, reservations will start immediately after the presentation, and sales will begin on February 25. Sales channels will be simultaneous online and offline such as Huawei's online store "Vmall", major EC sites, communication carriers and home appliance mass retailers.

Huawei Consumer Business Group CEO Richard Yu unveils HUAWEI Mate X2

No more gaps when folded! The latest model of the significantly evolved Mate X series

The main specifications of the HUAWEI Mate X2 are the HUAWEI Kirin 9000 chipset, 8GB of memory, and 256GB or 512GB of storage. There are four cameras: 50 million pixels, 12 million pixels (3x optical), 8 million pixels (10x optical), and 16 million pixels (ultra wide angle). The front camera is 16 million pixels. The battery capacity is 4500mAh. The main body color is white, blue, pink, and black.

Four color variations including bright colors

The biggest feature is the foldable display. Huawei's first-generation folding smartphones "HUAWEI Mate X" and "HUAWEI Mate Xs" used a mountain folding method that folds the display outward. The HUAWEI Mate X2 adopts a valley fold type that bends inward. It has the same shape as Samsung Electronics' "Galaxy Z Fold2".

The display has become a "valley fold type" that folds inward

The display size when opened is 8 inches (2480 x 2200 dots), which is the same as HUAWEI Mate X/Xs. When closed, an out display appears, which is 6.45 type (2700 x 1160 dots, aspect ratio 21:9). The big advantage is that the display size when opened is larger than Galaxy Z Fold2, and it can be used with the same aspect ratio as a general smartphone even when closed.

8 inch when open, 6.45 inch when closed

HUAWEI Mate X2 can close the display completely even though it is an inward folding type. This creates a space inside the hinge that allows the folded portion of the display to escape into this space when fully folded, thus preventing the display from creases. Therefore, there is no gap even when the main body is closed like the Galaxy Z Fold2, and the display does not show "streaks" in the hinge part. Another major feature of the HUAWEI Mate X2 is that it can adhere perfectly.

Full contact when closed

The cross-sectional shape of the main body is also characteristic. When opened, the right side, where the camera and main board are built in, is thicker, and it gradually becomes thinner toward the left side where the out display is located. Should I describe it as a thin wedge shape? The main body size is about 161.8 x 145.8 x 8.2 mm when opened, and the weight is 295 g, but it is said that the weight balance is easy to hold when holding the right side of the main body with the right hand. The size when closed is about 161.8 x 74.6 x 14.7 mm.

A shape that tapers to the left. heavy on the right side

The camera has 4 eyes supervised by Leica and supports 100x zoom

There are 4 cameras. The 50-megapixel main camera is F / 1.9, the 12-megapixel camera is F2.4, and the 8-megapixel camera is F4.4, all of which support optical image stabilization. The 8-megapixel camera supports 10x optical and 100x digital with a periscope method. The 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle camera is F2.4.

The square window at the top is the periscope camera. Equipped with 4 cameras

The front camera is 16 million pixels and F2.2. It seems that two cameras are lined up on the out display, but the data for the other camera has not been disclosed in terms of specifications. Like the front cameras of Huawei's flagship models "HUAWEI P40 Pro+" and "HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro+", it is believed that another camera that also serves as a depth measurement and face authentication sensor is installed. When taking a selfie, open the main unit and use the main camera for higher image quality.

Even at the presentation, CEO Yu introduces selfies using the main camera

Foldable smartphones require a UI suitable for large displays, such as simultaneous use of two applications using a wide screen. In addition to displaying two apps, HUAWEI Mate X2 also supports pop-up display. You can also select a photo you like while looking at the gallery on the large screen that opens and paste it on the chat screen of the message app that pops up.

App pop-up display is also supported

Also, if you open the app while using the out-display, you can continue to use the app you were using on the large screen. When you need a wider screen while playing a game, you can tap a video while looking at the SNS timeline to enjoy it on a larger screen.

The same app can be used even if the display is opened or closed

In order to make it easier to input characters on a large screen, the soft keyboard is split left and right in a QWERTY layout, and the two middle keys "G" and "V" are placed on either side. You can also adjust the size of the keyboard.

Unique soft keyboard design with left and right "G" and "V" keys

The UI of the camera is also designed to hold the main body on the left and right. The right hand side is equipped with frequently used functions such as the shutter button and mode switching. Magnification switching and AI ON/OFF are arranged on the left side.

Camera UI that considers using both hands

Huawei is developing its own OS "HarmonyOS", but at the end of the recital, it is announced that the OS will officially appear in April, and that HUAWEI Mate X2 will be compatible with official updates to the OS. was done. I'm looking forward to seeing what HarmonyOS will look like with Huawei's enhanced mobile services.

HUAWEI Mate X2 can upgrade to HarmonyOS

The price is expensive, but you can get the performance that matches it

The price of the HUAWEI Mate X2 is 17,999 yuan (about 294,000 yen) for the 256GB model and 18,999 yuan (about 310,000 yen) for the 512GB model. ). Considering that the original foldable HUAWEI Mate X cost 2,299 euros (about 294,000 yen), the price is about the same. Although more expensive than its rival Galaxy Z Fold2, the Huawei Mate X2 packs a bigger screen and a better camera.

The price is quite high at about 300,000 yen

As an accessory, a back cover with a stand is included with the main unit (sold separately for 299 yuan, about 4900 yen). HUAWEI Mate X2 has not been announced for global release so far. In the current situation where it is not possible to manufacture a new chipset (HUAWEI Kirin 9000), the production volume will be quite limited. However, as it is a product that can be folded and carried compactly, it is ideal for video content usage in the 5G era.

A back cover with a stand is included. Expectations for overseas expansion