Reviewing the Huawei Mate X6, I tested it across two vastly different parts of the world—the rainy, overcast streets of Chongqing, China, and the sandy, sun-drenched deserts of Dubai. These locations were chosen for their distinct conditions to highlight the phone’s adaptability. Chongqing’s humid and misty climate provided a test for its water resistance and display clarity in low-light, wet conditions, while Dubai’s intense heat and bright sunlight put its durability and screen brightness to the test. Each setting showcased the Mate X6’s ability to thrive in dynamic and challenging environments, emphasizing its design and engineering strengths. This foldable represents Huawei’s vision of a flagship device, setting new standards in design and functionality. Weighing 239 grams and measuring 9.85mm when folded and an ultra-slim 4.6mm when unfolded, the Mate X6 is impressively compact yet robust, making it a device that seamlessly transitions between portability and power.
PROS:
- Exceptional Camera System: The Ultra Aperture XMAGE Camera and Ultra Chroma Camera deliver stunning results across various environments, excelling in low-light, macro, and high-zoom scenarios.
- Innovative Hinge Design: The rocket-grade steel waterdrop hinge ensures minimal creasing and long-term reliability while enhancing usability and aesthetics.
- Durable Build: Incorporates basalt body architecture, Kunlun Glass 2nd Generation, and an aviation-grade aluminum frame, making it robust and scratch-resistant for everyday use.
- Immersive Display Quality: The external display’s peak brightness reaches 2500 nits, and the internal display’s is 1800 nits. Paired with X-True Display technology, the screens remain vibrant and clear in challenging conditions like bright sunlight or low light.
- Refined Ergonomics: At 239 grams and just 4.6mm thick when unfolded, it balances portability with usability, providing a comfortable and seamless user experience.
CONS:
- Limited Availability: The Mate X6’s market availability and pricing details remain unconfirmed, which could limit accessibility for potential buyers.
- High Price: Foldable smartphones, including the Mate X6, typically come with a premium price tag, potentially deterring budget-conscious buyers.
- Bulk in Folded State: Despite its sleek unfolded design, the Mate X6 may feel slightly bulky when folded for users who prioritize compact devices.
RATINGS:
SUSTAINABILITY / REPAIRABILITY
EDITOR’S QUOTE:
The Huawei Mate X6 redefines the foldable experience, blending stunning design, unmatched durability, and cutting-edge photography capabilities. From the dynamic streets of Chongqing to the deserts of Dubai, it excels in every scenario, proving itself as the ultimate foldable companion.
Designer: Huawei
Huawei’s journey in foldable innovation began in 2019 with the debut of the Mate X, a groundbreaking device unveiled at the Mobile World Congress. The Mate X6 represents five years of relentless refinement and innovation, establishing itself as a leader in foldable technology. With its Space-Age Orbit design and Nebula Texture craftsmanship, the Mate X6 combines elegance with practicality. Let’s dive deeper into what makes this device so remarkable.
Design and Aesthetics
Huawei’s use of basalt body architecture enhances the phone’s durability while maintaining a lightweight feel. This material was chosen for its balance of strength and portability, providing resilience without adding unnecessary bulk. Its performance stood out during my use, withstanding the abrasions of sandy conditions in Dubai and proving itself as a durable yet refined choice for a flagship foldable. This was particularly evident in Dubai’s harsh desert conditions, where the phone endured sandy environments without visible wear or impact on performance. This innovative material ensures the Mate X6 remains strong enough to handle everyday wear and tear without compromising portability. Coupled with second-generation Kunlun Glass, the device’s scratch resistance is top-tier, giving users confidence in its resilience.
The rear finish uses Micro-Nano 3D Topography, offering a tactile experience highlighting the phone’s radiant glow. As light moves across the surface, the Mate X6 transforms in appearance, revealing an elegance that shifts with the angle of view. Every detail reflects meticulous craftsmanship, from the smooth vegan leather to the sharp, diamond-cut edges of the camera housing.
In hand, the Mate X6 feels refined and substantial, with its smooth finishes enhancing its ergonomic design. The curved edges of the finish offer a secure and natural grip during extended use, ensuring comfort and practicality. This combination of form and function underscores Huawei’s attention to user experience without compromising style. For a device of its size, the Mate X6 strikes an impressive balance, feeling neither bulky nor overly delicate but perfectly suited for everyday interactions. Personally, I found myself torn between the Nebula Texture finish and the Nebula Red. Each finish offers a distinct appeal for different user preferences. With its glimmering subtlety, the Nebula Texture exudes a refined elegance, perfect for those who appreciate understated sophistication.
On the other hand, the Nebula Red commands attention with its bold vibrancy, catering to those who love a striking and daring aesthetic. Both are striking in looks and texture, each with its unique character. What’s your pick? Huawei has designed a foldable that seamlessly combines aesthetics and performance, ensuring there’s a choice for everyone.
Ergonomics
Foldable smartphones often face challenges in balancing usability and form factor, but the Mate X6 delivers a surprisingly ergonomic experience. Its lightweight design, at just 239 grams, makes it comfortable to hold for extended periods, whether folded or unfolded. When unfolded, it feels amazing in hand—neither bulky nor unwieldy. The ultra-slim 4.6mm thickness provides a natural grip that complements the expansiveness of the display, making every interaction feel seamless. Meanwhile, the 9.85mm thickness in the folded state feels solid and secure, striking the right balance between portability and functionality.
During my use, the Mate X6 proved practical for one-handed operation, particularly when folded, making it more accessible compared to other foldables on the market. Navigating apps, typing messages, or even taking quick snapshots felt intuitive and seamless, a feat many foldables struggle to achieve in their folded state. The device’s balanced weight distribution made it comfortable for extended periods without feeling cumbersome.
The hinge mechanism also contributes to the phone’s overall ergonomics. It locks into place firmly, providing a stable screen that doesn’t wobble or shift during use. This is especially valuable when using the device in Flex-stop mode for tasks like video calls or split-screen multitasking. Huawei has considered the user experience and designed a foldable that prioritizes functionality and comfort.
I also found the unfolded Mate X6 particularly useful for capturing content without needing a tripod. Whether placed on a table or propped up against a stable surface, the device’s hinge and large display provided the perfect setup for shooting videos or stills hands-free. This feature came in handy during my testing, especially when creating time-lapses or documenting moments in a bustling café or scenic location.
Performance
Performance is critical to any flagship smartphone, and the Mate X6 doesn’t disappoint. This foldable device is designed to handle everything from multitasking to gaming and intensive photography to demanding video recording. In this section, I’ll explain how the Mate X6 excels in real-world scenarios, demonstrating its ability to deliver a seamless, responsive, and powerful experience across various use cases.
Hinges
The hinge is the backbone of any foldable smartphone, and Huawei has engineered one that stands out. Unlike many competing foldable, the Mate X6 features a waterdrop hinge crafted from innovative rocket-grade steel, effectively minimizing the crease and ensuring a smooth, uninterrupted display. This hinge enhances the phone’s aesthetics and reinforces its reliability and durability, making it feel robust through countless folds. Compared to other leading foldable, the Mate X6’s hinge offers superior stability. It contributes to its IPX8 water resistance, providing users with confidence in varied environments, whether during daily use or unforeseen conditions. The waterdrop hinge, built with innovative rocket-grade steel, eliminates the common crease found in many foldables. This ensures that the screen remains smooth and visually seamless, an essential feature for anyone prioritizing functionality and aesthetics.
Reliability is a hallmark of this hinge design. It holds the display firmly in place, whether you’re folding or unfolding, and maintains its integrity through repeated use. The solid construction not only instills confidence but also ensures the Mate X6 can withstand the demands of everyday use without compromising its performance.
The hinge also plays a vital role in the Mate X6’s IPX8 water resistance rating. This means the device is durable and can handle challenging environments, from unexpected rain to accidental splashes. Its precision engineering ensures that the display transitions effortlessly between folded and unfolded states, delivering a smooth user experience every time.
By addressing key concerns like durability, crease elimination, and long-term reliability, Huawei’s hinge design cements the Mate X6 as a foldable smartphone you can rely on for years to come. The hinge highlights Huawei’s engineering precision and long-term reliability, emphasizing the innovation and solid construction that make this flagship device dependable.
Camera Quality
Main Camera Performance
During my time with the Huawei Mate X6, I tested its Ultra Aperture XMAGE Camera system across dramatically different settings—the wet, neon-lit streets of Chongqing, China, and the golden, sandy expanses of Dubai. These contrasting environments not only highlighted the camera’s versatility but also influenced my overall impression of its capabilities. The neon reflections in Chongqing and the sharp contrasts of Dubai’s sunlight brought out the strengths of each lens, reinforcing how adaptable and reliable the Mate X6 is for diverse photographic scenarios.
In Chongqing, the overcast skies and persistent rain provided the perfect backdrop to test the 50 MP main camera. With its variable aperture ranging from f/1.4 to f/4.0, I was able to capture stunning low-light shots of the city’s neon-lit streets. The wide aperture worked exceptionally well to pull in as much light as possible, preserving intricate details and enhancing contrast. Raindrops glistening on windows and the subtle reflections on wet pavement were rendered with impressive clarity, thanks to the XMAGE’s AI-driven enhancements.
Ultra-Wide and Telephoto Lenses
The 40 MP ultra-wide lens shone in capturing Chongqing’s dense urban landscapes. The sprawling views of towering buildings, interconnected by winding bridges, were sharp and distortion-free. Even in challenging lighting, this lens brought out rich details across the frame, making it an ideal choice for capturing the city’s unique character.
Shifting to Dubai, the Mate X6 faced a new test: bright, sunlit desert vistas and the golden glow of the city’s skyline. The 48 MP telephoto lens excelled here, enabling me to zoom in on architectural landmarks like the Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab with remarkable sharpness. Its optical image stabilization ensured crisp shots even when using high zoom levels to capture distant subjects. The 4x optical zoom and up to 100x digital zoom allowed me to experiment with composition, bringing distant details into focus without losing quality.
Macro and Night Photography
Macro photography became a surprising highlight. The telephoto macro camera, capable of focusing as close as 2.5 cm, unveiled intricate textures on objects from a museum during my explorations in Chongqing. Similarly, in the Dubai desert, it captured the intricate grains of sand on artifacts displayed during a cultural dinner, showcasing the camera’s ability to render both natural and man-made details with striking accuracy. For hobbyists and professionals alike, this lens transforms mundane objects into fascinating works of art, revealing details that might otherwise go unnoticed. From the intricate veins of a leaf to the delicate structure of a flower petal, the Mate X6’s macro capabilities encourage creativity and curiosity, making it a delight for anyone who loves to explore the finer details of the world around them. This lens transformed everyday objects into works of art, capturing fine details that were otherwise invisible to the naked eye.
Night photography further highlighted the phone’s versatility. Using Pro Mode and Aperture Priority Mode, I opened the aperture to f/1.4, allowing the camera to maximize light intake and capture the illuminated skyline of Dubai against the pitch-black desert. AI enhancements effectively reduced noise and ensured that the city lights appeared vibrant without overexposure, delivering sharp and stunning results.
This shot demonstrates the Mate X6’s remarkable ability to balance light and shadow in extreme low-light conditions, leveraging its advanced AI algorithms to intelligently adjust settings and minimize noise. The result is a natural yet striking composition, highlighting both the subtle shadows and illuminated details. Taken during a dinner in the desert of Dubai, the photo captures a scene bathed only in moonlight and scattered artificial lighting. The stars in the sky remain clear and distinct, while the warmth of the heaters, glowing lanterns, and texture of the sandy surroundings are rendered with impressive detail. Even the palm trees and distant dune contours are visible, showcasing the dynamic range and precision of the Mate X6’s Night Mode.
The combination of the Ultra Aperture Camera and advanced AI truly comes alive in settings like this. Whether photographing the serenity of a quiet desert evening or the vibrant energy of a city skyline, the Mate X6 excels in preserving both atmosphere and detail, elevating low-light photography to an entirely new level.
Selfies and AI Integration
The dual 8 MP selfie cameras added convenience during this journey. Whether snapping portraits amidst the bustling streets of Chongqing or capturing the grandeur of Dubai from a high vantage point, the results were consistently sharp and well-lit. AI-assisted skin tone adjustments and lighting enhancements ensured flattering and natural-looking photos, regardless of the setting.
AI-driven enhancements across all lenses elevated the Mate X6’s photography capabilities in every scenario. The software intelligently optimized settings based on the environment, ensuring vibrant colors, balanced exposures, and minimal noise. From intricate cityscapes to expansive desert panoramas, the Mate X6 proved itself a comprehensive toolkit for casual and professional photographers alike.
Durable Design Meets Seamless Performance
Beyond its durability and design, the Mate X6 excels in providing a seamless and reliable screen experience. The innovative heat dissipation system, leveraging ultra-high thermal conductivity graphene, ensures the device remains cool even during intensive use. For instance, while gaming for extended periods or recording 4K videos under Dubai’s relentless desert heat, the Mate X6 maintained a steady temperature, avoiding any discomfort. This practical feature ensures users can engage in demanding tasks without interruptions caused by overheating, allowing for an uninterrupted and enjoyable experience. Whether multitasking with Live Multi-Task mode, gaming, or video calling, the Mate X6 consistently delivered smooth performance.
The Mate X6 also excels in connectivity. Thanks to its advanced distributed architecture, the device offers improved signal perception, whether folded or unfolded. I tested this in areas notorious for poor connectivity, such as underground garages and high-speed trains, and the Mate X6 maintained a stable connection where other devices faltered. This level of reliability underscores its value for users who depend on consistent performance in challenging environments.
Huawei’s second-generation Kunlun Glass elevates durability by offering 25 times greater drop resistance compared to its predecessor. While I refrained from replicating Huawei’s suggested drop test for obvious reasons, the phone handled real-world scenarios admirably. From slips off a sofa to accidental bumps during photography sessions, the Mate X6 proved its resilience without compromising functionality or aesthetics. This robust build provided confidence throughout my travels, ensuring peace of mind in varied environments.
The Mate X6’s display stood out as a highlight. Its 1800 nits of peak brightness delivered crystal-clear visibility in all conditions, from the misty rain of Chongqing to Dubai’s blazing sunlight. Whether framing a photo or catching up on messages, the display remained sharp and vibrant. Huawei’s meticulous attention to materials and engineering reinforces the Mate X6 as a flagship device with a screen experience that complements its groundbreaking design.
Value and Conclusion
The Huawei Mate X6 redefines foldable smartphone expectations with its innovative features and polished user experience. By integrating advancements like a refined hinge mechanism and enhanced camera capabilities, it delivers a uniquely versatile device that addresses the demands of both everyday users and technology enthusiasts. Its impeccable design, advanced materials, and versatile camera system make it a striking device for those seeking both style and substance. Features like the variable aperture, waterdrop hinge, and basalt body architecture demonstrate Huawei’s ability to push the boundaries of innovation.
Considering everything, I can’t help but be extremely pleased with the Mate X6. It ticks nearly all the boxes and exceeds my expectations, which is why I’m awarding it the Yanko Design Editor Choice.
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