Huawei has stunned the smartphone community by revealing the Mate X – the world’s fastest foldable 5G phone – ahead of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.
The device showcases not only a smart foldable design but backs it up with 5G connectivity to provide a fast experience for the phone that transforms into a tablet.
Less than a week after Samsung revealed its Galaxy Fold, Huawei has unveiled the Mate X which the company has gone to great lengths to keep under wraps – until now.
Less than a week after Samsung revealed its Galaxy Fold, Huawei has unveiled the Mate X which the company has gone to great lengths to keep under wraps – until now.
When folded, the Mate X has a front 6.6-inch display and a rear 6.38-inch screen.
Beside the 6.38 inch display, is a narrow strip containing the device’s Leica camera system. This section also houses the bulk of the circuitry and also acts as an ergonomic grip when the device is unfolded.
In the unfolded mode those two outer screens combine to form a single 8-inch display.
When it’s folded out, the Mate X is just 5.4 mm thick – that’s thinner than a regular tablet.
And with that ergonomic curve grip at one end, it’s comfortable to hold with one hand.
The bendable screen is made possible thanks to a falcon wing hinge design that allows the display to move through 180-degrees when it’s opened and closed.
In the folded position the device is just 11mm thick with the smaller 6.38-inch rear screen fitting nicely into the curved grip on the device.
On the side of the Mate X is a power key which also doubles as a fingerprint reader for added security.
On the 5G side, Huawei’s breakthrough device is the world’s first to contain a 7nm 5G Balong 5000chipset and modem.
The Mate X will operate at the top end of the 5G spectrum and is capable of speeds of up to 4.6Gbps – that’s fast enough for users to be able to download a 1GB movie in just three seconds.
Under the hood is a dual battery system which adds up to 4,500mAh of power.
The battery is capable of fast charging thanks to the new 55W Huawei SuperCharge.
In fact, users will be able to reach 85 per cent battery charge in just 30 minutes.
The Leica camera system works in all modes of the camera whether it’s folded or unfolded.
In the unfolded mode, users will be able to take even larger images.
But Huawei says it also has the best in class selfie camera.
People can see their portrait in real time when getting their photo taken by checking themselves out in the screen facing them.
In the unfoldied position, with the 8 inch display users are able to consume content on a bigger screen as well as multitask.
Huawei will also be releasing a full cover case for the Mate X which will protect the product yet not compromise its use.
But the Huawei Mate X foldable phone won’t come cheap. It will be priced at 2,299 Euros – roughly about $AUD3680 – and will be released in the middle of the year.
Official Australian pricing and availability have yet to be announced.
Last week Samsung revealed its US pricing for the Galaxy Fold at $US1980 with a late April launch date.
* Stephen Fenech travelled to Barcelona as a guest of Huawei
