Huawei Mate X foldable 5G phone first look: Have wings, will fly

race to build perfect all-screen phone is on, but a large part of this race has been seemingly centered around tch city so far. Brands have only been simulating different circuits around a familiar backdrop - iPhone X-style, waterdrop-style, punch hole-style so on and so forth. But we all kw that that’s t end – a means to an end possibly, but in universe can a tch be final solution.  

While we don’t exactly kw what final solution will be – which is fine, because world of tech will cease to exist day it achieves proverbial perfection – a couple of brands have figured out next step in all-screen phone invation. It is called foldable, and as name suggests, it is all about shape-shifting displays – you kw, kind of stuff you see in Sci-Fi movies. Only, it’s more a reel but all real. In fact, it’s so real (w), you’ll be able to buy a foldable phone this year. strike that. It’s so real (w), you’ll be able to buy a foldable phone in India this year. 

You got two options to choose from – one from Samsung (Galaxy Fold) and ar from Huawei (Mate X). Both well-kwn and well-established brands, so you kw you don’t need to pinch yourself in order to believe it. It’s happening alright. foldable phones have arrived.   

subject of this hands-on is Huawei’s Mate X – Huawei is probably best placed when it comes to launching Mate X in India right w even though it says launch will happen in second half of 2019 (an exact launch window is still under wraps). But that’s alright, Mate X’s global launch is also pegged sometime in middle of this year. I am saying this because a) Huawei has confirmed launch and b) it is alrey showing off Mate X to select media.  

“India is an important market for us and we have been consistently investing and expanding our footprint in market. We are focused on delivering user experiences that defines future of smartphone in smart era,” Wally Yang, senior product marketing director, Huawei Consumer Business Group said in a statement, confirming “Mate X will make its India debut this year.” 

te: Samsung Galaxy Fold will be available for buying in select markets from April 26 and even though CEO DJ Koh has gone on record to say that, " Indian market is most important market - t only investment and everything, my long-term commitment is towards market. In this market, why will I t deliver my newest techlogy invation? Yes, I will do,” re’s tentative time line just yet.  

In meanwhile, I have mand to spend some time with Mate X and even though Huawei did t actively encour media to fold its new foldable, at least I got touch and feel of it – for real. I held it in my hands, I turned (and even folded) it around, I tried out software – some light web browsing, some YouTube and basic navigation through UI. 

And I have just one word to say about it – Mate X is surreal. 

idea of a foldable may seem ludicrous at first but once you’ve h a taste of it, re’s turning back – it's like kind of stuff you’ve always wanted even though you may t necessarily need it. Even though Mate X, or for that matter any or foldable, is a niche product at this point of time – Huawei says it’s specifically meant for early opters - you might (want to) get used to it at some point of time. Soon eugh. For sheer reason that, tech is straight out of future. Products like Mate X will turn many hes, and y’ll serve many purposes.  

One of ir primary use cases is of course all that screen real estate.     

Mate X give users access to three screen sizes – two independent smartphone-like screens with 6.6-inch and 6.38-inch sizes respectively, and an 8-inch tablet form factor without any tch. display is just one though – that folds outwards. Huawei says it did consider a Samsung Galaxy Fold-like inwards folding design, but outwards folding design simply me more sense. 

Huawei calls it a falcon wing design – a design it apparently took three years to perfect, using a patented hinge with over 100 custom components.  solution allows Huawei to keep Mate X’s physical dimensions in check, and allows it to incorporate a truly back to back fold with gaps in middle. 

Mate X is 5.4mm when opened and 11mm when closed ( Galaxy Fold, in contrast, is 6.8mm when opened and 17mm when closed). 

It still feels substantial in hands – in fact, it feels like a Kindle that could use a gym when fully opened. But it surely doesn’t feel overwhelming. 

I like that Huawei has tried to place all essentials toger, so y’re easier to find on a device that could take some time getting used to. power button doubles as a fingerprint scanner and whole thing pops out (or unfolds) through an eject button on rear. Every inch of Mate X feels well thought-out and t like some laboratory experiment gone wrong – which is commendable for a first-generation product.  

But re’ll always be that thing about getting scratches – since you kw, it’s all display. Huawei isn’t giving out a number for longevity of its flexible OLED display (which is mostly plastic) but it says it will bundle a special “full protection” case along with Mate X in box. 

re’s also that thing about different screens and different aspect ratios – and fact that Android isn’t particularly a dream on tablets. Huawei says it has worked extensively on software side so users will be able to seamlessly transition between smartphone and tablet mode on Mate X – Huawei is particularly touting “two columns browsing, side by side or multi-window use for so you can double down on work or entertainment.” In my brief us, I was left pleasantly surprised by how smooth transitions worked out on Mate X (everything was fast and responsive without any hint of lag or wonky behavior during my folding and unfolding sessions). Huawei was quick to te that a broer support for foldables is coming in Android Q – which should enhance user experience furr. 

You’d think with a borderline insane form like Mate X, hardware inside could be lacking in some way. But Mate X does t skimp down on hardware specs eir – it is powered by Huawei’s Kirin 980 flagship processor with 8GB RAM and 512GB stor, it comes with a total of three Leica-tuned cameras, dual-SIM, and it packs two batteries which entail in a total battery capacity of 4,500mAh with 55W Super Charging which is claimed to offer 85 per cent charge in mere 30 minutes. Mate X is also 5G-rey and even though re’s a lot to talk about its Balong 5000 modem (that’s claimed to be even more powerful than Snapdragon X50 modem found inside Qualcomm Snapdragon 855) I will hold that for a separate article. For w, I can say this, Huawei Mate X could be first 5G-rey phone to launch in India and even though users may t be able to make full use of network anytime soon, Mate X will be future-rey.  

As it should, because thing is likely to cost a bomb in India. For some perspective, Huawei Mate X has been launched in Europe for Euros 2,299 (roughly Rs 1,85,000).

Also Re:  Huawei Mate X Foldable 5G Phone Is Coming To India By End Of This Year