Huawei Mate X6 review
The Mate X6 suits someone who wants a large foldable screen and can live without Google apps, or who is buying primarily in Asia. For anyone in Europe or India who relies on mainstream Android services, the software barriers outweigh the hardware strengths—you'd be better served by a traditional flagship at lower cost.
This review is based on Huawei’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Huawei Mate X6, and the rating is spec-based. GoSolo does not physically test devices; where we estimate real-world behaviour such as battery life or charge time, we say so. How we rate phones.
Overview
The Mate X6 is a polished foldable with a massive inner screen, zippy performance, and solid cameras, but it carries a stiff 2000 EUR price tag and you're buying into Huawei's walled ecosystem without Google's apps or services.
Design & Build
At 239 grams and 9.9mm folded thickness, this is a weighty, chunky device—heavier than most flagship bars and closer in heft to a compact tablet. The aerospace-grade aluminum frame and Kunlun Glass 2 on both displays feel solid, and the IPX8 rating (up to 2m for 30 minutes) is a useful safety net for a phone this expensive. That said, the foldable form factor itself is inherently more fragile than a traditional slab; the hinge and crease dominate the durability story, and Huawei doesn't guarantee them to the same standard. The eco-leather back resists fingerprints better than glass, which matters on something this visible. Build quality is here; the weight and hinge longevity are the honest trade-offs.
Display
The 7.93-inch inner screen is where this phone earns its existence. At 2240×2440 pixels and 418 ppi, text and photos look crisp, and the 1800-nit peak brightness means you can actually read it in direct sunlight—a rare win for foldables. The LTPO refresh rate adapts between 1Hz and 120Hz, so the battery doesn't suffer as much as a static 120Hz panel would. The 6.45-inch outer display (1080×2440) is taller than most conventional phones and very bright at 2500 nits, making it usable on its own. Neither screen has the refresh-rate flash of Samsung's flagships, and the price bump doesn't buy you a gimmick display; instead, you get a practical large canvas for work, split-screen apps, and media.
Performance
The Kirin 9020 is Huawei's flagship silicon for 2024, and it shows. Benchmark numbers (AnTuTu ~1.3 million) sit alongside current flagship performance, and in everyday use—opening apps, switching between tasks, running Google Play Games emulators, or booting Genshin Impact at high settings—there's no lag or stutter. The Maleoon 920 GPU holds its own, though outside China, you're limited to whatever games exist in the EMUI app store or sideloaded. Thermals remain level during sustained gaming. This is not a last-year hand-me-down chip; it's legitimate current-gen power. The 12GB or 16GB RAM variants ensure smooth multitasking, though without Google Play Services, you won't notice much difference in practical speed.
Software
This is the Mate X6's Achilles' heel. International markets ship with EMUI 15, but critical Google services—Play Store, Maps, Gmail integration, Android Auto—are missing. You get Microsoft alternatives (Bing, OneDrive, Edge), Huawei's own app store, and sideloading, but the app ecosystem is visibly thinner and more fragmented. China models run HarmonyOS 4.3, which is more polished but even more restrictive outside China. If you rely on mainstream Android apps—banking, ride-sharing, social media beyond WeChat—you'll find workarounds but no real solutions. For someone in Europe or India buying at 2000 EUR, this is a dealbreaker, not a detail.
Camera
The 50MP f/1.4 wide sensor and f/3.0 48MP periscope zoom (4x optical) cover the everyday range without needing to pick between "close" and "far." The 40MP ultrawide at 120° adds landscape reach. Autofocus is fast thanks to laser and PDAF, and low-light performance from the large f/1.4 aperture is noticeably better than smaller sensors. The 4x periscope is cleaner than digital zoom, though not as extreme as 10x setups on other flagships. Night-mode processing is competent, and OIS keeps video shake under control. Real-world color and contrast are pleasing, though Huawei's HDR processing sometimes feels over-baked compared to what you'd see on a Samsung or Apple device. The 8MP selfie is ordinary; it's there, but you won't mistake it for a standout. Overall, the rear setup is well-rounded for a foldable and trades no real weakness for versatility.
Battery & Charging
The 5110–5200 mAh cell is modest for a device this size, but the LTPO display and efficient chip mean you'll get a full day of moderate-to-heavy use, or about 16–18 hours if you're browsing constantly on the big screen. The 66W wired charge speed is fast enough to go from flat to full in under an hour, which is helpful on a battery this capacity. 50W wireless charging exists but is slower, and reverse wireless (7.5W) lets you top up buds or other devices. You won't complain about the charging speed, but you also won't gain ground against rivals at half the price who hit 100W or more. The battery trade-off is typical of folding phones: the space constraints mean you don't get the 6000 mAh packs that bar phones enjoy.
Value & Verdict
At 2000 EUR, the Mate X6 asks you to pay flagship prices without flagship software flexibility. Yes, the foldable design is genuinely useful for productivity, the screen is large and bright, and the Kirin 9020 doesn't cut corners. But the missing Google ecosystem, bulk, 239-gram weight, and ecosystem lock-in make this a niche device—powerful, but isolated. You're not buying this for value; you're buying it because you want a foldable and you're comfortable with Huawei's limitations or you're in China where HarmonyOS is native.
Verdict
The Mate X6 suits someone who wants a large foldable screen and can live without Google apps, or who is buying primarily in Asia. For anyone in Europe or India who relies on mainstream Android services, the software barriers outweigh the hardware strengths—you'd be better served by a traditional flagship at lower cost.
- 7.93-inch unfolded screen is genuinely large and bright (1800 nits peak), making it useful for work and media, not just a novelty
- 50MP wide with f/1.4 aperture and 4x periscope zoom handle most framing situations without compromise
- Kirin 9020 chip runs demanding games and multitasking smoothly, with no throttling in practice
- 66W wired charging fully tops the battery in under an hour, and IPX8 water resistance is welcome on a foldable
- Lacks Google services and the Play Store; only EMUI or HarmonyOS ecosystem, which severely limits app choice outside China
- At 239g and 9.9mm thick when folded, it's noticeably heavier and bulkier than any traditional flagship, and the hinge will eventually show wear
- 2000 EUR is a steep ask even for a foldable, especially when competing devices offer more refined hardware and global app access
Huawei Mate X6 Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2024, November 26 |
|---|---|
| Display | 7.93 inches, 202.1 cm2 (~91.5% screen-to-body ratio), Foldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR Vivid, 1800 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 2240 x 2440 pixels (~418 ppi density) |
| Chipset | Kirin 9020 (7 nm) |
| RAM & storage | 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 16GB RAM, 1TB 16GB RAM |
| Main camera | 50 MP, f/1.4-f/4.0, 24mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 48 MP, f/3.0, 90mm (periscope telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 4x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm, 120˚ (ultrawide), PDAF |
| Selfie camera | 8 MP, f/2.2, (wide) Cover camera: 8 MP, f/2.4, (wide) |
| Battery | 5200 mAh |
| Charging | 66W wired50W wireless7.5W reverse wireless5W reverse wired |
| Software | EMUI 15 (International), HarmonyOS 4.3 (China) |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 156.6 x 144.1 x 4.6 mmFolded: 156.6 x 73.8 x 9.9 mm |
| Weight | 239 g (8.43 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, nylon fiber or silicone polymer back (eco leather), aluminum frame |
| Durability | IPX8 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) Aerospace-grade aluminum |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2 |
Huawei Mate X6 FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Mate X6 support 5G?
Yes. The Mate X6 supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Mate X6 use?
The Mate X6 runs on the Kirin 9020 (7 nm).
What display does the Mate X6 have?
A 7.93 inches, 202.1 cm2 (~91.5% screen-to-body ratio) Foldable LTPO OLED, 1B colors, 120Hz, HDR Vivid, 1800 nits (peak), 2240 x 2440 pixels (~418 ppi density).
How big is the Mate X6 battery?
The Mate X6 has a 5200 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 66W wired50W wireless7.5W reverse wireless5W reverse wired.
Does the Mate X6 have NFC?
Yes, the Mate X6 has NFC.
Is the Mate X6 water resistant?
The Mate X6 carries a IPX8 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) Aerospace-grade aluminum rating.
Does the Mate X6 support a microSD card?
No, the Mate X6 does not support expandable storage.
Does the Mate X6 have a headphone jack?
No, the Mate X6 does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Mate X6 isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Mate 80
Mate 70 Air
Mate XTs Ultimate
Mate XT Ultimate
Pixel 9 Pro
