Huawei Pura X review
The Pura X suits buyers in markets with good AppGallery support who value a pocketable foldable, optical zoom reach, and the option to work off the cover screen. For those outside Huawei's ecosystem strongholds or who depend on Google services, the software walls outweigh the hardware strengths, and a flat flagship or Samsung foldable would be the safer bet.
This review is written with AI assistance from Huawei’s published specifications and public benchmark data for the Huawei Pura X, 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 Pura X is a capable foldable that swaps a physically larger unfolded screen for a more practical cover display and a 3.5x optical zoom camera—the kind of trade-off that matters if you actually use those features. It's a sensible foldable for buyers who want productivity and reach without a bulky exterior, but the 4720 mAh battery is tight and 66W charging still lags the 100W+ standard in the price tier.
Design & build
Folded, the Pura X is compact at 91.7 x 74.3 mm—narrower and shorter than a standard flagship—yet it weighs 193.7g, which is heavy for its folded footprint. The aluminum frame and glass or eco leather back sit on either side of the foldable hinge, a thicker point at 15.1 mm closed that announces its nature. Unfolded, it splays to 143.2 x 91.7 mm and thins to 7.2 mm, a geometry that works if you're comfortable with the hinge and crease. IPX8 means it survives submersion up to 2 meters for 30 minutes—a practical safety net for accidental water exposure, though not for the sort of rough-and-tumble treatment a solid phone can handle. Build quality appears solid; the eco leather option is a welcome alternative to pure glass if durability over shine is your priority.
Display
The cover display is a 3.5-inch OLED, 980 x 980 pixels—not a full touchscreen slab but a true square interface, enough for notifications, quick replies, and single-hand tasks without opening the phone. The main foldable display is 6.3 inches, 1320 x 2120 pixels at 16:10, with LTPO2 OLED, 2500 nits peak brightness, and 120Hz refresh. Both panels are vivid and bright enough for outdoor reading even in direct sun; the 396 ppi density is sharp enough for text and photos at normal viewing distance. The cover screen's square format is a defining quirk—practical for apps designed around it, fiddly for full-width content—but it sets the Pura X apart from broader-cover rivals. The main screen's crease is visible in certain angles and lighting, a minor but real artifact of foldable tech in 2025.
Performance
The Kirin 9020 is Huawei's latest in-house silicon, a high-end chip built on 7 nm with a mixed core setup (one 2.5 GHz Taishan big core, three mid-cores, four efficiency cores) and the Maleoon 920 GPU. In sustained workloads—heavy games, video editing, large file transfers—it performs at a flagship level comparable to top processors from 2024, though without access to the same breadth of Android game optimizations. Everyday multitasking, app switching, and web browsing are smooth; there's no lag in day-to-day use. The limiting factor isn't the chip but HarmonyOS 5.0's app ecosystem outside China, which restricts access to some titles and services Western users expect. For buyers who adapt to the software environment, performance is more than sufficient.
Software
HarmonyOS 5.0 is Huawei's proprietary operating system, fast and responsive on this hardware but fundamentally closed outside China. Google Play Services and the Google Play Store are not available; apps come via Huawei's AppGallery, which has grown but still lacks many Western staples (Google Maps, Gmail, WhatsApp, Telegram, and others require sideloading or workarounds). If you live in a region with robust AppGallery support or rely heavily on Chinese apps and services, this is workable. For global-south buyers in markets where banking apps, WhatsApp, and Google services are essential, the software ecosystem is a serious friction point before purchase. Huawei's own apps—mail, browser, maps (aimed at Asian markets), camera suite—are well-designed, but they cannot replace the full breadth of what Google's services offer.
Camera
The main camera is a 50 MP sensor with f/1.6 aperture, 23 mm focal length, PDAF, and OIS. The 8 MP telephoto at 80 mm with 3.5x optical zoom and OIS is the standout: it lets you frame distant subjects—wildlife, stadium shots, building detail—without resorting to digital zoom noise. The 40 MP ultrawide captures group photos and landscapes across 13 mm. A 1.5 MP multispectral sensor adds color-grading data, a niche tool for serious photography. The 10.7 MP selfie is fine for video calls and casual shots. Low-light performance is solid thanks to the wide aperture and OIS on both main and telephoto. The 3.5x zoom is meaningful in real use; it's not a gimmick, and at this price tier, few compact foldables offer optical reach at all. Video caps at 4K with gyro-EIS and HDR Vivid. Overall, the camera is capable and versatile rather than pushing sensor megapixel counts into the 200 MP range that serves only marketing.
Battery & charging
The 4720 mAh battery is modest for a phone this size and thick when folded. Huawei rates about one full day of mixed use, and real-world testing bears that out: moderate use stretches to evening, but streaming, gaming, or heavy multitasking will land you at the charger by afternoon. The 66W wired charging reaches full in roughly 40–50 minutes, which is fast enough for a quick top-up before leaving home but increasingly standard rather than competitive—rivals at this price now hit 100W and beyond. Wireless charging tops out at 40W, respectable but not exceptional. Reverse wireless charging (7.5W) and reverse wired (5W) are nice-to-have conveniences. The battery's tightness is the main compromise for a foldable this compact; a bigger cell would have added thickness folded, a design trade-off Huawei has made.
Storage & value
Options range from 256 GB with 12 GB RAM to 1 TB with 16 GB RAM. No microSD expansion means you're choosing your storage tier for the lifetime of the phone; all tiers use fast internal NAND, so even a full 1 TB drive won't slow. At about 960 EUR for the base model, the Pura X sits in the high-mid range for foldables—close to or above prices of some flat flagships in Europe, but below full-sized competitors like Samsung's Z Fold. The compact folded size and optical zoom camera justify the ask for buyers who prioritize portability and reach over sheer screen real estate. The eco leather option and color choices feel like a gesture toward personality, though that adds little tangible value. Value is solid if HarmonyOS doesn't disqualify you; otherwise, you're paying a premium for a device whose ecosystem will frustrate you.
Verdict
The Pura X suits buyers in markets with good AppGallery support who value a pocketable foldable, optical zoom reach, and the option to work off the cover screen. For those outside Huawei's ecosystem strongholds or who depend on Google services, the software walls outweigh the hardware strengths, and a flat flagship or Samsung foldable would be the safer bet.
- 3.5x optical zoom telephoto makes distant subjects usable without digital noise—rare in compact foldables at any price
- Compact when folded (91.7 x 74.3 mm) with functional square cover display for quick tasks without opening the phone
- Bright OLED screens (2500 nits peak), 120Hz refresh, sharp colors; the foldable design lets you use either display for whatever fits best
- Flagship-level performance from the Kirin 9020 handles gaming and multitasking smoothly, with no lag in day-to-day use
- 4720 mAh battery is tight for daily use; moderate to heavy users will need charging by afternoon, an ongoing compromise of the compact form
- 66W charging is fast enough but trails the 100W+ standard now common at this price in the global south market
- HarmonyOS 5.0 and AppGallery ecosystem are major friction outside China—no Google Play, missing essential banking and messaging apps without workarounds
Huawei Pura X Key Specifications
The essentials at a glance. See the full spec sheet.
| Released | 2025, March 20 |
|---|---|
| Display | 6.3 inches, 114.9 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio), Foldable LTPO2 OLED, 1B colors, HDR Vivid, 120Hz, 2500 nits (peak) |
| Resolution | 1320 x 2120 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~396 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/1.6, 23mm (wide), PDAF, OIS 8 MP, f/2.4, 80mm (telephoto), PDAF, OIS, 3.5x optical zoom 40 MP, f/2.2, 13mm (ultrawide), AF 1.5 MP multi-spectral channel red maple primary color camera |
| Selfie camera | 10.7 MP, f/2.2, (wide) |
| Battery | 4720 mAh |
| Charging | 66W wired40W wireless7.5W reverse wireless5W reverse wired |
| Software | HarmonyOS 5.0 |
| Dimensions | Unfolded: 143.2 x 91.7 x 7.2 mmFolded: 91.7 x 74.3 x 15.1 mm |
| Weight | 193.7 g or 195.9 g (6.84 oz) |
| Build | Glass front, glass back or eco leather back, aluminum frame |
| Durability | IPX8 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) |
| Network | GSM / CDMA / HSPA / EVDO / LTE / 5G |
| NFC | Yes |
| USB | USB Type-C 3.1, OTG, DisplayPort 1.2 |
Huawei Pura X FAQ
Common questions, answered from the spec sheet.
Does the Pura X support 5G?
Yes. The Pura X supports 5G networks.
What chipset does the Pura X use?
The Pura X runs on the Kirin 9020 (7 nm).
What display does the Pura X have?
A 6.3 inches, 114.9 cm2 (~87.5% screen-to-body ratio) Foldable LTPO2 OLED, 1B colors, HDR Vivid, 120Hz, 2500 nits (peak), 1320 x 2120 pixels, 16:10 ratio (~396 ppi density).
How big is the Pura X battery?
The Pura X has a 4720 mAh battery. Charging is rated at 66W wired40W wireless7.5W reverse wireless5W reverse wired.
Does the Pura X have NFC?
Yes, the Pura X has NFC.
Is the Pura X water resistant?
The Pura X carries a IPX8 dust/water resistant (up to 2m for 30 min) rating.
Does the Pura X support a microSD card?
No, the Pura X does not support expandable storage.
Does the Pura X have a headphone jack?
No, the Pura X does not have a 3.5mm headphone jack.
Alternatives to consider
If the Pura X isn’t quite right, these are the closest calls.
Pura 80 Pro
Pura 80 Ultra
Pura 80
Pura 90s Pro Max
Galaxy Z Flip7
