Huawei Mate X3: A Thinner, Lighter Foldable Smartphone With Impressive Features

The Mate X3 Release

The Mate X3, Huawei’s latest foldable smartphone, has been released in China. This book-style foldable phone boasts two 120Hz-capable displays, measuring 6.4 inches on the outside and 7.85 inches on the inside. It is much lighter than its rivals, weighing only 239g and measuring only 5.3mm thick when unfurled. The Mate X3 also includes a periscope zoom camera, making it a well-rounded alternative for photographers. Huawei’s latest foldable phone is water-resistant to the same IPX8 rating as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4, making it the first non-Samsung folding phone to do so.

Innovation

The Mate X3’s innovative hinge design tucks the foldable display in on itself, allowing the phone to close flat. The hinge supports the phone from numerous angles, making it easier to take selfies without a tripod. The phone now has a split-screen mode for video calls and streaming videos, as well as a new nightstand mode that displays the weather and clock. The Mate X3 features two 8MP selfie cameras, one on each screen, as well as a triple camera on the back that includes a 50MP f/1.8 wide camera, a 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide camera, and a 12MP f/3.4 5x telephoto shooter.

The Mate X3 is powered by a Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 CPU with 12GB of RAM and runs Harmony OS 3.1. The smartphone boasts a big 4,800mAh battery and supports 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. The Mate X3 is currently only available in China, with the 256GB model starting at CNY 12,999 ($1,999, converted).

Huawei Mate X3 Features & Specifications

Feature	Specification
Weight	239g (241g for Feathered Sand model)
Thickness (unfolded)	5.3mm
Displays	Two 120Hz-capable displays: 6.4-inch cover screen and 7.85-inch inner screen
Resolution	Cover screen: 2504x1080px; Inner screen: 2496x2224px
Aspect Ratio	Cover screen: 20.9:9; Inner screen: 8:7.1
Water Resistance	IPX8 (first non-Samsung folding phone to achieve this)
Camera	Triple camera on the back: 50MP f/1.8 wide, 13MP f/2.2 ultrawide, and 12MP f/3.4 5x telephoto; two 8MP selfie cameras (one on each screen)
Operating System	Harmony OS 3.1
Processor	Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1
RAM	12GB
Connectivity	4G (no 5G modems due to company ban)
Battery	4,800mAh with 66W wired and 50W wireless charging support
Storage	Starts at 256GB; double storage costs more; top 1TB trim is the most expensive
Availability	China-only, no word on global availability

With the Mate X3, Huawei has once again pushed the frontiers of smartphone technology. The company’s new foldable phone is an impressive engineering feat with the added benefit of water resistance. The Mate X3 is lighter than its competitors and comes with a periscope zoom camera, making it a fantastic choice for photographers. The new hinge design is also impressive, allowing the phone to fold flat and be easily transported wherever you go.

The Huawei Mate X3’s global availability is unknown, but its release in China is guaranteed to pique the excitement of tech fans worldwide. The device competes well with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold4 and may even outperform it in several areas, such as weight and water resistance. While the Mate X3 is expensive, those looking for cutting-edge technology in a foldable phone may find it worthwhile to invest.