Huawei Mate X6 review – Power and durability in a sleek foldable smartphone

Ultra-slim, seriously tough, and packed with an exceptional camera – the Huawei Mate X6 is a foldable smartphone built not just to impress, but to perform and to support everyday life’s demands.

With significant enhancements in durability, display quality, camera technology, and multitasking capabilities, the Mate X6 stands out as a practical and powerful tool for users who need more from their mobile device.

• Click here for more info about the Huawei Mate X6

These were our impressions after Huawei sent us the Mate X6 to review, and we spent a few days testing it.

A durable foldable

When it comes to foldable smartphones, one of the biggest concerns for many is durability.

Thankfully, for Huawei, this was a key focus point of the Mate X6 design.

The chassis, hinge, and display all offer extensive durability upgrades over previous generations.

Starting with robust internals, Huawei improved the chassis stiffness by 65%, while the middle frame is 37% stronger thanks to aviation-grade aluminium.

This ensures it withstands drops and impacts – and this robustness extends to the display as well.

The exterior screen is protected by robust Kunlun Glass 2.0, which is 25 times more drop resistant than the previous generation of Kunlun Glass.

The innovative hinge is also tough thanks to ultra-high-strength steel.

These features ensure that the Huawei Mate X6 easily withstands day-to-day wear and tear and provide it with a 30-minute, two-metre depth IPX8 water resistance rating.

Even with this impressive durability, Huawei managed to cram the Mate X6 into an incredibly slim chassis measuring just 4.6mm when unfolded and 9.85mm when folded.

As a result, the Huawei Mate X6 is great for work and play.

Maximum display area

This durable chassis houses two stunning OLED displays which both offer 1-120Hz adaptive refresh rates and 1,440Hz high-frequency PWM dimming for superior eye comfort.

When the Huawei Mate X6 is folded, you can use its 6.45-inch exterior display, which offers a potent 2,500 nits of brightness – great for outdoor use.

You can then unfold it to reveal the expansive 7.93-inch 2K display, which offers extensive multitasking capabilities with up to three apps open side-by-side.

Putting this display to the test, we found that it performed exceptionally well. From smooth scrolling on social media to easy viewing in bright outdoor conditions, the OLED technology ensured exceptional views.

Ultra Chroma Camera

The camera is a standout feature of the Mate X6, offering four rear sensors and two 8MP front-facing sensors.

On the rear array, you will find a powerful set up comprising the following:

• 50MP Ultra Aperture lens – variable aperture F1.4-F4.0
• 40MP Ultra-wide-angle lens – F2.0
• 48MP Telephoto Macro lens – F3.0, 4x optical zoom, 100x digital zoom
• 1.5 Million Spectral Channel Ultra Chroma sensor

Together, these lenses produce exceptional photos in any setting.

The Ultra Chroma sensor provides breathtaking colour accuracy thanks to its 1,500,000 spectral channels, together with XD Fusion, which detects and configures colours in your captures to ensure every hue is true-to-life.

It’s also easy to reach distant subjects thanks to the powerful Telephoto Macro lens, which supports close-up shots of 5cm and long-distance shots.

Features like Ultra Speed Snapshot and the adjustable physical aperture then give you superior creative control over your images.

Operation and performance

While the massive 7.93-inch display is perfectly built for multitasking, it’s not the only feature that is great for this.

EMUI 15 offers extensive multitasking capabilities, letting you run up to three apps simultaneously on the large display, using vertical splits and floating windows for an efficient workflow.

What’s even more impressive is how seamlessly WhatsApp and Google apps run on the Huawei Mate X6.

From checking Gmail while replying to a WhatsApp message, to navigating with Google Maps while streaming music on YouTube, the experience is smooth and lag-free.

Thanks to the robust software support, you don’t need to compromise on your favorite apps — they work just like you’d expect.

All of this combines to make the Mate X6 a true multitasking companion, ideal for those who need flexibility, power, and familiarity in one sleek foldable device.

This multitasking is also supported by powerful hardware, too.

An octa-core Kirin 9020 processor coupled with 12GB RAM ensures potent performance even when you’re running multiple apps at a time.

Keeping it powered up is a 5,110mAh battery with 66W Huawei SuperCharge and 50W Wireless Huawei SuperCharge for fast charging.

A foldable for everyday life

The Huawei Mate X6 sets a new benchmark for foldable smartphones by combining durability, functionality, and performance.

It’s a device designed not just to impress, but to serve as a reliable companion in daily life.

For South Africans seeking a foldable smartphone that doesn’t compromise on practicality, the Mate X6 stands out as a compelling choice.

• Click here to get the Huawei Mate X6.

The specs of the Huawei Mate X6 are listed in the table below.