Huawei Announces the $2,600 Foldable Mate X Smartphone: It Folds Outwards!

[Megalith]

Samsung, hold my beer: Huawei has unveiled its own vision for the foldable smartphone, the Mate X. Unlike the Galaxy Fold, Huawei’s contraption folds out on itself: “its display wraps around the outer sides of the handset when it is in a folded state.” Keeping the 8-inch, 2480 x 2200 AMOLED panel and pieces together is a patented hinge with over 100 components, the “Falcon Hinge.” It also supports 5G and incorporates a 4,500mAh battery.

When unfolded, it's not one uniform slab — it's a 5.4 mm (0.21 in) thick tablet with an 11 mm (0.43 in) bulging strip located in the rightmost part of its back. It works sort of like a handle, giving you more meat to hold on to, and also houses the phone's triple camera sensor. When it folds, the "back" display meets with the bulge to make for a uniform shape all around, giving you an 11 mm (0.43 in) thick handset.

 

[SpeedyVV]

If I win the lottery jackpot, I'll buy one.

 

[rtangwai]

When unfolded, it's not one uniform slab — it's a 5.4 mm (0.21 in) thick tablet with an 11 mm (0.43 in) bulging strip located in the rightmost part of its back. It works sort of like a handle, giving you more meat to hold on to

I'm sorry but I am *NOT* holding Huawei's meat no matter how good the phone is.

 

[homernoy]

I can't imagine that the plastic will hold up long with heavy use. I've never had a plastic hinge not crack, the most recent was a lid for the water tank on my espresso machine (definitely not heavily used).

 

[SticKx911]

Why does it have to be huawei? That is actually a nice design and I could get behind that concept over Samsungs.

There’s no notch!

 

[piscian18]

mmm Im interested but Im not sure if Im eligible with my citizen score.

 

[Aireoth]

Nice use of stolen tech

 

[caddys83]

huawei? Lol they can stay in China

 

[PaulP]

I guess I understand the reason it folds backwards - to allow the main display to be used even when it's folded (to avoid the need for a second display like the Galaxy Fold) - but that also means that the expensive folding display is not protected when it is folded. With this phone no matter how you put it in your pocket, the display will be facing outwards.

 

[trparky]

Huawei? They can keep that shit! I wouldn't use a Huawei phone even if you paid me.

 

[Disco_Stu_04]

The screen is going to get scratched to hell.

It'll probably require the use of a soft carrying bag. Similar to sunglasses.

 

[Deleted member 89137]

I can't help but notice that at certain angles you can see a bulge in the center of the unfolded screen, like there is loose plastic wrap over it or something. Looks like that would drive me crazy. Also what is covering the screen? It can't be glass, since glass doesn't flex. So it's probably some plastic coating?


Also its Huawei so no thanks.

 

[TheOne&OnlyZeke]

Y'all scared of Huawei.
Anyway
I like the design. The spine to hold when it's open is a great idea.
Much better then Samsung
And the Royale phone looks like crap compared to either

 

[PenGunn]

Too much for me. I'll just get the P30 Pro in a month or so.

You Chicken Littles are amusing.

 

[TheOne&OnlyZeke]

I've the P20 Pro, but I have to admit, I want rid of it.
The stock launcher, you can't make the icons small enough ( 5 across)
I've used Nova and now trying the Microsoft launcher. I get some mad lag at times.
Soured my view of it

 

[mwallek]

$2600 is absurd, an effing phone.

 

[glutto]

My car is worth that much.

 

[Sonicks]

Looks very neat as a prototype. The way you can see the uneveness of the fold in the glare of light is nuts. Not only does that mean it's a plastic-like material but it's a very thin one with a good amount of slack for the hinge. Again, neat tech but as an actual product for that price it seems unpolished/unfinished.

I guess there's always got to be a first gen for everything. I do think once all the kinks are worked out (pun intended) that foldable screens will be the norm years from now.

 

[Deleted member 89137]

$2600 is absurd, an effing phone.

I mean it's really not just a phone... Like saying your $2000 computer is "just a emailing machine"

That said this is like a hypercar of a phone. Probably won't sell very well,

 

[gwarren007]

Waiting on the 10k phone to go on my 10k desk......

 

[hurleybird]

No headphone jack no deal

 

[gwarren007]

No headphone jack no deal

Get with the times old man. Everything is going wireless.

 

[Aireoth]

Get with the times old man. Everything is going wireless.

Including brains.

 

[The Mad Atheist]

Cell Wars: Attack of the folds.....

 

[haste.]

my tungsten wedding ring has a date with scratched screens with this bad boy.

 

[Oldmodder]

Nope based on the phone and not the brand

 

[NickJames]

My office has banned Huawei products so I don't think I'll be getting one anytime soon. Looks way better than Samsungs product though.

 

[steakman1971]

I'm curious to see the durability of these folding screens. I don't see them lasting from a lot of opening/closing.
I'm still not sure about the idea. I guess I like it (assuming the screen lasts) - normal phone when I'm making calls, etc. On the bus/plane - I could unfold it and watch a bigger screen or maybe try to do some work. Wouldn't need to carry a tablet.

 

[Deleted member 89137]

anyone else notice this bubble in the middle?

 

[mullet]

The best spy phone ever made.

 

[BloodyIron]

The whole foldable screen thing has some facets I think gone completely un-realized:

1. How the fuck are you going to put a screen protector on that?
2. How the fuck are you going to get a protective case for that?
3. How are you going to replace a battery in that?

Like seriously, the concept is something that is going to be worthwhile long-term, but there's some pretty serious oversights here, not just by Huawei but by others too.

You pretty much can never drop these phones, and have nothing else in your pocket you put it in, otherwise it's going to be scratched to hell.

 

[Tweak42]

Meh, it's a glimpse 4 years into the future. As in maybe by then the price and tech will be ready for common consumers by then.

 

[Cyraxx]

Meh, don't care. Only thing notable is 5G.

Outside of that I honestly don't care. Something tells me the folding will get boring after a while... and I mean... at this point it's mostly a tablet phone combo.

 

[Sparky]

No protection when folded this way.

 

[odditory]

It Folds Outwards!

That's what she said.

 

[Red Falcon]

mmm Im interested but Im not sure if Im eligible with my citizen score.

This.

 

[JDanser]

Since there's obviously no way to get any sort of protective case on it, that's a fuckered screen the first time you manage to drop the thing.

 

[Calavaro]

What is it with all the hate towards Huawei?
I have seen some articles on the subject, but they are very very thin on fact, and very heavy on FUD and "feelings"

Show me one verifiable thing I can try myself if Huawei is spying on the user through their phones. I have access to almost any Huawei phone model and can test to see if they actually harvest, store and send data to their servers.

 

[Oldmodder]

bubble in the middle

o yes i did

 

[JargonGR]

Am I the only one who couldn't care less about these foldable phones? Then again I don't care about phones in general and buy one iPhone every 4-5 years when iOS stops updating. I am still on a 6S Plus and don't feel like I am missing something.....I hate small screens for anything serious though..