Want to see into the future? Here it is: The Huawei Mate X is the folding smartphone we’ve all been hoping would arrive, and within a few months it’ll be here. With a frightening price tag, a highly desirable design, and even a 5G connection, this is our first proper look at the future smartphone.
I sat down in my seat, probably looking quite shell-shocked, as Huawei CEO Richard Yu prepared to answer questions from the select group of journalists in front of him. The trouble was, my mind had gone blank. The questions I intended to ask had evaporated. My preparation was worthless.
The only thing I could think of was raising my hand and asking, “Can I have another go, please?”
I’d just tried the Huawei Mate X folding smartphone, and it was so sensational I had forgotten my job.
I spent a short while with the Mate X in the company of Yu, who spoke enthusiastically about it throughout that time, either using it myself or watching others use it.
“We have been working on this for three years,” Yu said, smiling as he demonstrated the Mate X. “It’s the most difficult smartphone project we’ve had up until now.”
Difficult it must have been, but the work has paid off in spades. Forget any worries about the Mate X being shown only behind glass, or at arm’s length because it was a prototype — this is a seemingly finished product with all the polish you’d expect. Being handed the Huawei Mate X felt like an occasion — like picking up the keys to a supercar. It looks and feels so different from anything else — it’s oddly confusing, but not in a frightening way, but rather a new, dramatic one.
The phone was folded, so the first thing I did was try to unfold it. There’s no obvious grip point, because the screen folds over on itself, and the edge fits flush with the bar running down the side. To open the Mate X you press a button on that bar, and the rear screen section pops out ready for the phone to be completely unfolded. Because it’s such a new experience, it was hard to know how to hold it, and where to grip at this stage. This is something that will change with use, but proves just how different the Mate X (and all foldable smartphones) are to our normal smartphone today.
Closed, the Mate X feels quite thick compared to other modern smartphones, but at 11mm it’s not obtrusive, nor does it feel like you’re picking up a phone book. The thickness makes it feel a little heavy, but it’s mostly an illusion, as unfolded the Mate X is very light, and almost perfectly balanced. That edge bar really does work for grip, and makes the phone simple, natural, and comfortable to hold in one hand.
The open display is perfect for watching movies, looking at photos, reading books, or general media consumption. Like a tablet though, it didn’t feel natural to do anything like typing while holding it with one hand. However, like understanding where to grip the phone, learning new ways to use and interact with a folding smartphone comes with the territory. Examining the screen also put our mind to rest about the quality of the plastic screen itself. It’s smooth with no immediately noticeable ripples, bumps, or imperfections, and the viewing angles are great.
