Pocketnow Daily: Google Pixel 5a LEAKED: Better but.. BORING?! (video)

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Galaxy S21 series is $200 off at Amazon, or get a new iPhone SE for free right now

Apple’s latest 16-inch MacBook Pro, Microsoft Surface laptops and more are also on sale

The official news today begin with deals, starting with Samsung. The Galaxy S21 Series is currently 200 dollars off on Amazon.. Yes, the new phones that just launched. That means you can get the S21+ for just 799 or the S21 Ultra for 999 dollars. If you’re looking for more Samsung deals and have a device to trade-in, we still have those deals where you can find the S21 Ultra for as low as 400 dollars in the links in the description. Moving on to laptops, the 16 inch MacBook Pro is currently 350 dollars off on Amazon, meaning it starts at 2450 dollars.. But I’d recommend you stick around before you pull that trigger cause we’ve got hot news coming on what’s next. If you’re more of a windows guy, the Razer Blade Stealth 13 is currently 400 dollars off, meaning it starts at just 1300 dollars which is a pretty good deal. Best Buy also has the Surface Laptop 3 for 400 dollars off, leaving it at just 900 dollars. We have more deals on LG TVs, Amazon Fire TV products, other Samsung smartphones and more, in the links in the description.


Huawei Mate X2 goes official with a Galaxy Fold-like inward-folding design

Let’s move on to Huawei as, we’ve been expecting the Mate X2 for quite some time now and it’s finally out, and yes, it looks like a Galaxy Z Fold 2, but this is actually a different story. It features a new inward folding design with an 8 inch main OLED Display running at 90Hz refresh rate. On the cover, you’re getting a 6.45 inch display running at 90Hz as well. This phone is powered by the Kirin 9000 SoC along with 8GB of RAM and up to 512GB of internal storage. When it comes to the camera, you get a 50MP main sensor, a 16MP Ultra Wide, a 12MP Telephoto with 3x Optical Zoom, along with an 8MP “Super Zoom” Camera that supports 10x optical zoom. Of course, you get your typical set of features like Pro Modes, Tracking Shots, High-Res and more. On this phone you’re also getting a 4500 mAh and 55W fast charging and yes, it is sadly exclusive for China and it doesn’t have Google Services. Thing is, the other reason why it’s different is because if you do the math, this phone costs a crazy $2775.. Yeah, high-end MacBook Pro territory, and I’m trying to figure out why.

AirPods 3 leaked images allegedly show off an in-ear design akin to the AirPods Pro

Let’s talk about Cupertino and their upcoming March Event as we get closer. Last week we covered how we could be getting new iPad Pros, AirTags, maybe an iPad mini and maybe some new AirPods. Over the weekend Jon Prosser made a video on the products his sources have told him we’re getting and that includes, iPad Pros, AirTags and a Magic Keyboard for that iPad Pro. However, he didn’t rule out the fact that we could get more things, he just wasn’t aware at the time. Well, going back to those AirPods, we have some new leaked schematics, showing off the new design. As the previous leaks claimed, these are taking design cues from the current AirPods Pro which is very welcomed if you ask me. They bring the black pressure sensitive touch input area, and the pressure relief vents at the top as well. They are also expected to support Spatial Audio but, Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode won’t be making the cut to separate them more from the Pros. Apparently the price tag will be $150 and this leak also claims that they will debut in March so we’ll see if we get them at the event.

MacBook Pro with SD card slot, HDMI port to launch in H2 of 2021

Sticking to Apple for another segment let’s talk MacBook Pro and I actually had to read this report twice because it sounds too good to be true. See MacBooks Pros have historically been criticized for repeatedly killing ports that Pros *actually* use, but just like we’ve seen with the iPhone, seriously it’s as if Apple finally listens. According to a new report from non-other than Ming Chi Kuo, Cupertino plans to release 2 new MacBook Pro models that, hear this, come equipped with an HDMI port and an SD Card reader.. A full throwback to the 2012 model, and I really hope I’m reading this right. Kuo mentions that we should expect these two new MacBook Pro models in the second half of 2021 that will have several significant design and specification changes. Of course, the SD Card reader was rumored last month but, this is the first time we’re hearing about this dedicated HDMI port. So, we’re expecting new 14 inch and 16 inch variants of the MacBook Pro, both powered by Apple Silicon. These are also tipped to feature brighter, higher-contrast panels, probably thanks to new mini-LED panels and MagSafe could be making a return to laptops as well which could apparently make them charge faster. We don’t know exactly how much they plan to scale back the USB-C ports but, I feel like 4 USB-C ports along with these new leaked ones are pretty reasonable, and especially at how high Apple prices these computers.

Story of the day:

Google Pixel 5a leak shows a familiar design with an upgraded dual rear camera setup

Yes.. It’s finally time. We’ve had a running joke with Diego about the fact that it’s been way too long since we’ve gotten any Pixel leaks.. And they’re finally here, though I’m not exactly sure how excited we should be. We have some new renders from OnLeaks that apparently belong to the Pixel 5a and in typical Pixel fashion, there’s nothing left to the imagination here. As yes, it brings pretty much the exact same design as the Pixel 4a.. Sort of. According to the leaks, this is a 6.2 inch OLED display at FHD+ resolution but, it is still unclear if Google will stick to 60Hz or make the jump to at least 90Hz refresh rate here. At the back, the little stove is making a return but this time we’re getting a dual camera module, finally. In typical Google fashion we should expect the same hardware we get on the Pixel 5 with a 12MP main sensor and a 16MP ultra wide. From the leaks you can see that we’re getting the same punch hole, same fingerprint scanner at the back and the headphone jack is still here! Apparently we should expect the Pixel 5a to come out some time in August this year, maybe with Android 12 as that’s when we should expect the first stable build. So yeah, it seems we’ll be getting a smaller Pixel 4a 5G in every which way you can think of, unless Google plans to fix things under the hood, and it’s not like if the company is famous for that.

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The post Pocketnow Daily: Google Pixel 5a LEAKED: Better but.. BORING?! (video) appeared first on Pocketnow.

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Huawei Mate X2 vs Huawei Mate X: What’s different?

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Huawei unveiled its latest foldable smartphone, the Mate X2 recently. The device features a new design language and is vastly different from its predecessor. It comes with an inward-foldable design rather than featuring the outward-folding design found on the Mate X. While it is an expensive phone, you don’t get features like wireless charging and a selfie shooter on the inside. Here are the other major differences between the two Huawei foldable in our Huawei Mate X2 vs Huawei Mate X: Specs comparison.

Huawei Mate X2 vs Huawei Mate X: Specs

Huawei Mate X2 Huawei Mate X
Display Interior: 8″ OLED, 90Hz, 180Hz touch sampling rate,
2480 x 2200 Pixels, 413 PPI

Exterior: 6.45″ OLED, 90Hz, 240Hz touch response rate,
2700 x 1160 Pixels, 456 PPI

8″ foldable OLED
2200 x 2480 pixels 
(~414 ppi density) 
60Hz
Processor Kirin 9000 (5nm) Kirin 980 (7nm)
RAM 8GB 8GB
Storage 256GB / 512GB 512GB
Cameras Rear:
50 MP Ultra Vision Camera 
(Wide Angle, f/1.9 aperture, OIS)
16 MP Cine Camera 
(Ultra-Wide Angle, f/2.2 aperture)
12 MP Telephoto Camera 
(3x Optical Zoom, f/2.4 aperture, OIS)
8 MP SuperZoom Camera 
(10x Optical Zoom, f/4.4 aperture, OIS), support AF

Front:
16 MP Selfie Camera 
(Wide Angle, f/2.2)

Main:
40MP primary
(f/1.8, 27mm, 1/1.7″, PDAF)
8MP telephoto 
(f/2.4, 52mm, 2x optical zoom)
16MP ultra-wide-angle
(f/2.2, 17mm)
Battery 4500mAh with 55W fast charging 4500mAh with 55W fast charging
Weight 295 grams 295 grams

Design and Display: Vastly different

As mentioned above, the Huawei Mate X2 is the exact opposite of the predecessor in terms of design. The device features an inward-folding display instead of an outward folding one found on the Mate X. With the latter, Huawei had its display always exposed to the elements, hence prone to wear and tear. However, Samsung protected its foldable display and included a second, outer display. Now, the Chinese company has shifted to Samsung’s foldable approach. The Mate X2 uses a glass front, glass back and aluminum frame, whereas theMate X uses a plastic front, and aluminum back and frame.

The Huawei Mate X2 features an 8-inch foldable inner OLED display, which comes with a 2480 x 2200 pixel resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate at 413 PPI. There is a 6.45-inch outer display with a 90Hz refresh rate, 2700 x 1160 pixel resolution, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate at 456 PPI. On the other hand, the HUAWEI Mate X comes equipped with a single 8-inch display that can be folded to form a 6.6-inch display. You get a 2200 x 2480 pixel resolution at 414 PPI when unfolded.

Performance and Battery

The Huawei Mate X2 foldable is powered by its Kirin 9000 SoC (based on 5nm process). The chipset is based on the 5nm process and employs a 1+3+4 tri-cluster core design. It is the most powerful Huawei smartphone alongside the Huawei Mate 40 and Mate 40 Pro.

HUAWEI Mate Xs

The Kirin 9000 SoC features a Cortex-A77 based prime core clocked at 3.13GHz, three high-performance Cortex-A77 based cores ticking at 2.54GHz, and three Cortex-A55 based efficiency cores running at 2.05GHz. Moreover, the graphics are managed by a 24-core Mali-G78 GPU. On the other hand, the Huawei Mate X is powered by the Kirin 980 SoC based on the 7nm process. Both the devices pack a 4,500mAh battery with support for 55W Huawei SuperCharge fast charging.

Cameras: The Mate X2 takes the cake

The HUAWEI Mate X2 sports a quad rear camera setup. There is a 50MP Ultra Vision Camera (Wide Angle, f/1.9 aperture, OIS) primary camera. It is accompanied by a 16MP Cine Camera (Ultra-Wide Angle, f/2.2 aperture), a 12MP Telephoto Camera (3x Optical Zoom, f/2.4 aperture, OIS), and an 8MP SuperZoom Camera (10x Optical Zoom, f/4.4 aperture, OIS) that supports AF. The camera features include Story Creator, Tracking Shot, Steady Shot, Audio Zoom, High-res, Time-Lapse, Ultra Wide Angle Lens, among others. On the front, lies a 16MP selfie shooter.

Huawei Mate X2 vs Huawei Mate X

In contrast, you get a triple rear camera setup on the Mate X. It sports a 40MP primary camera (f/1.8, 27mm, 1/1.7″, PDAF), which is accompanied by an 8MP telephoto lens (f/2.4, 52mm, 2x optical zoom), and a 16MP ultra-wide-angle shooter (f/2.2, 17mm). You also get a TOF 3D camera.

Huawei Mate X2 vs Huawei Mate X: Price

The Huawei Mate X2 starts at 17,999 Yuan (~USD 2,775) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant, and 18,999 Yuan (~USD 2,939) for the 512GB model. On the other hand, the Mate X 16,999 yuan (a little over $2,400).

The post Huawei Mate X2 vs Huawei Mate X: What’s different? appeared first on Pocketnow.

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HUAWEI Mate X2 vs HAUWEI Mate Xs: What has changed?

HUAWEI is back with a new foldable – the Mate X2. And boy, is this some return to form. Unlike the Mate Xs, which was just a minor refresh, the HUAWEI Mate X2 takes a whole new approach when it comes to the company’s foldable device design philosophy, and comes equipped with some seriously impressive internals which make it arguably the most powerful foldable phone in the market right now. Wondering about all the changes HUAWEI has made this generation compared to the Mate Xs? Have a look:

Design: A new chapter starts with HUAWEI Mate X2

Unlike the HUAWEI Mate Xs that had an outward folding design based on a single foldable panel, the HUAWEI Mate X2 takes some inspiration from Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold2 and comes rocking an inward-folding design with a dual-display approach. The metallic chassis is still there, but the asymmetrically folding display is gone in a favor of a symmetrical folding design language with minimal gap between the two halves when the device is folded.

HUAWEI Mate X2

The weird ridge housing the camera lenses is also gone in favor of a more uniform device profile. HUAWEI is also jazzing things up a little bit this year. The HUAWEI Mate X2 comes in a choice of four colors – Crystal Blue, Crystal Pink, White, and Black. In comparison, the HUAWEI Mate Xs was only available in a single Interstellar Blue shade.

HUAWEI Mate X2HUAWEI Mate Xs
DisplayCover Display
6.45-inch OLED
2480 x 2200 pixels
90Hz refresh rate
413 ppi pixel density

Inner Display
8-inch OLED

2700 x 1160 Pixels
90Hz refresh rate
456 ppi pixel density
Folded State
6.6-inch OLED
2480 x 1148 pixels
60Hz refresh rate

Unfolded state
8-inch OLED
2480 x 2200 pixels
60Hz refresh rate
ProcessorHiSilicon Kirin 9000HUAWEI Kirin 990
RAM8GB 8GB
Storage256GB / 512GB 512GB
Rear Cameras50 MP Ultra Vision Camera
(Wide Angle, f/1.9 aperture, OIS)
16 MP Cine Camera
(Ultra-Wide Angle, f/2.2 aperture)
12 MP Telephoto Camera
(3x Optical Zoom, f/2.4 aperture, OIS)
8 MP SuperZoom Camera
(10x Optical Zoom, f/4.4 aperture, OIS)
40 MP (Wide Angle Lens,
f/1.8 aperture)
16 MP (Ultra Wide Angle Lens,
f/2.2 aperture)
16 MP (Ultra Wide Angle Lens,
f/2.2 aperture)
HUAWEI Time-of-Flight (TOF) C
amera
Front Cameras16 MP Selfie Camera
(Wide Angle, f/2.2)

NO inner display camera
Rear cameras doubles as the
selfie camera
Battery4500 mAh
55W fast charging
4500mAh
55W fast charging
WeightApprox. 295 gramsApprox. 300 grams
ColorsCrystal Blue,Crystal Pink,White,BlackInterstellar Blue

Display: A stark upgrade

HUAWEI Mate Xs

As mentioned above, the HUAWEI Mate Xs had a single foldable OLED panel that measured 8-inches diagonally and offered a resolution of 2480 x 2200 pixels. When folded, it offered a screen real estate of 6.6-inch on the dominant half with a resolution of 2480 x 1148 pixels.

The HUAWEI Mate X2, on the other hand, features a 6.45-inch (2480 x 2200 pixels) OLED cover display with a pill-shaped hole-punch cutout. Then there is the 8-inch foldable (2480 x 2200 pixels) cover display. Notably, both the panels offer a 90Hz refresh rate for a smoother viewing experience. It is worth noting here that there is no selfie camera on the inner foldable panel.

Internals: HUAWEI Mate X2 brings some notable upgrades

Huawei Mate X2

The HUAWEI Mate Xs came equipped with the Kirin 990 SoC based on the 7nm process, ticking alongside 8 gigs of RAM and up to 512GB of onboard storage that could further be expanded via an NM card by another 256GB. A 4,500mAh battery with support for 55W fast charging kept the lights on. Graphics are handled by a 16-core Mali-G76 GPU on this one.

Coming to its successor, the HUAWEI Mate X2 makes the jump to the 5nm-based Kirin 9000 processor paired with 8GB RAM and 256GB/512GB of onboard storage. However, there is no scope for further storage expansion. Battery capacity remains unchanged at 4,500mAh with an identical 55W fast charging support. However, support for wireless charging is still missing. The graphics chops of the HUAWEI Mate X2 receive a big boost with a 24-core Mali-G78 GPU.

Cameras: HUAWEI Mate X2 truly shines here

HUAWEI Mate Xs

HUAWEI equipped the Mate Xs with a trio of cameras – a 40MP primary sensor + a 16MP ultra-wide-angle lens + 8MP telephoto shooter – sitting alongside a ToF camera. These three snappers doubled as the selfie camera hardware as well.

On the HUAWEI Mate X2, you’ll find an upgraded 50MP primary camera assisted by a 16MP Cine camera. There are two telephoto cameras this time around – a 12MP shooter with 3x optical zoom output and an 8MP SuperZoom periscope-style telephoto lens with an impressive 10x optical zoom range. There’s a 16MP (f/2.2) selfie camera on the outer cover display as well.

Pricing

HUAWEI Mate X2

Despite all the upgrades that arrive with its latest foldable, HUAWEI hasn’t actually raised the price accordingly. While that is definitely good news, the asking price is still far beyond the reach of many. The HUAWEI Mate Xs made its way to the European market priced at €2,499. As for the HUAWEI Mate X2, it comes with a price tag of CNY 17,999 (~ $2,780) for the lower-end 256GB storage variant, while the model with 512GB of onboard storage will cost you CNY 18,999 (~ $2,940) in China at the moment.

The post HUAWEI Mate X2 vs HAUWEI Mate Xs: What has changed? appeared first on Pocketnow.

HUAWEI Mate X2 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2: Which one’s the alpha foldable?

The battle for the best foldable phone crown just got a lot hotter. HUAWEI has launched its latest foldable – the HUAWEI Mate X2. And even though the company likely wouldn’t ever admit it, but it appears that the folks over at HUAWEI realized that an inward-folding design with a dual-display approach is the best way to go. Design inspiration apart, the HUAWEI Mate X2 comes with some notable upgrades and really takes the foldable feud to Samsung’s doorsteps. Here’s how the two phones compare against each other:

Design and build quality

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Pocketnow

Yes, the approach is similar, but there are more than a few differences. The HUAWEI Mate X2 is not symmetrical in its cross-section, but claims to offer a near zero-gap experience when folded. As for the Samsung offering, the gap between the two halves of the device when folded is easily noticeable, but it is uniformly thick. The metal and glass build is a shared trait between the two phones.

HUAWEI Mate X2 comes in a choice of four colors – Crystal Blue, Crystal Pink, White, and Black. The Galaxy Z Fold2 is up for grabs in two colors – Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black – but you can customize the color of the hinge for a two-tone approach. A major difference between the two phones is that the inner foldable display of the HUAWEI Mate X2 has no selfie camera, while its Samsung rival comes equipped with a 10MP selfie shooter.

HUAWEI Mate X2Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2
DisplayCover Display
6.45-inch OLED
2480 x 2200 pixels
90Hz refresh rate
413 ppi pixel density

Inner Display
8-inch OLED

2700 x 1160 Pixels
90Hz refresh rate
456 ppi pixel density
Cover Display
6.2-inch Super AMOLED
2260 x 816 pixels
60Hz refresh rate
386ppi pixel density

Inner Display
7.6-inch Dynamic AMOLED 2X
2208 x 1768 pixels
120Hz refresh rate
373ppi pixel density
ProcessorHiSilicon Kirin 9000Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+
RAM8GB 12GB
Storage256GB / 512GB 256GB / 512GB
Rear Cameras50 MP Ultra Vision Camera
(Wide Angle, f/1.9 aperture, OIS)
16 MP Cine Camera
(Ultra-Wide Angle, f/2.2 aperture)
12 MP Telephoto Camera
(3x Optical Zoom, f/2.4 aperture, OIS)
8 MP SuperZoom Camera
(10x Optical Zoom, f/4.4 aperture, OIS)
12MP Ultra Wide
(1.12μm, 123˚ FOV, F/2.2)
12MP Wide-angle
(OIS, 1.8μm, 83˚ FOV, F/1.8)
12MP telephoto
(PDAF, 1.0μm, 45˚ FOV, F/2.4)

Front Cameras16 MP Selfie Camera
(Wide Angle, f/2.2)

NO inner display camera
10MP Selfie Camera
(1.22μm, 80˚ FOV, f/2.2)

Inner Display Camera
10MP selfie camera
(1.22μm, 80˚ FOV, F/2.2)
Battery4500 mAh
55W fast charging
4500mAh
25W fast charging
Wireless Charging
Reverse wireless charging
WeightApprox. 295 grams282 grams
ColorsCrystal Blue, Crystal Pink,
White, and Black
Mystic Bronze and Mystic Black

Display: HUAWEI Mate X2 is the better equipped one!

HUAWEI Mate X2

The HUAWEI Mate X2 comes armed with an 8-inch flexible OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate, while the outer cover display measures 6.45-inches diagonally. This one also offers 90Hz refresh rate and has a resolution of 2700 x 1160 pixels.

On the Samsung device, only the inner foldable display qualifies as a high refresh rate panel, while the cover display is a regular 60Hz panel. The cover display measures 6.2-inches with a much lower resolution of 2260 x 816 pixels compared to its HUAWEI sibling. The inner 7.6-inch foldable display is also slightly smaller than its HUAWEI rival, but offers a higher 120Hz refresh rate.

Internals

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Pocketnow

The HUAWEI Mate X2 draws power from the 5nm-based Kirin 9000 chip that comes with an integrated 5G modem. There is 8 gigs of RAM and 128GB / 512GB of non-expandable onboard storage. The lights are kept on by a 5,000mAh battery that can be topped at a peak 55W power. Interestingly, there is no support for wireless charging.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 comes equipped with the 7 nm-based Qualcomm Snapdragon 865+ SoC ticking alongside 12GB of RAM and up to 512GB of onboard storage. You’ll find a 4,500mAh juicer inside that charges at a comparatively slower 25W, but it supports wireless as reverse wireless charging.

Software: A tricky situation for HUAWEI Mate X2

Huawei Mate X2 back

A key difference, that might well dictate the final decision whether you buy the Galaxy Z Fold 2 or the HUAWEI Mate X2 is the software. The HUAWEI Mate X2 still runs EMUI 11 based on Android 10, which is kinda disappointing. The Samsung device, on the other hand, has received the Android 11 upgrade already. However, the biggest difference is their approach to Android.

The HUAWEI Mate X2 relies on the HMS (HUAWEI Mobile Services) core instead of the GMS (Google Mobile Services) core, which means it misses out on some defining Google offerings such as Play Store, Gmail and Google Maps to name a few. And this might be a red flag to many potential buyers, especially those in markets outside China. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold, on the other hand, offers the full-fledged Android experience with all essential Google services and some cool tweaks courtesy of Samsung’s One UI 3.1 skin.

Cameras: HUAWEI Mate X2 takes the glory here

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Pocketnow

The camera department is where the HUAWEI Mate X2 brings the biggest hardware upgrade. Over at the back, you’ll find an optically stabilized 50MP primary camera, sitting alongside a 16MP ultra-wide angle lens.

There are a couple of zoom cameras at the back – a primary 12MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom range and an 8MP Super Zoom periscope-style camera with an impressive 10x optical zoom output. Selfie and video calling duties are taken care of by a 16MP snapper on the cover display.

HUAWEI Mate X2

Coming to the Galaxy Z Fold 2, it has a trio of 12MP sensors at the back serving as the main shooter, an ultra-wide-angle lens, and a telephoto camera. Both the cover display and inner foldable panel are armed with a 10MP selfie shooter.

Pricing: Innovation comes at a high price

The HUAWEI Mate X2 will set you back by CNY 17,999 (~ $2,780) for the base 256GB storage variant, while the 512GB version will evaporate CNY 18,999 (~ $2,940) from your bank account. Pre-orders have gone live in China, but there is no word regarding its overseas availability at the moment.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 Pocketnow

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 is currently up for grabs at $1,999 from Samsung’s official online store, but you can bring the price down to $1,000 with an eligible trade-in in the US. Unlike the HUAWEI offering, the Samsung device is widely available in markets across the globe.

The post HUAWEI Mate X2 vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2: Which one’s the alpha foldable? appeared first on Pocketnow.

Huawei Mate X2: Everything you need to know

Huawei unveiled the Huawei Mate X2 on Monday, February 22. The device features a new design language and is vastly different from its predecessor. It comes with an inward-foldable design rather than featuring the outward-folding design found on the Mate X and Mate Xs. Leading up to the launch, most of the specifications and design details of the device were already leaked online. Here’s everything you need to know about the Huawei Mate X2.

Vastly different from the Mate X

As mentioned above, the Huawei Mate X2 is the exact opposite of the predecessor in terms of design. The device features an inward-folding display instead of an outward folding one found on the Mate X.

HUAWEI Mate Xs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

With the Mate X, Huawei had its display always exposed to the elements, hence prone to wear and tear. However, Samsung protected its foldable display and included a second, outer display. While Huawei took pride in its approach with the Mate X, it is now shifting to Samsung’s foldable approach.

There are no cameras lying on the inside when unfolded. Hence, the selfie shooters only reside on the outer display and the inside is a full-screen display without any notch or punch-hole distractions.

The most powerful Huawei smartphone?

Huawei Mate X2 foldable is powered by its Kirin 9000 SoC. The chipset is based on the 5nm process and employs a 1+3+4 tri-cluster core design. It could be the most powerful Huawei smartphone alongside the Huawei Mate 40 and Mate 40 Pro.

HUAWEI Kirin 9000

The Kirin 9000 SoC features a Cortex-A77 based prime core clocked at 3.13GHz, three high-performance Cortex-A77 based cores ticking at 2.54GHz, and three Cortex-A55 based efficiency cores running at 2.05GHz. Moreover, the graphics are managed by a 24-core Mali-G78 GPU. It also comes with an integrated cellular modem with support for Sub-6 GHz and mmWave 5G bands. 

Huawei Mate X2 Specifications

Huawei Mate X2
DisplayInterior: 8″ OLED, 90Hz, 180Hz touch sampling rate,
2480 x 2200 Pixels, 413 PPI

Exterior: 6.45″ OLED, 90Hz, 240Hz touch response rate,
2700 x 1160 Pixels, 456 PPI
ProcessorKirin 900
RAM8GB
Storage256GB / 512GB
CamerasRear:
50 MP Ultra Vision Camera 
(Wide Angle, f/1.9 aperture, OIS)
16 MP Cine Camera 
(Ultra-Wide Angle, f/2.2 aperture)
12 MP Telephoto Camera 
(3x Optical Zoom, f/2.4 aperture, OIS)
8 MP SuperZoom Camera 
(10x Optical Zoom, f/4.4 aperture, OIS), support AF

Front:
16 MP Selfie Camera 
(Wide Angle, f/2.2)
Battery4500mAh with 55W fast charging
Weight295 grams

The Huawei Mate X2 features an 8-inch foldable inner OLED display, which comes with a 2480 x 2200 pixel resolution, a 90Hz refresh rate, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate at 413 PPI. There is a 6.45-inch outer display with a 90Hz refresh rate, 2700 x 1160 pixel resolution, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate at 456 PPI. It is powered by Huawei’s in-house Kirin 9000 SoC. It runs EMUI 11.0 that is based on Android 10 out of the box. It comes equipped with 8GB of RAM and 256GB / 512GB of internal storage.

Huawei Mate X2 back

The device sports a quad rear camera setup. There is a 50MP Ultra Vision Camera (Wide Angle, f/1.9 aperture, OIS) primary camera. It is accompanied by a 16MP Cine Camera (Ultra-Wide Angle, f/2.2 aperture), a 12MP Telephoto Camera (3x Optical Zoom, f/2.4 aperture, OIS), and an 8MP SuperZoom Camera (10x Optical Zoom, f/4.4 aperture, OIS) that supports AF. The camera features include Story Creator, Tracking Shot, Steady Shot, Audio Zoom, High-res, Time-Lapse, Ultra Wide Angle Lens, among others. On the front, lies a 16MP selfie shooter.

The Huawei Mate X2 packs a 4,500mAh battery, which supports 55W fast charging. It comes with Bluetooth 5.2, a USB Type-C port, NFC, and a fingerprint sensor for authentication.

HUAWEI Mate X2 price

The device starts at 17,999 Yuan (~USD 2,775) for the 8GB RAM + 256GB storage variant, and 18,999 Yuan (~USD 2,939) for the 512GB model. There is no word on global availability yet.

The post Huawei Mate X2: Everything you need to know appeared first on Pocketnow.

Another Huawei Mate X2 teaser hints at an inward-folding design

Huawei has yet again teased the design of its upcoming foldable smartphone, the Mate X2. The company has already confirmed that it will launch the phone on February 22 in China. The device will be vastly different from its predecessor. According to the official poster from Huawei, the Mate X2 will be an inward-foldable phone rather than featuring the outward-folding design found on the Mate X and Mate Xs. Now, a new Mate X2 teaser reiterates on the leaks.

According to the teaser image posted by Huawei on Weibo, the Mate X2 will feature a screen that folds inwards instead of the outward-folding display found on the Mate X. Earlier leaked images of the device have hinted that the folded display would look like the Xperia 1 II with a pill-shaped punch hole. This display is seen to have dual selfie cameras in the hole-punch cutout. It seems to feature a 21:9 aspect ratio on the outer display. 

Huawei Mate X2 render
HUAWEI Mate X2 concept render based on patent diagrams (Credit: LetsGoDigital / Ben Geskin)

The Huawei Mate X2 could feature a 6.45-inch (of 2,270×1,160 pixels) outer display and an 8.01-inch (2,480×2,200 pixels) inner foldable display. It is tipped to come with a quad rear camera setup led by a 50MP primary camera. It could be accompanied by 16MP, 12MP, and 8MP sensors. The foldable might pack a 4,400 mAh battery, which is most likely a two-cell unit – that will have support for 66W fast charging.

Huawei has already confirmed that the Mate X2 foldable will be powered by its Kirin 9000 SoC, which is based on the 5nm process and employs a 1+3+4 tri-cluster core design. The upcoming phone is likely to cost north of $2000. It is all set to be launched on February 22, which is Monday of next week. The device will make its debut in China.

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The new Huawei Mate X2 will not use Samsung foldable displays

We are getting closer to the launch of the new Huawei Mate X2. The device is scheduled to launch on February 22, which means that we will most likely start to receive tons of leaks and information about Huawei’s new foldable.

Huawei will soon unveil its newest foldable. The Huawei Mate X2 will arrive with a new foldable design that resembles the one we get in the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold. The original Mate X came with an exterior folding design and a foldable display panel made by Chinese company BOE. However, the change in design and some rumors suggested that Huawei would also go to Samsung Display to get the new foldable displays for the upcoming Mate X2. Unfortunately for Samsung, Huawei decided to go once again with BOE foldable displays.

According to a report, Samsung and Huawei had an agreement concerning the foldable display panels that were going to be used in the new Huawei Mate X2. In the end, this agreement didn’t come through because of the US Commerce Department’s trade sanctions and its way of putting obstacles between Huawei and its suppliers. However, the report claims that this deal could’ve been approved by the US back in October, but Huawei decided not to go through with it. The Chinese tech giant may have opted to play it safe and avoid future problems by using BOE foldable panels again, since there’s no way the US will ever be able to place roadblocks between two Chinese companies.

The new Huawei Mate X2 is expected to arrive with a Kirin 9000 chipset, a quad-camera setup with a 50MP primary camera, that will be backed up by a 16MP, 12MP, and 8MP sensor. Further, the new Mate X2 is believed to feature a 4,400mAh battery and support for 66W fast charging.

Source SamMobile

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Will HUAWEI admit Samsung was right all along?

Long before our current foldable clamshell smartphones, but soon after the curved and “edge” displays, came a real breakthrough in mobile technology: the first foldable smartphone.

The title is still being disputed between HUAWEI and Samsung. With the original Mate X being unveiled on February 25, 2019, the Galaxy Fold was announced just five days prior on February 20, 2019. Just by looking at these dates, it could be easily settled, but some still argue the title should go to the Mate X, as it was the first to pack a 7nm 5G multi-mode modem chipset, while the Fold was lacking 5G capabilities. Then it all became blurry with both companies delaying market availability several times in order to fix prototype issues. I digress.

HUAWEI Mate X Samsung Galaxy Fold

Different approaches

But 5G vs 4G/LTE wasn’t the only difference between these two innovative products. You see, the two companies approached the foldable design concept with a completely different mindset. While the HUAWEI approach was to utilize an out-folding design, the Samsung device was an in-folding product.

There were pros and cons for both approaches. However, both companies stood by their decisions, claiming their approach was the right one

While HUAWEI only employed a single display, it was always exposed to the elements, hence prone to wear and tear. Samsung, on the other hand, avoided this problem by protecting the display in folding it like a book, but then again it had to resort to a second, outer display, for the thing to be of any use while being folded.

Richard Yu, HUAWEI

“We had several solutions, but we canceled them. We had three projects simultaneously. We had something even better than that, killed by me. It was bad.

[…] I feel having two screens, a front screen, and a back screen makes the phone too heavy.”

— Richard YU, CEO of HUAWEI Consumer BG

Back and forth the two companies went by criticizing the competitor’s approach and praising their own. Both original products, as with many of the industry firsts and 1.0 versions, were not immune to subsequent problems, from cracked displays to hinges giving up, from overheating to display protectors failing.

HUAWEI Mate Xs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2

Successors

That didn’t stop the two giants from improving on their offerings, and, one year later in 2020, they both launched successors, claiming to fix many of the previous issues. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 received a larger outer display and updated internals, and the Mate Xs got a spec-refresh, a new hinge design, and a more durable display. 

However, both companies were standing by their philosophy, and the Mate Xs was still out-folding, and the Z Fold 2 was still in-folding, with an outer display.

Paradigm shift

Fast forward to February 22, 2021, yes, in the future, and HUAWEI is set to unveil the Mate X2. It will most likely get its specs up to date, with the adoption of the Kirin 9000 chipset, but, what’s most important is that the Mate X2 will likely adopt an in-folding design. At least that’s what early rumors and leaks seem to suggest.

There’s no way around it, with an in-folding design, you have to attach an outer display to your phone. That is, of course, if you want it to be more useful than a fancy paperweight. No doubt, the added display will also add more Dollars (well, Yuans) to an already exclusivistic price tag, but the most notable aspect here is the paradigm shift.

Did it take two generations of products for HUAWEI to figure out that Samsung was right all along? Or is it just a natural evolution of a product, as it improves over time, from the original 1.0 version onwards? 

HUAWEI Mate X2

Epilogue

At the end of the day, or, at least, the end of this article, it has little to do with who’s right and who’s wrong. Every day humanity is making breakthroughs at a faster and faster pace. From developing a vaccine or cure to finding out what it takes to bend, fold, or even roll a display, we’re constantly trying to improve, and, regardless of how you look at it, an improved product is a new product.

Sure, it can be based on an original product, which is also an evolution of its predecessor, but in the end, it’s still a new product. And, if someone found a way to improve on a product (technology, etc.), there’s nothing wrong with applying those findings to improving your own product. Regardless of how you look at it, it’s humanity as a whole, and evolution, that’s the sole and only beneficiary of technological evolution. Else, we’d still be driving our cars on wooden wheels, and roads that we’re complaining about today would feel a whole lot more bumpier.

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Huawei Mate X2 foldable leak suggests Galaxy Z Fold 2-like design

Huawei is all set to introduce its next foldable device, the Mate X2. The company has already confirmed that it will launch the phone on February 22 in China. This time around, the successor will be vastly different from its predecessor. According to the official poster from Huawei, the Mate X2 will be an inward-foldable phone rather than featuring the outward-folding design found on the Mate X and Mate Xs. Now, a new render of the phone has surfaced online.

The render, which can be seen in the featured image of the article was shared by Digital Chat Station on Weibo. It suggests a Galaxy Z Fold 2-like design. However, there is no camera to be found on the inner display once the phone is unfolded. It is a notch-less and punch-hole-less display. When folded, it looks like the Xperia 1 II with a pill-shaped punch hole. It seems to feature a 21:9 aspect ratio on the outer display. It could come equipped with a 6.45-inch (of 2,270×1,160 pixels) outer display and an 8.01-inch (2,480×2,200 pixels) inner foldable display.

HUAWEI Mate X2 concept render based on patent diagrams (Credit: LetsGoDigital / Ben Geskin)

The latest leak is similar to the renders shared by LetsGoDigital with Ben Geskin earlier. The Huawei Mate X2 foldable is tipped to come with a quad rear camera setup led by a 50MP primary camera. It could be accompanied by 16MP, 12MP, and 8MP sensors. The foldable might pack a 4,400 mAh battery, which is most likely a two-cell unit – that will have support for 66W fast charging.

READ MORE: Alleged HUAWEI Mate X2 patent reveals a design mimicking Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2

Huawei has already confirmed that the Mate X2 foldable will be powered by its Kirin 9000 SoC, which is based on the 5nm process and employs a 1+3+4 tri-cluster core design. The upcoming phone is likely to cost north of $2000.

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HUAWEI Mate X2 with an inward-folding design will debut on February 22

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The big reveal finally happens later this month. HUAWEI has officially announced that its next foldable phone – the HUAWEI Mate X2 – will make its grand debut on February 22 in China. As per the teaser image shared by the official HUAWEI Weibo handle, the company is finally taking a different approach towards the foldable form factor – ditching the outward-folding design in favor of an inward-folding approach similar to the Samsung Galaxy Fold and its successor.

5nm-based Kirin 9000 SoC, quad rear cameras, and a fresh design

So far, the two foldables launched by the Chinese electronics giant – HUAWEI Mate X and the Mate Xs – have had a single foldable panel with an outward folding design. However, a couple of patent filings by the company hinted that a design makeover was coming. As per concepts based on the patent diagrams, the HUAWEI Mate X2 will look a lot like the Galaxy Z Fold 2, but might take a different approach when it comes to the placement of selfie cameras and design of the cover display. 

READ MORE: Huawei Mate X2 specs leak hints at an inward folding design

As per previous leaks, the HUAWEI Mate X2 will draw power from the Kirin 9000 SoC based on the 5nm process – possibly the last smartphone SoC from the HiSilicon Kirin brand. The phone will reportedly come equipped with an 8.01-inch (2,480×2,200 pixels) inner foldable display, while the cover display will measure 6.45-inch (of 2,270×1,160 pixels) and will flaunt a pill-shaped hole-punch housing two front cameras. 


HUAWEI Mate X2 concept render based on patent diagrams (Credit: LetsGoDigital / Ben Geskin)

Price will likely be north of $2000, but overseas availability is doubtful

In the imaging department, HUAWEI will reportedly equip the Mate X2 with a quad camera setup that includes a 50MP primary snapper, sitting alongside 16MP, 12MP, and 8MP sensors. The highly-anticipated HUAWEI foldable will reportedly come equipped with a 4,400 mAh battery – most like a two-cell unit – that will bring support for 66W fast charging to the table. 

READ MORE: Alleged HUAWEI Mate X2 patent reveals a design mimicking Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2

So far, the leak arena has been silent about an asking price, but if the pricing of its predecessor is any indication, the HUAWEI Mate X2 will easily cost north of $2000. But due to the whole ‘No Google Play services’ access fiasco due to US trade sanctions, HUAWEI might decide against launching the Mate X2 in overseas markets. 

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HUAWEI’s Mate X2 foldable phone rumored to arrive soon rocking a 5nm SoC and fresh design

HUAWEI was among the pioneers of foldable phones alongside Samsung, having launched two devices with a folding screen so far. However, details about the company’s next foldable smartphone following the Mate Xs’ debut in February 2020 have been a mystery so far. Now, a fresh leak coming out of China suggests that HUAWEI’s next foldable smartphone – tentatively called the Mate X2 – might arrive soon with a 5nm chipset under the hood and some design tweaks in tow. 

Source: Weibo

As per a leaksters’s post on Weibo (via GSMArena), the next upcoming HUAWEI foldable is ‘coming soon’ powered by a 5nm chipset. Now, as per older leaks, this 5nm chipset in question will debut as Kirin 9000, and might be the last HiSilicon Kirin processor, thanks in no part to trade sanctions imposed by the US government that have crippled HUAWEI’s access to the semiconductor supply chain. The Kirin 9000 will likely be a 5G-ready chip, much like its predecessor. 

HUAWEI Mate X2 might rock an inward-folding design similar to Samsung Galaxy Fold

The leak also mentions a few design changes, but doesn’t really specify them. As per a couple of patents filed by HUAWEI, the company might change its design approach towards making foldable smartphones with the Mate X2. So far, the company has launched foldables with an outward folding design, but the Mate X2 might employ an inward folding design akin to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 and its predecessor. Plus, there will also be a secondary cover display this time around. 

HUAWEI Mate X2 concept render based on patent diagrams (Credit: LetsGoDigital / Ben Geskin)

As per a previous leak from a fairly reliable source, the HUAWEI Mate X2 will come equipped with an 8.01-inch (2,480×2,200 pixels) inner foldable display, while the cover display will measure 6.45-inch and will offer a resolution of 2,270×1,160 pixels. There will be a quad camera array at the back that will include a 50MP primary sensor, sitting alongside 16MP, 12MP, and 8MP sensors. 

A 4,400mAh battery will reportedly keep the lights on, and it will support 66W fast charging as well. Going by the launch frame of its predecessor, the HUAWEI Mate X2 might debut later this month or early next month, but the US trade sanctions might delay its launch.  

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Huawei Mate X2 specs leak hints at an inward folding design

Huawei is working on the successor of its foldable Mate X. The company is tipped to change the design language for the upcoming Mate X2. The smartphone is said to be an inward-folding device instead of an outward-folding smartphone. Hence, it is likely to feature two displays – one on the front when the device is folded and the second, main screen. The phone was also spotted on TENAA a few months ago, and the new leak suggests that the foldable phone may be powered by the Kirin 9000 SoC. It could come with 10x hybrid optical zoom.

The development comes from tipster Digital Chat Station (translated), who has leaked key specifications of the Huawei Mate X2 on Weibo. They mention that the company is ditching the outward-folding design in favor of the Galaxy Fold-like inward folding design. As for dimensions, the Huawei Mate X2 is tipped to measure 161.8×14.8×8.2mm and weigh about 295 grams.

The phone is tipped to feature an 8.01-inch (2,480×2,200 pixels) inward folding display. There is also a secondary 6.45-inch (2,270×1,160 pixels) display. The smartphone is said to be powered by the Kirin 9000 SoC. Surprisingly, it is rumored to run the dated Android 10 out of the box.

The Huawei Mate X2 might sport a quad rear camera setup. There could be a 50MP primary camera and a 16MP secondary lens. These could be accompanied by two 12MP and 8MP sensors. It is also tipped to feature 10x hybrid optical zoom. On the front might lie a 16MP selfie shooter. As for the battery capacity, the Huawei Mate X2 is tipped to pack a 4,400mAh battery with support for 66W fast charging.

Previously, TENAA listing has revealed that the Mate X2 will feature a 120Hz refresh rate, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.1. It could come equipped with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and an OLED display. 

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Alleged HUAWEI Mate X2 patent reveals a design mimicking Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2

HUAWEI has been at the forefront of developing foldable smartphones alongside Samsung, despite the fact that its Mate X-series has not been as widely available as the Galaxy Fold series phones. But HUAWEI took a different take on the foldable phone concept by adopting a single panel outward-folding design, while Samsung went for a dual-display inward folding approach. But as per a recent patent filing, it looks like HUAWEI is trying to shake things up by opting for an inward folding design for its next foldable phone – tentatively called the Mate X2.

HUAWEI’s patent filed before CNIPA shows the schematics of an inward folding phone.

The patent filed before China’s CNIPA features rough schematics of a foldable phone that has an inner foldable display without any camera whatsoever. There’s neither a hole-punch cutout, nor a notch, and all you get is an expansive screen real estate on the HUAWEI Mate X2’s inner side. Over at the back, one half of the device is occupied by a large cover display with a pill-shaped cutout in the top-left corner for housing the camera sensors. The rear camera module is present on the other half and it features five cutouts for imaging lenses. The one at the top has a rectangular lens that will most likely be a part of a periscope-style telephoto lens system. 

Image: LetsGoDigital / Ben Geskin

The folks over at LetsGoDigital added a dash of colors and depth effect to the HUAWEI Mate X2 design schematics, giving us a rough idea of how the device might actually look like. Concept designer Ben Geskin went a step further and created a life-like version of the HUAWEI Mate X2 from the patent schematics, and it looks pretty darn impressive.  The design similarities with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold2 are almost impossible to overlook. But hey, this is just an artistic rendition we are talking about and the final product might end up looking much different. Also, HUAWEI is yet to officially reveal anything about its next foldable phone project, so process these HUAWEI Mate X2 renders with a bit of skepticism. 

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US sanctions may also affect the launch of the Huawei Mate X2

It seems that Huawei may be getting more headaches due to the US ban. New rumors now suggest that the launch of the new Huawei Mate X2 may also be affected because of the latest sanctions. Things don’t stop there, as there’s also further information suggesting that Huawei may have less Kirin 9000 processors than expected for its next Mate 40 flagships.

As if things weren’t already hectic for Huawei, the new US sanctions seem to be causing more problems. According to a Tweet by Ross Young, the new Huawei Mate X2 won’t be launching this year. The main cause of this delay would be related to hardware sourcing difficulties, and it would force the possible launch until 2021.

We could believe that losing Samsung and LG as display suppliers would cause the problem, but Chinese display company BOE made foldable panels for the Huawei Mate X and the Mate Xs. This means that we could expect the same BOE-made panels in the Huawei Mate X2. However, speculation would suggest that the new Kirin 1000 chipsets’ shortage may be the main cause of this delay.

Now, to make matters worse, not only Kirin 1000 processors would present an issue for Huawei, as a new report claims that the company would’ve only managed to get 8.8 million Kirin 9000 chipsets for the upcoming Huawei Mate 40 series. The information comes from a reliable leaker on Weibo, and he confirmed that the TSMC might only deliver 22,000 5nm wafers to Huawei, and if each wafer can yield 400 dies, we find that Huawei wouldn’t get all the processors it expected.

Still, Huawei is already expecting a 30 percent drop in smartphone sales, so getting fewer processors may not be so bad after all. Let’s remember that the Kirin 9000 is the first with 5nm process technology to include a built-in 5G modem, and initial reports suggested that Huawei had asked TSMC to manufacture 15 million units for its devices.

Source GSM Arena (1)

Via GSM Arena (2)

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