Huawei’s foldables are stealing the highlight, leaping forward with big cargo features. However Samsung’s new Z Fold7 fights again with its smooth design and sharper screens—who wins the foldable face-off?
Huawei’s foldable cellphone shipments climbed 257% in early 2024, snagging 35% of the market and bumping Samsung from the highest spot. The South Korean firm is again on the town—with its lightest, thinnest Fold to this point.
The Z Fold7 brings a sharper cowl display, recent {hardware}, higher cameras, and a great deal of AI tips over the Z Fold6. However can the 7-th gen foldable assist Samsung take again the lead? In my Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 vs. Huawei Mate X6 comparability, I’ll allow you to choose the correct cellphone.
Design
The Mate X6 and Z Fold7 each fold like a guide, they usually are available in slimmer, lighter our bodies than their predecessors.
Again in 2023, Huawei launched the Mate X5. That one got here in fairly cumbersome—14.76 mm (0.58″) when folded, 8.82 mm (0.35″) unfolded. It additionally weighed round 243 to 245 grams (8.57 to eight.64 oz), relying on the mannequin. Quick ahead to the Mate X6, and the cellphone trims issues all the way down to 9.9 mm (0.39″) folded, 4.3 mm (0.17″) unfolded, and weighs 239 grams (8.43 oz).
Now, check out the Z Fold7. When closed, it’s simply 8.9 mm (0.35″) thick, method slimmer than the 12.1 mm (0.48″) Fold6. Open it up, and also you get a 4.2 mm (0.17″) profile as a substitute of 5.6 mm (0.22″). Weight decreased too—it’s 215 grams (7.58 oz) now. That drop makes a distinction in hand, particularly if you open it up and the spacious display spreads the burden throughout a large physique. Samsung shaved off round 10%.
In the event you like your tech skinny, right here’s one thing cooler. The Galaxy Fold7 even beats HONOR’s Magic V5 in slimness. That cellphone measures 8.8 mm (0.35″) folded and 4.1 mm (0.16″) unfolded. As for weight, Honor’s cellphone is available in at 217 grams (7.65 oz). So yeah, Samsung takes the lead there. Huawei and HONOR are nonetheless enjoying catch-up on that entrance.
Samsung didn’t cease on the physique. It additionally cleaned up the FlexHinge design. Now, the Fold7 blends into the physique higher and provides a easy open-close movement. Even the hinge inside appears cleaner. Over at Huawei, engineers bought artistic with the hinge, too. They changed the standard 2 camshafts with 3. That enhances how flat the cellphone folds by 48% and the way effectively it stays in place mid-fold by 25%.
Show
The Z Fold7 comes with a 6.5″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X display on the surface. It hits 2,520 × 1,080 in decision, packing in 422 pixels per inch. The refresh price shifts between 1 Hz and 120 Hz, supplying you with a easy really feel when scrolling or swiping.
Loads of reviewers say the Fold7’s outer show feels higher than the one on the Fold6. It really works like an everyday cellphone display, and that’s what makes it click on. Many follow the outer display more often than not, not like with the Fold6 the place the within show felt like the primary possibility.
Now take the Mate X6. Huawei gave it a 6.45″ OLED outer display at 2,440 × 1,080 decision. It’s an LTPO 2.0 panel with a 1-120Hz refresh price and peak brightness of two,500 nits.
Open the Fold7 and also you get an 8.0″ Dynamic AMOLED 2X show inside. It runs at 2,184 × 1,968 decision with a density of 368 ppi. That’s greater than the 7.6″ panel on the Fold6.
As for the Mate X6’s internal display, it is available in at 7.93″. The decision reaches 2,440 × 2,240. It helps the identical adaptive refresh vary, hits 1,800 nits in brightness, and retains eye pressure low with 1-nit minimal brightness and 1440 Hz PWM dimming.
Digicam
Huawei’s Mate X6 affords a stable digital camera setup. The primary sensor shoots at 50 MP and includes a variable aperture between f/1.4 and f/4.0. It additionally features a 40 MP ultrawide digital camera and a 48 MP telephoto lens with 4x zoom that doubles as a macro shooter. The standout function is the Extremely Chroma sensor, which makes use of 1.5 million spectral channels to spice up colour accuracy—images look extra pure and true to life.
Photographs from the Mate X6 present the 4x zoom holds up effectively. Past 10x zoom, picture high quality drops, which is widespread—different flagship fashions deal with greater zoom ranges higher. The macro mode performs effectively, rating among the many finest foldable cameras in close-up pictures.
On the opposite facet, Samsung’s Z Fold7 options the 200 MP sensor from the Galaxy S25 Extremely. It sports activities an f/1.7 aperture, optical picture stabilization, and fast autofocus. The setup features a 12 MP ultrawide digital camera with a 120-degree area of view and a ten MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom.
For sharpness and element, the Z Fold7 leads due to its large sensor. It captures superb textures that different telephones would possibly miss. Huawei excels in colour accuracy and macro pictures. In the event you give attention to vibrant colours and close-up pictures, the Mate X6 impresses. If you need most element and versatile zoom choices, the Z Fold7 pulls forward.
Efficiency
The Z Fold7 runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy—the identical chip contained in the Galaxy S25 Extremely. Huawei, alternatively, went with its personal Kirin 9020 for the Mate X6. It’s a tweaked model of the Kirin 9010 you’ll discover within the Pure 70 telephones.
Kirin 9020 steps up in some areas. You’ll see smoother body charges, higher energy use, and fewer warmth than earlier than. However when it goes up towards the Snapdragon 8 Elite, it falls brief. I checked out some gaming checks on YouTube, and yeah, emulation works on the Mate X6—however don’t count on it to deal with Change or PC video games. Additionally, just a few cellular titles look off when the cellphone’s folded.
Battery
The Z Fold7 runs on a 4,400 mAh battery. You possibly can juice it up with 25 W wired charging, 15 W wi-fi, and even prime off one other system with its 5 W reverse wi-fi function. Over on Huawei’s facet, the Mate X6 carries an even bigger 5,100 mAh battery and handles 66 W wired and 50 W wi-fi charging. In the event you use one among Huawei’s SuperCharge bricks.
So right here’s the tradeoff. Samsung offers you a slimmer, lighter foldable. Huawei offers you extra battery however provides a little bit of chunk. Personally, I’ll take the larger battery each time. What’s the massive deal between 7.6 ounces and eight.8 ounces? Or 0.35 inches and 0.39? You would possibly really feel it for a second, however after that, you gained’t even discover.
Software program and AI
The Z Fold7 runs on Android 16, the most recent model of Google’s working system. Samsung layers it with One UI 8, including its personal spin to the general appear and feel.
You’ll get instruments like Circle to Search, Google Gemini, Writing Help, and Drawing Help. These work higher on the Fold’s bigger display, the place you may see outcomes side-by-side or in a small floating window.
Samsung additionally dropped S Pen help on this mannequin to maintain the cellphone slimmer and stronger. That tradeoff feels tough. With instruments like sketch to attract, it makes me need the S Pen much more. I do know my mother would’ve used it on a regular basis in her artwork class—it’s her favourite solution to sketch.
The Mate X6 brings its personal set of software program options. Within the picture editor, you may erase undesirable elements with Good Take away. It additionally has a setting that hides message previews when another person appears at your display, then sends the alert straight to your Huawei watch.
Huawei’s newest software program, EMUI 15 (the identify for HarmonyOS 4.3 outdoors China), provides new lockscreen choices, smoother multitasking, gesture controls, and up to date emojis.
Verdict: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 vs. Huawei Mate X6
I’ve bought to say, Huawei’s Mate X6 impressed me with its massive battery and vibrant colours. However Samsung’s Z Fold7 gained me over with its slimmer design, sharper screens, and a digital camera that captures insane element.
If I needed to choose, I’d go for the Fold7 if I need one thing smooth and highly effective that feels superior within the hand. Nonetheless, if I want longer battery life and extra punchy images, the Mate X6 holds its floor. Truthfully, it simply will depend on whether or not I’m after type and efficiency or staying unplugged for longer.
