Huawei has officially introduced its latest foldable smartphone, the Mate X7, at a spectacular event held in Dubai. I had the chance to spend some hands-on time with this innovative device, which adopts a book-style fold design. This occasion was also perfect to test out the upgraded camera system. Check out the photo samples in the gallery below, and share your thoughts on whether the Mate X7 outperforms the Galaxy Fold 7’s camera.
At first glance, the Mate X7 closely resembles its predecessor, the X6, but Huawei has implemented several impactful enhancements where it truly matters.
Having extensively used the X6, and now spending a few days with the Mate X7, I can confidently say that the standout improvements fall into three crucial areas:
- Enhanced performance
- Improved durability
- Upgraded camera capabilities
Visually, the Mate X7 remains sleek with slightly larger screens compared to the X6, while reducing folded thickness from 9.9 mm down to 9.5 mm. Although Huawei didn’t prioritize making the phone exceptionally thin, its current profile is comfortably slim.
A notable design feature is the new “Time-Space Gate” camera bump — a creative concept Huawei employs to describe how the design channels light to “open up the universe.” Regardless of the poetic description, the camera module looks stylish and premium.
Huawei Mate X7 design gallery, image credit - PhoneArena
Significant Performance Upgrades
While I haven’t performed official benchmark tests—Huawei remains cautious about benchmarking apps on their devices—the Mate X7 is powered by Huawei’s latest Kirin 9030 chipset, promising a substantial speed boost over the previous Kirin 9020. Early leaks suggest up to a 33% performance increase, which would be an impressive leap.
Robust Build Quality
Durability keeps improving with the Mate X7. The cover screen now utilizes a new iteration of Huawei’s Kunlun glass, engineered to be tougher with a 20% better drop resistance. The foldable display benefits from a reinforced internal frame and a refined hinge mechanism, making it more resilient to impacts and bending stresses.
A major highlight is the IP58 and IP59 certification for dust and water resistance—rare among foldables—which safeguards the device against two of the biggest threats to foldable phone longevity.
Flagship-Level Camera Experience
Foldables often compromise on camera hardware due to thickness and cost constraints, but the Mate X7 continues Huawei’s tradition of incorporating high-end camera technology in its X series. The camera system has been noticeably enhanced from before. I captured numerous photos testing the phone here in Dubai; while final, detailed camera scores are pending, the image quality is impressive and competitive with flagship foldables like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
Huawei Mate X7 camera samples
In summary, the Mate X7 features numerous meaningful upgrades across design, performance, durability, and photography.
While Samsung currently dominates the foldable market, it’s wise for them to stay alert. Should Huawei regain the ability to collaborate with American companies, the competition would intensify enormously. As it stands, the Huawei Mate X7 is already an impressively balanced and powerful foldable device, equipped with a flagship-level camera system that makes it a serious contender.
