The Huawei Mate X7 arrived on 11 December 2025 at a launch event at Atlantis The Royal in Dubai, and it’s bringing some genuinely interesting spec improvements over its predecessor. But it enters a market where Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and HONOR’s Magic V5 are already setting benchmarks.
Here’s how the four devices stack up on paper.
Design and dimensions
| Spec | Mate X7 | Mate X6 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Magic V5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unfolded thickness | 4.5mm | 4.6mm | 4.2mm | 4.1mm |
| Folded thickness | 9.5mm | 9.85mm (Vegan Fiber) / 9.9mm (Vegan Leather) | 8.9mm | 8.8mm |
| Weight | 236g | 239g | 215g | 217g |
| Colours | Brocade White, Nebula Red, Black | Nebula Gray | Blue Shadow, Silver Shadow, Jetblack | Moonlight White, Glacier Blue |
The Magic V5 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 are the slimmest and lightest here. HONOR’s managed to get its device down to 4.1mm unfolded, which is genuinely impressive engineering. Samsung’s close behind. Huawei’s made solid progress from the X6 to the X7, shaving off thickness and weight whilst packing in a larger battery. At 236g, it’s lighter than its predecessor and still manages to feel substantial without being cumbersome.
Weight differences are marginal across the board. You’re talking about 21 grams between the heaviest (X6) and lightest (Fold 7). That’s roughly four sheets of A4 paper. In practice, the X7 strikes a good balance between durability and portability.
Display
| Spec | Mate X7 | Mate X6 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Magic V5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main screen size | 8 inches | 7.93 inches | 8 inches | 7.95 inches |
| Cover screen size | 6.49 inches | 6.45 inches | 6.5 inches | 6.43 inches |
| Main resolution | 2416 × 2210 | 2440 × 2240 | Not listed | 2344 × 2128 |
| Cover resolution | 2444 × 1080 | 2440 × 1080 | Not listed | 2376 × 1060 |
| Refresh rate | 1-120Hz LTPO | 1-120Hz LTPO | 1-120Hz LTPO | 1-120Hz LTPO |
| PWM dimming | 1440Hz | 1440Hz | Not listed | 4320Hz |
| Peak brightness | Not listed | Not listed | 2,600 nits | 5,000 nits |
All four devices have comparable screen sizes. Samsung and Huawei have nudged their main displays to a full 8 inches, which makes a noticeable difference when you’re multitasking or watching content. The X7’s expanded cover screen (6.49 inches) is also more usable for quick tasks without unfolding.
The standout here is brightness. HONOR claims 5,000 nits peak, which is frankly absurd. Samsung’s 2,600 nits is more conservative but still excellent. Huawei hasn’t listed peak brightness for either the X7 or X6, though real-world testing typically shows the X6 performing well in direct sunlight. The X7’s likely improved on this, given the other display upgrades.
The X7 features 1440Hz high-frequency PWM dimming on both the main display and the cover screen. This is significant because PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is how OLED screens control brightness by rapidly flickering the display on and off. At lower frequencies, some users experience eye strain, headaches, or discomfort during extended use. At 1440Hz, the flickering is fast enough that it’s essentially imperceptible to the human eye, making the X7 more comfortable for long reading sessions or late-night use. HONOR’s pushing 4320Hz PWM dimming, which is even higher, though for most users, 1440Hz is already well above the threshold where flicker becomes noticeable.
Battery and charging
| Spec | Mate X7 | Mate X6 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Magic V5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 5,600mAh | 5,110mAh | 4,400mAh | 5,820mAh (silicon-carbon) |
| Wired charging | 66W | 66W | 25W | 66W |
| Wireless charging | 50W | 50W | 15W | 50W |
| Reverse wireless | 7.5W | Not listed | Not listed | Not listed |
HONOR’s Magic V5 has the largest battery here, followed closely by the Mate X7. Huawei’s 5,600mAh cell is a substantial upgrade from the X6’s 5,110mAh, and in daily use, that extra capacity is noticeable. Samsung’s 4,400mAh cell is noticeably smaller, which explains why Fold users often complain about battery life.
Where Samsung really falls behind is charging speed. 25W wired and 15W wireless in 2025 feels glacial. Huawei and HONOR both offer 66W wired and 50W wireless, which means you’re looking at significantly faster top-ups. The X7’s 66W SuperCharge can get you from flat to usable in under 30 minutes, which is a genuine quality-of-life improvement if you’re the kind of person who forgets to charge overnight.
The Mate X7’s added 7.5W reverse wireless charging, which is handy for topping up earbuds or a smartwatch in a pinch.
Cameras
| Spec | Mate X7 | Mate X6 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Magic V5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main camera | 50MP (F1.49-F4.0, OIS, RYYB) | 50MP (F1.4-F4.0, OIS, RYYB) | 200MP | 50MP (F1.4-F2.0) |
| Ultra-wide | 40MP (F2.2, RYYB) | 40MP (F2.2, RYYB) | 12MP | 50MP |
| Telephoto | 50MP (F2.2, OIS, RYYB) | 48MP (F3.0, OIS, RYYB) | 10MP (3x optical) | 64MP periscope (70mm, 2.5x optical) |
| Additional | 2nd-gen True-to-Colour Camera | 1.5M Spectral Channels Ultra Chroma Camera | Not listed | Not listed |
| Front (folded) | 8MP (F2.4) | 8MP (F2.4) | 10MP | 20MP |
| Front (unfolded) | 8MP (F2.2) | 8MP (F2.2) | 4MP | 20MP |
| Video | 4K HDR, 17.5 EV dynamic range, telephoto macro slow-mo | 4K | 8K at 30fps, 4K at 60fps | 4K at 60fps |
The Mate X7 shares a similar camera setup to Huawei’s Pura 80 Pro, but the software’s where things get interesting. Huawei’s upgraded the True-to-Colour Camera to its second generation, which claims 43% better colour accuracy over the X6. The camera system uses XMAGE imaging technology with a 9th-generation ISP that delivers 4K HDR video with 17.5 EV dynamic range. That’s a significant step up in how the phone handles extreme lighting conditions, and in practice, it means you’re less likely to blow out highlights or lose shadow detail.
The AI photo-editing tools are clever. You can preview edits before you capture the shot, take the photo, then choose the result later. The external screen offers real-time preview of face expressions and movements, which makes it easier to nail selfies using the main camera array instead of relying on the 8MP front cameras. There’s also an AI feature that removes photobombers and clutter from shots with natural edge blending that doesn’t look aggressively processed.
Samsung’s 200MP main sensor is the headline grabber, but Huawei’s variable aperture system (F1.49-F4.0 on the X7) paired with XMAGE software gives more control over depth of field and light intake. The light intake on the X7 is reportedly 31% better than the X6, which translates to cleaner low-light shots and more flexibility in challenging lighting.
HONOR’s 64MP periscope telephoto with a proper 70mm focal length suggests better zoom performance than Samsung’s 10MP 3x optical setup. Huawei’s 50MP telephoto is a macro lens with 3.5x optical zoom, which is a different use case entirely. The telephoto macro slow-mo capability is unusual for a foldable and actually useful for close-up shots of textures, products, or nature.
The Magic V5 has higher-resolution 20MP front cameras (both folded and unfolded) compared to Huawei’s 8MP and Samsung’s 10MP/4MP setup. More megapixels doesn’t automatically mean better selfies, but it’s there if you need the extra resolution for cropping or detail.
Durability
| Spec | Mate X7 | Mate X6 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Magic V5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Water resistance | IP58/IP59 | IPX8 | IP48 | IP58/IP59 |
| Dust resistance | Yes (IP58) | No | Limited (IP48) | Yes (IP58) |
IP58/IP59 means protection against dust and high-pressure water jets. The Mate X7 and Magic V5 have full dust protection, whilst Samsung’s IP48 rating offers limited protection against solid objects larger than 1mm (think sand particles, but not fine dust). The ‘8’ in IP48 means it can handle water submersion, but the ‘4’ indicates less robust dust protection than the ‘5’ rating on Huawei and HONOR devices.
The X6’s IPX8 rating only covered static water immersion with no dust protection at all. The X7’s IP58/IP59 rating is a proper upgrade and makes it one of the most durable foldables on the market. If you’re frequently outdoors, at the beach, or in dusty environments, the X7’s protection is a genuine advantage over both the X6 and the Fold 7.
Memory and storage
| Spec | Mate X7 | Mate X6 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Magic V5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RAM | 16GB | 12GB | 12GB (256GB/512GB) / 16GB (1TB) | 12GB / 16GB |
| Storage options | 512GB | 512GB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB | 256GB / 512GB / 1TB |
| Expandable | No | No | No | No |
The Mate X7’s 16GB RAM is competitive, matching the higher-tier Magic V5 and Samsung’s 1TB configuration. Samsung’s the only one offering 1TB storage, which matters if you shoot a lot of 4K video or download large files for offline use. The 256GB and 512GB Fold 7 models come with 12GB RAM, whilst the 1TB variant bumps that to 16GB.
No expandable storage on any of these devices. What you buy is what you get.
Software and ecosystem
| Spec | Mate X7 | Mate X6 | Galaxy Z Fold 7 | Magic V5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operating system | EMUI 15.0 | EMUI 15.0 | Android 16 / One UI 8 | Android 15 / MagicOS 9 |
| Google services | No (GBox workaround available) | No (GBox workaround available) | Yes | Yes |
This is where the conversation gets uncomfortable. The Mate X7 and X6 don’t have Google Play Services. That means no Gmail, no Google Maps, no YouTube, no Play Store out of the box. Huawei’s AppGallery has grown, but it’s not a like-for-like replacement.
There’s a workaround called GBox that allows Google apps to run on Huawei devices, but it doesn’t perform as smoothly as native Google Mobile Services. It’s functional, but you’ll notice the difference. Banking apps, delivery services, and local South African apps are often missing or outdated on AppGallery, and whilst GBox helps bridge the gap, it’s still friction most people don’t want to deal with.
Samsung and HONOR offer full Google integration out of the box. That’s a significant advantage.
Pricing and availability
Huawei hasn’t announced South African pricing for the Mate X7 yet, but it’s expected to arrive in 2026. The X6 launched at around R44,999. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 starts at R41,999 for the 256GB model. HONOR’s Magic V5 pricing isn’t officially listed on the South African site, but European pricing sits around €1,700.
If the X7 launches at a similar price to the X6, it’ll be competing directly with Samsung on price whilst offering better battery life and faster charging. HONOR’s likely to be the premium option.
The verdict
The Mate X7’s a proper step forward from the X6. It’s thinner, lighter, has a bigger screen, a significantly better battery, and meaningfully upgraded cameras with XMAGE processing. The IP58/IP59 rating makes it more durable than most foldables on the market, and the 66W wired plus 50W wireless charging is properly fast.
HONOR’s Magic V5 has the biggest battery, the brightest screen, and the slimmest profile. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 has the most storage options, a 200MP main camera, and full Google integration. Huawei’s Mate X7 offers competitive specs with superior durability, faster charging than Samsung, and camera software that’s genuinely innovative.
What you pick depends on what you need. If you’re already in Huawei’s ecosystem or can work with the GBox workaround, the X7’s a compelling package with real improvements over its predecessor. If you need Google services and want the thinnest foldable, HONOR’s your pick. If you want maximum storage and a proven track record, Samsung’s the safer bet.
The foldable market’s matured. It’s no longer about who can fold a screen without it breaking. It’s about who can make a foldable phone that actually works as a daily driver. The Mate X7’s proving Huawei’s serious about competing in this space, and the spec sheet shows they’re not just keeping up but pushing forward in meaningful ways.