Dennis Gaviola

Article (news)

Arthur Fuentes

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776693779629huawei mate x7 garden.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>HUAWEI Mate X7 folding phone. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA — The HUAWEI Mate X7 is the latest flagship folding phone from the Chinese tech giant, and it continues the brand’s tradition of featuring top-class cameras, hardware durability and design finesse. However, the foldable phone market has been maturing over the last few months, and HUAWEI may need to pull more tricks out of its sleeve if it wants to stay ahead of the pack. In terms of hardware craftsmanship, the Mate X7 oozes elegance. The polished metal frame of the camera module blends smoothly into the vegan leather back. I also like the redesign of the camera module with its ‘Time Space Gate’ ovalized shape, which sets it apart from other Chinese-made folding phones that sport a circular design. <div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776693836467huawei mate x7 with box.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>HUAWEI Mate X7 folding phone. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</div><div>HUAWEI Mate X7 specs:</div>- Processor: Kirin 9030 Pro (Octa-core)- Memory: 12GB / 16GB / 20GB RAM- Storage: 256GB / 512GB / 1TB - Inner Screen: 8-inch Foldable OLED, 1–120Hz, 2416 x 2210 resolution- Outer Screen: 6.49-inch OLED, 1–120Hz, 2444 x 1080 resolution- Battery: 5,600mAh - Main Camera: 50MP, OIS- Ultra-Wide: 40MP- Telephoto/Macro: 50MP - Selfie Cameras: 8MP (f/2.4) on cover; 8MP (f/2.2) on internal screenAnother plus is how solid the phone feels when you hold it. It doesn’t feel like a device that would snap during one careless moment of mishandling. Its outer cover screen is protected by Kunlun Glass, Huawei’s in-house answer to Gorilla Glass. The Mate X7 now boasts IP58 and IP59 ratings. That means it isn&#x27;t just &quot;don&#x27;t drop it in the pool&quot; safe; it’s rated to withstand high-pressure, high-temperature water jets. Keeping all of this together is the hinge, which HUAWEI has said is even more durable than before. Interestingly, the crease over the hinge seems shallower than the previous generation. The Mate X7’s solid feel, however, doesn’t mean it feels bulky at all. It’s thin at just 9.5mm thick when folded, and 4.5mm when unfolded. Where the Mate X7 truly distinguishes itself is its camera system. Its 50MP main sensor is very capable and is a match for any flagship slab phone. Its 40MP ultra-wide and a 50MP periscope telephoto are also pretty good, when compared to the most popular foldable flagship. The two selfie cameras (one on the cover screen and one on the inner screen) are both 8MP. All of the cameras can shoot 4K video.<div>SAMPLE SHOTS</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776693867666nagoya garden tulips 2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Flower garden in Kuwana, Mie, Japan shot with the HUAWEI Mate X7. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776693998147nagoya garden tulips.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Flower garden in Kuwana, Mie, Japan shot with the HUAWEI Mate X7. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776694024810huawei mate x7 portrait 2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Portrait a flower garden in Kuwana, Mie, Japan shot with the HUAWEI Mate X7. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776694070170nagoya tv tower night.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Nagoya TV Tower shot with HUAWEI Mate X7. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</div><div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776694126169selfie.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/>Selfie taken with the HUAWEI Mate X7. Arthur Fuentes, ABS-CBN News</div>Its displays are also really good. Colors are vibrant and clear, details are sharp, and you’ll have little trouble reading both the cover and main displays in direct sunlight, as they both get sufficiently bright.Powering everything is a 5,600mAh battery, which easily clears a full day of heavy use. However, the Kirin 9030 Pro chipset is the one area where you’ll feel the trade-off. Built on a 6nm process, it is understandably behind the latest Snapdragon flagships developed through a 3nm process. While HarmonyOS 6.0 is buttery smooth for multitasking, the Mate X7 doesn&#x27;t quite have the speed and power of phones with the latest Snapdragon chips.Speaking of HarmonyOS, it should be mentioned that while the whole package feels like Android, it is not. It’s a different OS, which means that there may be compatibility issues if you’re using some specialized Android apps. But in my case, I never had any problems installing all the apps that I use–most of them are available on the App Gallery, which is HUAWEI’s version of Google Play and Apple’s App Store. If it’s not on the App Gallery, you need to take an extra step and go through intermediary apps like GBox or MicroG, but the process is really quite easy. You can get Facebook, TikTok, Instagram and other social media apps, productivity apps like Teams, Google apps, and even games like Diablo Immortal. You can get HarmonyOS versions of banking and e-wallet apps. One thing I don’t like, though, is the amount of bloatware on the phone, as well as the number of casino and loan apps on the App Gallery. I wish App Gallery wouldn’t push them so hard on HarmonyOS users.<div>VERDICT</div>The Huawei Mate X7 is a very good folding phone, with a luxurious design, top-notch cameras, and a robust build. If you value camera performance above all, this premium folding phone won’t disappoint you. However, as I mentioned earlier, other phone manufacturers have also been upping their game, with thinner profiles, better chips, and also cameras that are almost on par with their bar phone cousins. So HUAWEI has its work cut out for it.

The HUAWEI Mate X7 continues the brand’s tradition of featuring top-class cameras, hardware durability and design finesse. But there are caveats.

The HUAWEI Mate X7 continues the brand’s tradition of featuring top-class cameras, hardware durability and design finesse. But there are caveats.

REVIEW: HUAWEI Mate X7 folding phone doesn’t compromise cameras

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REVIEW: HUAWEI Mate X7 folding phone doesn’t compromise cameras

Arthur Fuentes,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 21, 2026 08:00 AM PHT

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