The Huawei Mate X3 is a book-style foldable phone. Huawei announced it in China on March 23, 2023. The global launch followed on May 9, 2023, with sales in Europe from May 22. In Europe, it cost €2,199 for the only version sold there, with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Huawei no longer sells it, and the Mate X5 replaced it in China.
Design and display
The inner screen is a 7.85-inch OLED panel with a 2496 x 2224 resolution and a 120Hz refresh rate. Folded, you use a 6.4-inch OLED cover screen with a 1–120Hz LTPO refresh rate. The cover screen uses Huawei’s Kunlun Glass. Both panels use 1440Hz PWM dimming.
The phone measures 11.08mm thick when folded and 5.3mm when open. It weighs about 239g with the vegan leather back and 241g with the glass back. It has an IPX8 water rating, which was rare among foldables at the time. Global buyers could choose Black glass or Dark Green vegan leather. China also got Feather Sand White, Feather Sand Purple and Dawn Gold.
Performance
Inside is the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 in its 4G version. Huawei cannot use 5G modems, so every Mate X3 works on 4G LTE only. The global model has 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. You can add up to 256GB more with Huawei’s own NM card. In China, Huawei also sold 256GB and 1TB versions.
Cameras
The rear module holds three cameras. The main camera has 50MP and an f/1.8 lens. A 13MP ultrawide camera and a 12MP periscope telephoto with 5x optical zoom and OIS complete the set. Each screen has its own 8MP front camera. The rear cameras record video at up to 4K resolution.
Battery and charging
The battery has a typical capacity of 4,800mAh. Wired charging reaches 66W with Huawei SuperCharge, and a charger comes in the box. Wireless charging goes up to 50W with Huawei’s own stand. Reviews describe battery life as weaker than rivals.
Software and updates
The global model shipped with EMUI 13.1 based on Android 12. It has no Google Play Store or Google services, so apps come from AppGallery. Chinese units run HarmonyOS 3.1 instead. They also support two-way BeiDou satellite messages, which the global model lacks. Huawei did not publish a fixed update promise.
Should you buy the Mate X3?
The Mate X3 is no longer produced, so it is mainly a used or leftover option. It suits buyers who want a light, water-resistant foldable and can live without Google apps. The lack of 5G and Google services limits it in most markets. Newer global foldables from Huawei include the Mate X6 and Mate X7.
