[맞짱] Chinese foldable’Mate X2′ vs Korean pride’Galfold 2′

Input 2021.02.23 16:29 | Revision 2021.02.23 17:29

Huawei introduced its new foldable phone, Mate X2, against Samsung Electronics’ foldable (folding) smartphone Galaxy Z Fold 2. It features an in-folding method that folds the screen inside like the Galaxy Z Fold 2. Compared to the Galaxy Z Fold 2, it showed superior performance in display size, resolution, device thickness, and camera, and presented a high price of 3,900,000 won.

In the mobile industry, Huawei’s release of foldable phones is unlikely to have a significant impact on the foldable phone market held by Samsung Electronics. However, it is evaluated that the in-folding method suggested a technical direction for establishing itself as the mainstream design of foldable phones.

Huawei unveiled the new foldable phone Mate X2 in China on the 22nd. The Mate X2 is Huawei’s third foldable smartphone. Unlike the Mate X (2019) and Mate Xs (2020), which are folded out (out-folding), this time, they chose an in-folding (in-folding) method. It is similar to the foldable phone Galaxy Z Fold 2 released by Samsung Electronics last year.

It is thinner and bigger than the Mate X2 and Galaxy Z Fold 2

Huawei unveiled the Mate X2 and emphasized the difference from the Galaxy Z Fold 2. It is explained that the design is similar to the same in-folding method, but the size of the Mate X2 display is larger.

Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei, said, “The competitor product (Galaxy Z Fold 2) has a 5 to 4 ratio, a 7.6 inches screen size, and a width of only 120.4 mm (mm), but the Mate X2 has a longer width.” “The 8 to 7.1 aspect ratio of the Mate X2 is the golden ratio of the foldable,” he said.

There is also a difference in OLED display resolution. The Mate X2 supports 2700 x 1160 resolution when folded and 2480 x 2200 resolution when unfolded, which is higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 2. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 supports 2260 x 816 when folded and 2208 x 1768 when unfolded.

The refresh rate (the number of times the display shows a frame on the screen in one second) that increases the clarity of the screen and the smoothness of the graphic is divided into rankings when opened and when folded. When opened, the Galaxy Z Folder 2 supports a refresh rate of 120 Hz, which is higher than the Mate X2 (90 Hz). On the other hand, for the cover screen, the Mate X2 (90 Hz) is higher than the Galaxy Z Fold 2 (60 Hz).

The thickness of the device is also a factor to be noted. If the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is 6.9 mm when unfolded and 13.8 to 16.8 mm when folded, the Mate X2 is 4.4 to 8.2 mm when unfolded and 13.6 to 14.7 mm when folded. When folded, Huawei explains that the bezel (border) of the cover screen is also thinner than the Galaxy Z Fold 2.

The weight of the Mate X2 is heavier. If the Mate X2 is 295g, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is 282g, which is 13g. As for the device colors, the Mate X2 is in four colors: Crystal Blue, Crystal Pink, White, and Black, while the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is in Mystic Black and Mystic Bronze.

Mate X2 is equipped with quad (4) cameras with more rear cameras than Galaxy Z Fold 2. It is a 50-megapixel wide-angle, 16-megapixel ultra-wide-angle, and 12 million and 8 million telephoto cameras. It supports up to 10x optical zoom. The Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a triple (three) camera with a 12 megapixel wide-angle, ultra-wide angle, and telephoto lens. Optical zoom is up to 2x. However, unlike the Galaxy Z Fold 2 that supports a camera on an open screen, the Mate X2 does not have a camera when it is open.

As for the memory, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 has 12 gigabytes (GB) of RAM, which is higher than the Mate X2 (8 GB of RAM). As for the storage space, if the Mate X2 supports 256·512GB two options, the Galaxy Z Fold 2 is a single 256GB capacity.

“Mate X2 will have little influence in the foldable phone market”

Huawei plans to expand its premium influence in the foldable phone market by launching a new foldable phone. CEO Richard Yoo unveiled the Mate X2 and introduced “It is an upgraded version of the Mate Xs, which attracted consumers’ attention as the best foldable smartphone in the market.”

Huawei offered the Mate X2 price of 17,999 yuan (3,900,000 won) for the 256GB model and 18,999 yuan (3.26 million won) for the 512GB model. Compared to Mate X’s price of 16999 yuan (292 million won) and Mate Xs’ price of 2499 euros (3.37 million won), the price is maintained at around 3 million won.

On the other hand, Samsung Electronics is gradually lowering the price of foldable phones. If the Galaxy Fold (2019) and Galaxy Z Fold 2, which fold on the left and right have a shipping price of 2398,000 won, the Galaxy Z Flip 5G (2020) in the shape of a clamshell that folds up and down is priced at 1.65 million won.

Samsung Electronics is expected to introduce a lower priced folder phone this year. This is because Samsung Electronics aims to increase profits from the popularization of foldable phones this year. In this case, in addition to the basic foldable phone, a light-type model may be available.

Samsung Electronics President Roh Tae-moon said, “We will expand the foldable lineup to popularize the foldable category in the future,” and said, “We will introduce a variety of foldable usability,” in a contribution to the company’s website in December 2020.

Mobile industry and stock prices predict that Huawei emphasizes performance that is comparable to premium price points, but the market influence will not be significant. This is because there is a high possibility that the Mate X2 will be sold for domestic use in China like the previous one. The situation where US sanctions persist is also a bad thing for Huawei.

Kim Ji-san, head of the Research Center at Kiwoom Securities, said, “As Huawei is walking downhill in the smartphone business due to US sanctions issues, it will be difficult to achieve meaningful results in terms of sales volume, etc.” “I think it will provide an opportunity for the method to become mainstream.”

According to market research firm Counterpoint Research, Samsung Electronics’ shipments of foldable phones in 2020 account for 73% of the world’s foldable phone shipments. Industry forecasts that Samsung Electronics will take the lead in the foldable phone market again this year. The expected market size for foldable phones this year is 5.6 million units.

Reporter Kim Pyeong-hwa [email protected]

Copyright © IT Chosun.