Imagine: tomorrow, your smartphone no longer has Gmail, YouTube, Google Maps, or even the Play Store. Panic on board? For the first time, I asked myself this question while testing the Huawei Mate X6. Because yes, like all recent Huawei devices, it runs without Google services. A real leap into the unknown for an ordinary user like me, accustomed to the classic Android ecosystem. But is it really a daily headache, or just a matter of adaptation?
Huawei has had years to refine its alternative. AppGallery and Petal Search try to fill the gaps with third-party apps and workarounds. But between annoying banking services, car journeys without address history, and manual updates, convenience takes a hit. So, can Huawei make us forget all that with its latest technological gem? That's what we'll see in this review.
Price and availability
At €1,999, the Mate X6 is very expensive... but it's €200 less than its predecessor, the X3. In the same range as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 or the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, it's clearly playing the premium card. Available since January 13, 2025 in France, the Mate X6 comes in black and burgundy red.
In the box, a case serves as both protection and an adjustable stand (folded or unfolded). The cable and wall charger combo is included. This is rare in 2025.
Software: Google is absent, but there is a solution
If you're the type to panic when Gmail takes five seconds to load, brace yourself: the Mate X6 runs without Google services. In other words, no Play Store, no Maps, no native YouTube. Huawei has developed its own universe with EMUI 15, an interface that looks just like any Android... only more capricious. It's Android that's running in the background, but without the help of Google services.
At first, you feel your way. And that's exactly what happens when you discover modified shortcuts, settings hidden in unexpected menus, or the notification panel divided into two tabs. "Why keep it simple?" you wonder. The habit eventually sets in, but clearly, it's not for those allergic to change.
First instinct: open the AppGallery. There, it's a fairground of third-party apps and in-house alternatives. Spotify? There. WhatsApp? Also. But for Netflix or your banking app, things get tricky. Don't panic: Huawei allows you to install APKs via external stores like the Aurora Store. Translation: you can download almost any Android app, including YouTube or Gmail, via this backdoor.
The cherry on the cake is that MicroG (a fake Google framework) allows you to bypass connection alerts. Yes, it sounds like black magic, but in reality, it's just an app you activate once. The result: your emails arrive, Waze finds your route, and Google Drive backs up your photos. The problem? Updates don't happen automatically, and some apps complain because they don't recognize the device. A real game of patience.
Despite the software glitches, EMUI 15 is full of gems. Take multitasking: on the unfolded screen, you can open three apps at the same time. Another discovery: "Air Gestures." You make a V with your hand to take a selfie, clench your fist to lower the volume... Futile? Surely. Funny? Absolutely. And then there's the AI that silently does its job: it's supposed to hide notifications when someone looks at your screen, filter background noise during calls, or erase a photobomber from your photos. Details that remind us that we're still holding a premium smartphone.
However, not everything is rosy. Even with MicroG, Google Pay doesn't work. Forget contactless payments. Banking apps? Some refuse to open due to the lack of Google certification. Fortunately, this wasn't the case with mine. During testing, it was also difficult to access passwords stored in Google's password manager. You had to search for them one by one on Google Chrome, as autofill didn't work on third-party apps. The Celia voice assistant is nice, but it doesn't compete with Google Assistant when it comes to managing your reminders. As for software updates, Huawei promises only two major Android updates and three years of fixes. That's a far cry from Samsung or Google and their seven-year support.
We also feel that some applications are not yet fully adapted to the format. When opening certain games or applications on the external screen, such as Instagram, the latter cannot be displayed correctly on the internal screen once the smartphone is unfolded.
The same phenomenon also occurs when switching from the external screen to the internal screen. For example, you can see here that the follow and chat buttons do not always take up the full width of the screen. The phenomenon is also observed in certain games, which stretch strangely when moving from the external screen to the internal one, whereas they display correctly if they are opened directly on the internal screen.
Despite all this, are we able to cope? It all depends on your level of addiction to Google services. If you're willing to tinker a little, accept that some apps are a version behind, and dig into the settings for long minutes every time you want to change something, the Mate X6 becomes viable for everyday use. But if you need everything to work at the first click, without any preconceived notions, we can only recommend the classic Android platform.
Design: almost on par with the best
Folded, the Mate X6 slips into your pocket like any other smartphone. Unfolded, it becomes a thin tablet. At 9.9 mm thick when closed and weighing 239 grams, Huawei has achieved a feat: making a foldable screen almost ordinary. Well, so to speak. Because as soon as you handle it, the details remind you that you're dealing with an object that cost almost 2,000 euros. The aluminum shell and magnetic hinge inspire confidence, even if some Chinese competitors are even thinner.
Huawei offers its Mate X6 in black and red in France with a vegetable-tanned leather coating, and the case that comes with the smartphone uses the same material. On the front, the 2nd generation Kunlun glass promises to survive drops of 1.2 meters. The IPX8 rating allows it to be submerged for 30 minutes in a lake... but beware of sand, the sworn enemy of folding phones. Too bad for the beaches.
The opening mechanism is a guilty pleasure. Each click makes a noise that is both satisfying and reassuring; we are not afraid of breakage. The groove in the middle? It exists, but we feel it more than we see it. After a day, our finger glides over it without catching. The edges of the internal screen are almost invisible, but be careful not to tear off the protective film inside. The small notch for the selfie camera? Discreet, but a bit distracting on such an immersive interface.
On the back, the enormous camera block overshadows the rest. Thick and protruding, it makes the phone tip over on a table. But Huawei is on board: the beveled edges and mirror finishes make it almost a fashion accessory. The fingerprint recognition in the power button is fast, even if the adjustment (rolling your finger in a circle) is surprising.
The Huawei Mate X6 seduces with its simplicity, ergonomics, and deliberate choices. But like any foldable, it carries compromises. Still, after two weeks, you almost forget it folds. And that's perhaps its greatest achievement.
Screens: high-end with some concessions
On the outside, a 6.45-inch screen with a resolution of 2440 x 1080 pixels that's almost the same width as a conventional smartphone. Inside, a 7.93-inch foldable panel with a resolution of 2240 x 2440 pixels, almost square, reminiscent of paperback books. Both use LTPO technology. In concrete terms, this allows the Mate X6 to vary its refresh rate from 1 to 120 Hz in real time. In practice: when you read a static article, it drops to 1 Hz (economy), and it goes back up to 120 Hz as soon as you scroll or play (smoothness). Huawei offers three modes: "High" (120 Hz fixed, power-hungry), "Standard" (60 Hz, sober) and "Dynamic" (hybrid, with 90 Hz steps).
In full sunlight, in terms of brightness, no problem: the 2500 The promised peak brightness of the external screen and 1800 nits (peak) of the internal screen are holding up. 01Lab's measurements, more general than a simple peak, give 1348 cd/m² (up to 1613 cd/m² in HDR) with the external screen, enough to read your Waze route without squinting. The folding screen, on the other hand, is less bright, with a maximum brightness of 1036 cd/m² (up to 1239 cd/m² in HDR). At night, the screens go down to 2 nits, ideal for scrolling without glare. On the other hand, forget about HDR on Netflix or Prime Video in FHD: the Mate X6 is stuck in Widevine L3, that is to say in SD...
In terms of colorimetry, Huawei has calibrated its two screens well. In default mode, on the internal screen, 01Lab obtains an excellent delta E 2000 of 2.34 (less than 3, the perception threshold of the human eye). The external screen, on the other hand, rises to 2.43. In short, you won't normally notice the difference between the two, except in terms of brightness.
Huawei is aiming for balance: technically solid screens (LTPO, suitable definitions, good colorimetry), but which stumble on software details (DRM certifications, absent automatic settings). For everyday use, the Mate X6 impresses with its versatility, both as a compact screen and as a miniature tablet. But SVOD fans (YouTube, Netflix HDR) will be left wanting more.
Performance: always a train behind
Huawei continues to suffer from US sanctions, and consequently equips the Mate X6 with its latest in-house processor, the Kirin 9020. The latter is unsurprisingly less efficient than its rivals from Qualcomm or MediaTek, and shows its limits as soon as you push the sliders. In everyday use, no problem: the 12 GB of RAM and octa-core CPU combo (including a 2.5 GHz core) does the job required of it. Even when switching between 15 apps, the interface remains fluid.
On the other hand, if you want to enjoy a game in maximum quality, things get complicated. The Maleoon 920 GPU, although improved, lags behind the Adreno or even Apple's GPU. In games, the smartphone can't offer a very smooth experience on some of the most demanding titles such as Genshin Impact. Ray tracing? Absent. In short, it's like having a car without a turbo: it runs, but without the thrills.
The benchmarks tell a two-part story. On the CPU side, the Kirin 9020 outperforms the Pixel 9 Pro Fold's Google Tensor G4 in multi-core performance, a small point of pride for Huawei. But on the GPU side, it falls back into the mid-range smartphone rankings. And under prolonged load, the machine shows its weaknesses: in closed mode, performance drops slightly to avoid overheating. Unfolded, it's better, but don't expect miracles. Good news: UFS 4.0 storage is fast (you can feel the difference when opening apps), and the smartphone always stays warm, even after an hour of gaming.
The Mate X6 will handle your daily tasks without batting an eyelid, but could well stumble on the most demanding tasks. Additionally, the chip lacks 5G connectivity, which is a serious drawback for a smartphone at its price. Huawei is proving it can innovate despite the barriers, but the Kirin 9020 remains a notch below the best chips available today.
Battery and charging: still some progress to make, but decent
The Mate X6 houses two silicon-carbon batteries that offer a total of 5110 mAh. This is significantly more than smartphones such as the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and its 4400 mAh. In normal use, it easily lasts all day, even with the foldable screen often open. The 01lab measured a mixed battery life of 17 hours and 22 minutes with the external screen, and 11 hours and 15 minutes when unfolded. However, it is less than the Pixel 9 Pro Fold and its 4650 mAh, proof that Huawei still has progress to make.
The included 66W wired charger (100% in 1 hour and 15 minutes) is a good compromise. However, we found that the smartphone takes more than 8 minutes to start charging once the battery is empty. In 10 minutes, the smartphone is still at only 1% battery. So don't plan on charging it while you drink a coffee, or make sure you start charging before it turns off. Once you start charging, you'll get back to 28% in 10 minutes.
50W wireless? Practical for placing your phone on a stand at night. Huawei adds a clever touch: Smart Charge limits charging to 80% if you plug it in all night, then finishes charging when you wake up. In short, your battery ages less quickly, and you avoid the stress of overcharging.
The Mate X6 clearly doesn't revolutionize battery life, but it's quite good. Forget marathon days without charging, but count on it to last from morning to night. And if you have an outlet nearby, fast charging will do the job.
Audio
The Mate X6 uses two speakers (top and bottom) for balanced stereo, at least when it's closed. Open it up, and the distribution becomes asymmetrical, with the two speakers each placed on one of the two parts of the smartphone. But the immersion remains decent. The volume? Enough for a music session in the kitchen, but not enough to impress on a patio. The highs are clear, the mids well balanced. However, the bass lags. At full volume, it crackles a little, but you can't ask too much of such a thin smartphone.
Photo and video: very good
The Mate X6 arrives with a photo arsenal worthy of a premium phone. On the menu: a 50 MP main camera with variable aperture (f/1.4 to f/4), a 48 MP periscope (x4 zoom and macro), a 40 MP ultra-wide angle. All of this is accompanied by a spectral sensor for colors. The selfie part is provided by two small 8 MP cameras inside and outside.
Wide-angle
The 50 MP main sensor favors a dynamic aesthetic, with saturated colors and accentuated contrast. This treatment, ideal for social networks, can seem excessive in contexts requiring a faithful rendering.
Night photography reveals well-rendered details, although overzealous noise cleaning sometimes generates an artificial "smoothing" effect on textures.
90mm telephoto lens (4x equivalent)
The 4x optical zoom (90mm) impresses with its ability to capture precise details and balanced portraits without over-sharpening. On the other hand, the 10x digital zoom lacks finesse, recalling the limitations of hybrid sensors. Forget 100X, unless you want an oil painting.
The macro mode, allowing a focus of 5 cm, produces images with aesthetic background blur (bokeh), rivaling dedicated software solutions.
Ultra Wide Angle
With its 40 MP sensor, the ultra-wide angle delivers decent results in natural light, but suffers from a lack of sharpness at the edges and a tendency to over-sharpen.
In low light, Night mode increases brightness and saturation in an unrealistic way, but the results are still quite convincing.
Portraits
In portrait mode, the variable aperture (f/1.4 to f/4) creates a natural background blur, ideal for distinguishing faces. The 4x zoom allows for tight framing without sticking to the subject, perfect for street photography. But beware of colors: skin tones are not always respected.
Selfies
The 8MP front-facing sensors deliver detailed and balanced selfies, even in demanding conditions. The big advantage of foldable smartphones is that using the cover screen as a viewfinder for rear shots allows for high-resolution portraits, taking full advantage of the main module's capabilities.
Video
In 4K/60 fps resolution, the Mate X6 offers effective stabilization, but suffers from a lack of sharpness and a slightly washed-out rendering in broad daylight. Night capture, although bright, sacrifices detail in favor of aggressive noise reduction. The 10x digital zoom in video remains anecdotal, limited by degraded resolution.
Huawei has created a versatile system here, capable of satisfying creative photography enthusiasts thanks to its advanced tools (variable aperture, close-up macro) and dynamic rendering. However, the excessive software processing, visible in the oversaturated colors and smoothing of textures, may disappoint those looking for very natural shots.
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