I have been an iPhone user for over ten years. After years of supporting a variety of devices in my IT support days, I subscribed to the “It just works” ethos and happily played in Apple’s walled garden. Sure Apple makes my life easier, as I seamlessly pick up where I left off with whatever Apple device is at close hand, but the lack of 5G in the Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max triggered me into trying something new.
My choice was made much easier when I received a review sample of the Huawei Mate 20X 5G. The phone has an incredible 7.2″ display (FHD+) and the same Silicon Kirin 980 chip from the Mate 20 Pro and the Huawei P30 Pro.
In a nutshell, this is almost the same phone as the original Huawei Mate 20 X. The big difference is the Balong 5000 5G modem inside. At the time of writing this, I do not have access to a 5G connection, which makes it difficult for me to review this smartphone. But what I can tell you is by adding 5G, there is a small sacrifice in terms of battery power, which has been reduced from 5000 mAh to 4200 mAh.
Compared to the Huawei Mate 20 Pro, there are few other notable differences. A jump from 6.39 inches to 7.2 inches in screen size will turn a few heads when you put your phone on a table in your local pub. The Kirin 980 chipset combined with 8GB of RAM & 256GB of storage means there is much more to this phone than style over substance.
Hardware specs
- OS: Android 9.0 Pie
- Processor: Snapdragon 670
- Screen: 7.2 inches
- Resolution: 1080 x 2160 pixels
- RAM: 8GB
- Internal storage: 256GB
- External memory: microSD up to 256GB
- Water resistance: IP53 dust and splash-proof
- Rear camera: 40MP + 8MP + 20MP
- Front camera: 24MP
- Video: 4K @ 30fps
- Battery: 4,200mAh
- Connectivity: 5G, WiFi, Bluetooth 5.0, NFC, USB Type-C
- Cellular speed: 60Mbps
- Dimensions: 174.6 x 85.4 x 8.4mm
- Weight: 233g
A rear-mounted fingerprint sensor, face unlock, a superfast 40W charger that will take you to 70% battery in just 30 minutes and a huge LED screen will be incredibly appealing for many users. However, make no mistake, this phone is all about the shiny 5G logo on the rear of the case.
Picking up the Huawei Mate 20 X 5G feels like a future proof option for users that want their smartphones to last longer than an 18-24 month contract. But if you have little or no interest in 5G you might be better matched with the standard Mate 20 X for a much lower price
Huawei has created the perfect streaming and gaming device with its huge screen and the fact that it will eventually take advantage of super-fast data speeds is a mouthwatering prospect. However, there is no escaping the fact that the 4G version has a bigger battery, headphone jack, and costs half the price.
Considering that 5G is not currently available, it’s hard to understand who would buy this phone in November 2019. All that said, I have fallen in love with the phone and would struggle to revert back to a smaller phone after using it as my main smartphone.
My best advice is to wait until the Huawei Mate 20X 5G drops in price and there is 5G coverage where you live. This brilliant beast of a smartphone with lightning-fast 5G speeds would be an unbeatable choice at the right price. But if you don’t mind playing the long game, the future is now.
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