Huawei’s Mate X7 Could Outspec samsung, But Faces European market Blockade
Paris, France – Huawei’s forthcoming Mate X7 foldable smartphone is shaping up to be a technical powerhouse poised to challenge Samsung‘s Galaxy Z Fold7, boasting a larger display, increased battery capacity, and a new in-house operating system. However, ongoing U.S.sanctions continue to cast a long shadow over its potential availability in key markets like Europe, potentially limiting its impact despite impressive specifications.
The Mate X7 is anticipated to feature a 7.93-inch main foldable display wiht 2K resolution and LTPO technology for an adaptive refresh rate, utilizing improved ultra-thin glass (UTG). The external screen is expected to measure between 6.4 and 6.5 inches. Powering the device will be a roughly 5500 mAh battery supporting 66W fast charging and 50W wireless charging – a significant increase over the Galaxy Z Fold7’s 4400 mAh capacity, though less than the Honor Magic V5.
Huawei will ship the Mate X7 with Harmony OS 6, its proprietary operating system independent of Android. This independence,however,is the core of the issue for European consumers.
U.S. sanctions prevent huawei from utilizing Google Mobile Services (Play Store, Gmail, YouTube, Maps) and 5G connectivity outside of China. The Mate X6,launched in Europe in early 2025 at €1999,suffered from limited sales due to these restrictions,forcing users to rely on Huawei’s AppGallery or complex workarounds for app installation.
The Mate X7 will be powered by the Kirin 9030 chip, developed by HiSilicon and manufactured by SMIC using a 7nm process. While technically capable, the Kirin 9030 is expected to deliver performance in the “high average” range, falling behind the latest Snapdragon processors. The lack of 5G support in Europe further restricts the device’s functionality.
