Foldable Phone Showdown 2025: Galaxy Z Fold6 vs Honor Magic V3 vs Huawei Mate X6 – Which Foldable Reigns Supreme?

Foldable smartphones have evolved from experimental gadgets into polished flagships, and 2024’s leading foldables – Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6, Honor’s Magic V3, and Huawei’s Mate X6 – are prime examples. These book-style foldables aim to replace your phone and tablet, packing cutting-edge specs, big immersive screens, and premium designs. Each brings its own twists: Samsung refines its pioneering Fold series with subtle but meaningful upgrades, Honor pushes the envelope on thinness and weight, and Huawei returns with an elegant foldable powerhouse (albeit without Google services). In this comprehensive comparison, we’ll dive into specifications, hardware design, software experience, pricing, availability, camera quality, battery performance, display tech, build quality, long-term support, and real-world durability for all three devices. We’ll also highlight expert opinions and peek at what’s next (rumors of Galaxy Z Fold7, Magic V4/V5, and Mate X7). Let’s unfold the details and see which foldable might reign supreme.

Design and Build Quality

When it comes to design, all three phones impress with premium materials and clever hinge engineering, but they have distinct strengths:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6: Samsung’s sixth-gen foldable refines the robust design introduced with the Fold5. It has a flattened aluminum frame and nearly gapless hinge, making it feel more streamlined and “normal” when shut theguardian.com theguardian.com. At 12.1 mm thick folded and weighing 239 g, it’s lighter and slimmer than its predecessors (Samsung shaved off 14 g from the Fold5) theguardian.com. The result is a device that’s “closer than ever to being normal phone-sized when closed” theguardian.com. Build quality is solid – Samsung uses tough Gorilla Glass Victus 2 on the cover and rear and an Armor Aluminum frame. It’s IPX8 water-resistant (up to 1.5m for 30 minutes) theguardian.com, matching the highest water protection in foldables (though like the others, there’s still no official dust-proof rating). Samsung’s hinge is rated for around 200,000 folds, and the company says it’s strengthened the mechanism for durability theguardian.com. Overall, the Fold6 feels every bit ultra-premium, though the camera bump protrudes a bit. As The Guardian notes, the “thinner, flatter profile” and reduced weight make the Fold6 easier to handle, and its refined hinge makes one-handed opening easier too theguardian.com.
• Honor Magic V3: Honor’s Magic V3 grabs attention as “the slimmest and lightest book-style foldable ever” at the time of its release techradar.com. It measures just 9.2 mm thick when folded (4.35 mm unfolded) and weighs only 226 g, making it markedly thinner and lighter than the Fold6 phonearena.com phonearena.com. In fact, it’s so thin that the USB-C port barely fits in the bottom frame phonearena.com phonearena.com. Honor achieved this using exotic materials: a “Special Fiber” back (a composite akin to carbon fiber or Kevlar), a “Super Steel” hinge rated for 500,000 folds (!), and a “Super Armored” ultra-thin inner screen coating that’s supposedly 5× more scratch resistant phonearena.com. The Magic V3’s design is both sleek and robust – it folds completely flat with no gap, and the chassis feels sturdy and premium (matte glass or vegan leather back options). It also carries an IPX8 water-resistance rating phonearena.com, a first for Honor, meaning it can survive splashes and dunks like the Samsung. The hinge’s polished metal finish and the circular camera module (in a decorative octagon trim) give the V3 a stylish look phonearena.com. Perhaps most impressively, the phone doesn’t look like a bulky foldable – TechRadar remarks you could “easily mistake the Magic V3 for a non-foldable device” given many regular phones are thicker techradar.com techradar.com. In hand, it feels like a marvel of engineering. The downside of shaving every millimeter? By most accounts the Magic V3 is sturdy, but its ultra-slim profile means less structural wiggle room – you’ll still want to treat it gently despite the “armored” screen. Still, experts are excited: “Super slim and light” design tops the pro list techradar.com, and the “almost crease-less display” (more on that shortly) is another benefit of Honor’s hinge design techradar.com.
• Huawei Mate X6: Huawei’s Mate X6 is a luxurious foldable that emphasizes elegance. It’s very close in size to the Magic V3 – 9.9 mm thick folded (4.6 mm unfolded) and about 239 g phonearena.com – making it one of the thinnest foldables, only a hair thicker than Honor’s. The Mate X6 uses high-end materials like aluminum alloy frames and offers premium finishes (including a faux-leather back on some colors). Reviewers have raved about its build: “extremely exquisite…an extremely beautiful piece of technology”, “super-premium feel” phonearena.com phonearena.com. The design has gentle curved edges (unlike the Magic V3’s flat sides), which PhoneArena found makes it feel even smaller in hand phonearena.com. It folds flat without a gap, thanks to a sophisticated multi-link hinge. That hinge is notably stiff – “it takes more force than usual to open and close… which makes it feel even more solid and sturdy,” says PhoneArena phonearena.com. When opened, it clicks into place with a reassuring snap and stays perfectly flat phonearena.com. The Mate X6 is also IPX8 water-resistant, matching its rivals consumer.huawei.com. Huawei’s choice of materials (e.g. “Kunlun Glass 2” on the outer screen, and durable carbon fiber elements internally) aim to boost durability consumer.huawei.com consumer.huawei.com. In fact, Huawei uses a silicon-carbon battery that’s denser, allowing a big battery without bulk – one factor in its slim design phonearena.com. Aesthetically, the Mate X6 exudes class: one tester called it “the most elegant foldable design” on the market phonearena.com. The red vegan-leather edition with gold camera accents is particularly striking phonearena.com. In terms of expert praise, PhoneArena flat-out states: “In terms of design, the Huawei Mate X6 is the best foldable phone at this time. Its sleekness, elegance and robustness make it the technological marvel to beat” phonearena.com. That’s high praise considering the competition. The only caveat: as a Huawei device, the lack of Google services (discussed later) means the hardware luxury isn’t quite as convenient out-of-box for Western users – but purely on hardware design, the Mate X6 is top-tier.

Overall Build Verdict: All three devices are built to premium standards, with fold-flat hinges and water-resistant bodies – a testament to how far foldables have come. The Galaxy Z Fold6 is a polished tank with a slightly more utilitarian design, now lighter and easier to handle than ever theguardian.com. The Honor Magic V3 is a marvel of thinness, pushing the limits of how slim a foldable can be without compromising premium feel techradar.com techradar.com. The Huawei Mate X6 finds a sweet spot of elegance and solidness – an ultra-thin foldable that still feels luxurious and robust phonearena.com. All have sturdy aluminum builds, refined hinges, and no obvious weak points in construction. Water protection (IPX8) is a huge plus on each – you won’t have to panic if you splash your pricey foldable (just keep sand and dust away, as none are dust-proof). In short, each phone is a flagship in design. Honor wins on sheer slimness, Huawei on refined style, and Samsung on proven durability track record – but none will disappoint those who appreciate high-end craftsmanship.

Display Technology

The foldable form factor means you get two screens: a phone-sized outer display and a tablet-like inner display. All three phones deliver gorgeous OLED panels, but with some different approaches:

• Galaxy Z Fold6 Displays: Samsung’s expertise in displays shines here. The Z Fold6 features a 7.6-inch inner Dynamic AMOLED 2X display (QXGA+ resolution ~1856×2160) and a 6.3-inch cover AMOLED (2316×904) theguardian.com theguardian.com. Both support adaptive 120 Hz refresh for buttery-smooth scrolling. A key improvement in the Fold6 is brightness – the main screen can hit a remarkable 2600 nits peak brightness (in high brightness or HDR scenarios) en.wikipedia.org, making it one of the brightest foldable screens to date. Even at full-screen white, it can sustain around 1449 nits, which The Guardian rated “Excellent” for outdoor use phonearena.com phonearena.com. In practical terms, the Fold6 is much easier to read in direct sunlight than earlier folds – “significantly brighter… HDR films really pop” theguardian.com. The cover screen reaches about 1600 nits peak en.wikipedia.org, also very bright. Both panels are sharp (approx 374–402 ppi) and support HDR10+ and rich color profiles. Samsung stuck with an under-display camera (4 MP) hidden beneath the inner screen for a seamless full-screen look, plus a punch-hole 10 MP on the cover en.wikipedia.org. The crease in the Fold6’s inner display is still visible and touchable – you “can still see the crease under the glare of lights and feel it in the center,” notes The Guardian theguardian.com. However, users report you quickly ignore it during use, and Samsung has progressively made it shallower. (Notably, it’s rumored the Fold6 is the last Samsung foldable with a prominent crease, as Samsung was aiming to reduce it further in future models phonearena.com phonearena.com.) Crease aside, Samsung’s foldable screens are top-notch in responsiveness and color. They also support S Pen stylus input (the Fold6 works with the special Fold Edition S Pen, sold separately), useful for notes or drawing on the big canvas.
• Honor Magic V3 Displays: Honor took an interesting approach by giving the Magic V3’s inner and outer displays nearly identical specs for a uniform experience. The inner is a 7.92-inch LTPO OLED (2156×2344), and the outer a 6.43-inch OLED (2376×1060). Both run at 120 Hz and even have the same 402 ppi density and color calibration phonearena.com phonearena.com – you don’t feel a quality drop when switching screens. The inner display’s peak brightness is around 1600 nits (Honor’s spec), and in testing it reached ~1000+ nits full-screen phonearena.com – decent, though dimmer than Samsung’s. The cover display is actually the Magic V3’s secret weapon: it can boost up to an astonishing 5000 nits peak brightness for outdoor visibility techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. That’s perhaps the highest of any smartphone display, period. (This likely refers to peak brightness in a small area or highlights; in everyday use it won’t be that blinding, but it indicates excellent sunlight performance on the outer screen.) Both panels use 10-bit color and high-frequency PWM dimming (3840 Hz+), aimed at reducing eye strain techadvisor.com. Honor also added its “NanoCrystal Shield” protection on the inner display to prevent scratches, and stylus support on the big screen (though the stylus is an optional accessory) techadvisor.com. Perhaps the biggest highlight: the crease is minimal. Thanks to a teardrop hinge design, the Magic V3’s fold is very gentle – TechRadar says it has “one of the shallowest and least noticeable creases” among current foldables techradar.com. PhoneArena’s review echoed that the crease is “much less prominent” than on other devices phonearena.com. In practice, you might occasionally catch a glance of it at an angle or feel a slight dip, but many users report it essentially “disappears” during use thegamer.com. This is a big selling point against Samsung. Both Magic V3 screens are nearly tablet-quality: large, vibrant, and almost crease-free – making reading, gaming, and multitasking a joy. The only drawback noted by some reviewers was an underwhelming auto-brightness algorithm and higher battery draw (the price of those bright panels), which we’ll cover in the battery section.
• Huawei Mate X6 Displays: The Mate X6 sports a 7.93-inch inner OLED (2240×2440) and a 6.45-inch cover OLED (1080×2440). Like the others, they are LTPO panels with 1–120 Hz adaptive refresh phonearena.com. Huawei’s color calibration and quality are excellent – testers note the screens are “gorgeous” with no major weaknesses phonearena.com phonearena.com. In numbers, the main display hits about 1800 nits peak brightness and the cover up to 2500 nits peak phonearena.com phonearena.com. While that’s slightly lower on paper than Samsung’s peaks, PhoneArena found the Mate X6 still plenty visible in most conditions – “not a record-setter, but cranks up to a comfortable level… no issues viewing outdoors in most conditions” phonearena.com. In their lab tests, the Mate X6 inner display reached ~1119 nits at full-white, which is decent (though below the Fold6’s 1449 nits) phonearena.com phonearena.com. The color accuracy and gamut were on par with rivals, meaning Huawei’s panels are as color-rich and sharp as you’d expect from a flagship phonearena.com phonearena.com. Huawei also includes features like HDR Vivid support and advanced eye comfort modes (similar to Honor, with high-frequency PWM and blue light filtering) consumer.huawei.com consumer.huawei.com. Regarding the crease: the Mate X6 uses a teardrop hinge too, so the crease is relatively shallow. However, PhoneArena observed you do notice it a bit more than on some competitors like the Oppo/OnePlus foldable – “you definitely feel and see it more than on the OnePlus Open… getting the crease flatter would be a great upgrade for the next Mate X” phonearena.com. It’s by no means distracting enough to ruin the experience, but it isn’t quite as invisible as Honor’s. Still, many consider it an improvement over older folds. One advantage on Huawei’s side: they’ve reportedly used an improved ultra-thin glass layer for the inner screen (likely similar to Samsung’s UTG), and Huawei’s Kunlun Glass on the cover screen, which is known for toughness (Huawei claims their Kunlun Glass 2 is even more drop-resistant on the Mate X6’s outer display) consumer.huawei.com consumer.huawei.com. In summary, the Mate X6’s displays are large, vibrant, and refined, if not breaking any brightness records.

In daily use, all these foldables deliver an immersive big-screen experience when opened and a handy phone-sized display when closed. The inner screens approach 8 inches – turning your phone into a mini tablet for multitasking, videos, or reading. Colors and contrast are excellent across the board (all OLED, deep blacks, etc.). The outer screens are all around 6.4–6.5 inches, so unlike early foldables, you’re not forced to use a tiny cover display – these feel like normal phones when closed. Each device has its own edge: Samsung pushes the envelope in brightness and has the most refined adaptive UI for its display (more on software soon) theguardian.com. Honor leads in crease minimalism and matching inner/outer display quality phonearena.com techradar.com. Huawei offers a nicely balanced take with sturdy displays and high resolution, plus unique touches like that variable-aperture camera viewfinder (the inner screen can double as a big viewfinder for the camera). Regardless of which you choose, you’re getting two high-end screens in one device – that is the magic of these foldables.

Performance and Software Experience

All three foldables are flagship-tier in performance, but there are some differences in chipsets and software ecosystems that affect the experience:

• Chipsets & Speed: Samsung and Honor have the clear advantage of using Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon chips, whereas Huawei, due to trade restrictions, uses its own Kirin chip.
  • Galaxy Z Fold6: Equipped with the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for Galaxy (a slightly customized, top-binned version of Qualcomm’s 2024 flagship SoC) en.wikipedia.org, the Fold6 is blazing fast. It has an octa-core CPU (1× Cortex-X4 prime core up to 3.39 GHz) and Adreno 750 GPU en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org, plus 12 GB of LPDDR5X RAM standard en.wikipedia.org. In benchmarks, it trounces most foldable rivals – for instance, in GeekBench 6, Fold6’s scores were around 2252 single-core and 6796 multi-core, significantly higher than the Magic V3 or Mate X6 phonearena.com phonearena.com. This translates to snappy real-world performance. Multi-tasking, gaming, and heavy apps pose no issue. As Droid-Life put it, “This phone has amazing hardware with a great in-hand feel, good cameras, gorgeous displays, and 98% of the specs you’d want.” More quantitatively, The Guardian notes the Fold6 “thoroughly trounces most competitors on raw power” and is “snappy when hooked up to an external monitor… as an Android PC” theguardian.com theguardian.com. It can run up to 8 apps at once without breaking a sweat theguardian.com. Simply put, the Fold6 is a powerhouse – on par with Samsung’s Galaxy S24 Ultra in chip performance theguardian.com.
  • Honor Magic V3: The Magic V3 also uses Qualcomm’s top chip, packing the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 (SM8650) with up to 16 GB RAM (in China; the global variant comes with 12 GB) phonearena.com phonearena.com. This gives it flagship muscle. In fact, Honor managed to include the “standard” Snapdragon 8 Gen3 despite launching in mid-2024, which was ahead of some competitors – one reason the Magic V3 has such a “stacked spec sheet” techradar.com. Performance is accordingly excellent: “zippy in all situations and it games like a champ,” reports TechRadar techradar.com techradar.com. They were able to run a graphically intense game at max settings with only minor frame drops techradar.com. The phone does get warm under heavy load (understandable given the slim chassis and powerful chip), but not to alarming levels and without significant throttling techradar.com. In benchmarks, the Magic V3 scored roughly 2150 single / 6507 multi in GeekBench 6 phonearena.com – just a step behind the Fold6’s tuned variant, but still among the fastest Androids. It also pulled around 4327 in 3DMark (GPU test) phonearena.com, meaning 3D performance is top-tier (Adreno 750 is very capable). One thing to note: some users and GSMArena’s review observed that despite the huge 5150 mAh battery, the Magic V3’s software optimization wasn’t initially squeezing out great battery life (more on that later) – possibly due to the chip’s power draw or display. But in raw performance, Magic V3 keeps up with the best. It runs Android 14 underneath, with Honor’s custom MagicOS 8.1 on top techadvisor.com.
  • Huawei Mate X6: Here’s where it differs: the Mate X6 is powered by Huawei’s in-house Kirin chipset – widely believed to be the Kirin 9020 (though Huawei didn’t officially name it in specs) phonearena.com phonearena.com. This chip is a step behind the latest Snapdragons in absolute terms. Performance is roughly comparable to a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 in CPU and somewhat lower in GPU prowess phonearena.com phonearena.com. Indeed, PhoneArena’s tests show the Mate X6 scoring ~1596 single / 5129 multi in GeekBench 6, noticeably below the Snapdragon-toting Fold6 and Magic V3 phonearena.com phonearena.com. GPU-wise, it won’t hit the same frame rates in the most demanding games as an 8 Gen3 device – in 3DMark the Mate X6 was behind (the listing shows Fold6 > Pixel Fold > Mate X6 in GPU) phonearena.com phonearena.com. That said, the Mate X6 does not feel slow in normal use. Huawei optimized it well: “it feels very fast and smooth” and “will handle most games without much issue,” according to PhoneArena phonearena.com phonearena.com. Multitasking, animations, and daily apps run without hiccups. It also comes with 12 GB RAM (and up to 1 TB storage on high-end models) to ensure smooth multitasking filpz.com filpz.com. Where the Kirin may show its age is in future-proofing and very heavy tasks (e.g., cutting-edge 3D games in a year or two might push its limits sooner). But for the most part, it’s “good enough to handle most anything” now phonearena.com. The upside for Huawei: the Kirin 9020 includes 5G (via an undisclosed modem) despite US sanctions – Chinese reports indicated Mate X6 units have full 5G connectivity, a big comeback for Huawei’s foldables.
• Software Experience: The software differences are significant. Samsung runs Android with its highly optimized One UI, Honor runs a customized Android skin, and Huawei uses a Google-less OS (HarmonyOS/EMUI).
  • Samsung (One UI on Android): The Z Fold6 launched with One UI 6.1.1 on Android 14 en.wikipedia.org and has since been updated (Samsung has a stellar update policy – more on that below). Samsung’s software is widely considered the most refined for foldables. It’s packed with features that take advantage of the big screen and multiple app use. For example, you have a persistent taskbar for quick app switching, easy split-screen and floating window multitasking, drag-and-drop between apps, and Flex Mode optimizations (apps can reconfigure when the device is half-folded). The Fold6 can run up to 3 apps split on-screen + 5 floating = 8 apps total if you really want to push it theguardian.com. As The Guardian lauds, “One UI is better than competitors’ software at making use of the extra size and flexibility of the folding screen”, enabling things like multi-window, app continuity between cover and inner display, and even a DeX-like desktop mode when connected to a monitor theguardian.com. Samsung also preloads enhancements like a drawing/note app optimized for the S Pen, and Flex mode panels (where, say, video controls show on the bottom half when the phone is propped up like a mini laptop). The Fold6’s software is essentially the same feature-rich experience as on the Galaxy S series, plus all the foldable extras. It’s also one of the first to get new Android versions – notably, Samsung promises 7 years of updates for the Fold6, meaning it will get Android OS updates and security patches up to 2031 theguardian.com. Indeed, Samsung confirmed “software and security updates for seven years from release” theguardian.com, making it virtually unmatched in Android longevity. (As of 2025, Fold6 has received One UI 7 / Android 15, and will likely see Android 16, 17, etc., until 2030-31). This long support is a huge plus for long-term users theguardian.com. In day-to-day terms, One UI on the Fold is polished and smooth, with thoughtful touches – for instance, you can have separate home screen layouts for the inner vs outer screen, app pairs for launching multi-window setups, etc. Samsung also integrated new AI features by 2025: the Fold6 has Samsung’s latest “AI toolbox” (from the Galaxy S24 series) including things like Google’s Gemini AI assistant integration, on-device transcription, image generation features (e.g. Samsung’s Photo Remaster and AI “Photo Editor” that can add objects to images) theguardian.com, and more. Most are nifty but optional. Overall, if you value a refined, feature-rich and widely supported OS, Samsung clearly leads.
  • Honor (MagicOS on Android): The Honor Magic V3 runs MagicOS 8 (based on Android 14) techadvisor.com. Honor’s approach to software is interesting – it’s a heavily customized skin with some inspiration from iOS in design. The interface might feel unfamiliar to stock Android users: it has a different notification shade design, home screen, and settings layout that borrow elements from Huawei’s EMUI (not surprising, given Honor was formerly a Huawei sub-brand) and iOS. Some Western reviewers find MagicOS a bit of an acquired taste, but it’s not lacking in functionality. In fact, it includes unique features that make use of the foldable form: “Magic Capsule” is Honor’s version of Apple’s Dynamic Island, giving pop-up controls (for music, timers, etc.) in a pill at the top techradar.com techradar.com. “Magic Portal” is a standout feature allowing you to seamlessly drag images or text from one app to another in split-screen – e.g. circle something on screen and search it, or drag an address from notes into Maps techradar.com techradar.com. Over 150 apps support Magic Portal’s context-aware drag-and-drop as of 2025 techradar.com. Honor also touts AI features: the Magic V3 can do on-device noise reduction for calls, live translate text and audio using cloud AI, and even upcoming features like detecting deepfakes in video calls to alert you of potential scams techradar.com techradar.com. Multitasking basics are present – a taskbar, split-screen, floating windows – but some reviewers say it’s not as fully realized as Samsung’s. “Honor could have done more with multitasking… you can split the display or use floating windows, but…” it’s a bit limited in flexibility, notes TechRadar techradar.com. Still, for most users, running two apps side-by-side on that big screen works fine, and MagicOS supports that easily. A big plus: since separating from Huawei, Honor devices have full Google Mobile Services, so the Magic V3 has the Play Store, Google apps, and everything out-of-the-box (except in China). Honor’s software update promise for the Magic V3 isn’t as lengthy as Samsung’s; typically, Honor provides around 2 years of Android version updates and maybe 3 years security patches for flagships (though they haven’t made a loud promise like Samsung). Given the V3 launched on Android 14, we can expect at least Android 15 and 16 down the line. The user experience on Magic V3 is generally smooth thanks to the hardware – TechRadar’s reviewer noted: after an adjustment period, “I have grown quite fond of MagicOS”, praising cool additions like Magic Capsule and Magic Portal techradar.com techradar.com. So while it may not be to everyone’s taste (especially if you prefer stock Android’s look), it is feature-rich and runs well. It’s also worth noting Honor has made efforts to optimize folding-specific UX, and since the Magic V3 saw a global release, the software is tuned for Western use (unlike some Chinese phones that remain very China-centric in software).
  • Huawei (HarmonyOS/EMUI): The Huawei Mate X6 is a bit of a special case. In China, it runs HarmonyOS 4.0, Huawei’s own OS that is Android-based but without Google. Global units (if you find an import or if Huawei launched limited versions) typically run EMUI 15 (also Android-based, sans Google) phonearena.com. In essence, the software is like a cousin of what Honor has, since HarmonyOS/EMUI shares a lineage with the older EMUI that Honor’s MagicOS also sprang from. The UI will feel familiar to anyone who’s used a Huawei phone: it’s polished, fast, and has a lot of features. It supports multitasking well – for instance, Huawei introduced a “Live Multitask” mode on the Mate X6 that lets you run three apps simultaneously in a tri-split view consumer.huawei.com. The system also has a taskbar, floating windows, and the usual gestures for multi-app (Huawei has long had a feature called Multi-Window). PhoneArena was very impressed with the Mate X6’s multitasking implementation, going so far as to say it “makes a huge splash by showing everyone how multitasking should be done on a phone – a huge thing for a foldable” phonearena.com phonearena.com. (They didn’t detail exactly why it’s so good, but it’s likely due to that triple-app support and perhaps smoother resizing.) The big asterisk: No Google Mobile Services (GMS). Due to U.S. sanctions, Huawei phones cannot ship with Google’s app ecosystem. Instead, you have Huawei’s AppGallery and various workarounds. The Mate X6 software comes with Huawei’s alternatives (e.g. Huawei Browser, Petal Maps, etc.) and you’d need to use tools like GSpace or others to get Google apps working. The good news is that by 2024/2025, using Google on Huawei has become easier: “the workaround to set up your Google accounts is mostly simple and reliable,” and even casual users can manage to get apps like Gmail, YouTube, Maps running with a bit of guidance phonearena.com. But it’s still a hoop to jump through, and things like Google Pay or certain banking apps may not work. This is the single biggest drawback of the Mate X6 for many users outside China. If you are comfortable living without official Google support (or tinkering to add it), the rest of the software experience is actually excellent. HarmonyOS is smooth and offers some neat tricks like a rich widgets system, device collaboration if you have other Huawei gadgets, etc. Another note: Huawei’s update situation is a bit unclear. They do update HarmonyOS regularly (HarmonyOS 4 was current in 2024, HarmonyOS 4.3 by early 2025 filpz.com). But again, Google-based Android version isn’t as relevant here – Huawei can improve the OS on its own schedule. Expect at least a couple years of feature updates, but not the long guaranteed timeline Samsung provides. Also, some global reviewers mention minor software quirks (probably due to the GMS issue or Chinese-centric defaults), but nothing that affects core usability. If we put GMS aside, the Mate X6’s software is on par with Honor’s in terms of capability – some even prefer Huawei’s approach to multitasking.

In summary, Samsung’s Fold6 provides the most robust and globally seamless software experience, with full Google support and an unmatched commitment to updates theguardian.com. Power users will love One UI’s multitasking prowess and polish on the Fold. Honor’s Magic V3 offers a snappy and feature-packed Android experience as well, with a few innovative features of its own (Magic Capsule/Portal) techradar.com techradar.com – it has Google services and will satisfy most users, though it isn’t quite as optimized for multi-app juggling as Samsung’s interface. Huawei’s Mate X6 software is highly capable and even visionary in some aspects (3-app multitasking) consumer.huawei.com phonearena.com, but the lack of native Google support is a significant consideration; for a tech-savvy enthusiast it may be manageable (and Huawei’s design and multitasking might even outweigh the inconvenience), but it’s not as plug-and-play for the average user. Depending on your priorities – whether you value guaranteed updates and Google (Samsung), or you’re intrigued by Honor’s fresh take, or you are willing to venture into Huawei’s ecosystem – the software could sway your decision as much as the hardware.

Camera Quality

Foldable phones historically compromised a bit on cameras compared to slab flagships, but these three devices all pack very capable camera systems. Let’s compare their setups and performance:

• Galaxy Z Fold6 Cameras: The Fold6 carries a triple rear camera setup similar to the Fold5: a 50 MP main (f/1.8, ~1/1.2″ sensor with OIS), a 12 MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 123°), and a 10 MP telephoto (f/2.4, 3× optical zoom, OIS) en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. Additionally, it has a 10 MP selfie on the cover screen and a 4 MP under-display camera on the inner screen for video calls en.wikipedia.org. In practice, this setup is essentially on par with a Galaxy S23 (non-Ultra) camera array. It takes excellent photos in most conditions: the main sensor produces 12.5MP binned shots with rich colors and good dynamic range, the ultrawide is solid, and the 3× telephoto is handy for portraits and zoom up to ~10× (beyond that it’s digital). However, it doesn’t reach the heights of the best slab flagships – no huge 108MP or 200MP sensor or 10× periscope here. Expert feedback: “Even Samsung’s Fold 6 doesn’t set any records in this respect [cameras],” notes PhoneArena phonearena.com. The Fold6’s camera performance is very good – about as good as a Galaxy S23+ – but not “best in the world.” It earned a Camera Score of 141 in PhoneArena’s ranking, a bit above the Pixel Fold and Mate X6 phonearena.com phonearena.com. That suggests it’s among the top foldable cameras. In real-world terms, daylight photos are sharp and vibrant, with Samsung’s usual tendency for punchy colors. Low light performance is strong thanks to Night Mode, though it can’t gather light like an S23 Ultra’s 200MP sensor would. The Fold6 can record up to 8K video at 30fps and crisp 4K60 with great stabilization en.wikipedia.org en.wikipedia.org. The under-display interior camera is the weak link – at 4MP it’s fine for video calls, but soft for selfies; most users will just use the cover camera or even use the rear cameras with the cover screen as a viewfinder for highest quality selfies. Overall though, reviewers found little to complain about: it’s a versatile setup that “is not a significant downgrade on flagship slab phones,” which is “thoroughly impressive” for a foldable, according to The Guardian’s Fold7 review (which noted Samsung’s big improvements) theguardian.com theguardian.com. While that quote refers to the Fold7’s 200MP camera upgrade, it underscores that Samsung was closing the gap. The Fold6 already delivered “great images across a range of lighting conditions” theguardian.com with its 50MP shooter, ultrawide, and tele. The main camera especially gets praise for reliability and balanced quality. If cameras are your priority, Samsung’s foldable no longer leaves you wanting much – though as we’ll see, Huawei and Honor brought some serious camera hardware of their own.
• Honor Magic V3 Cameras: Honor didn’t skimp on the V3’s cameras – it actually has one of the most spec-stacked camera systems on a foldable. The rear setup is a triple camera: a 50 MP main (f/1.6 aperture, likely a large sensor with OIS), a 50 MP telephoto (3.5× optical zoom, f/3.0, OIS), and a 40 MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 112°) techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. For selfies, it uniquely offers dual 20 MP front cameras – one on the cover screen and one inside – both with a 90° FoV techadvisor.com. This means no matter which screen you use, you get a high-res selfie (unlike Samsung’s under-display cam). On paper, the Magic V3’s cameras are hugely impressive – high resolution and wide apertures across the board. In use, they deliver excellent results. TechRadar praised that the V3 “has two stunning displays, a suite of great cameras, and some handy software features to boot” techradar.com. They list “Impressive cameras” as a pro in the verdict techradar.com. The main camera’s f/1.6 lens and 50MP sensor churn out bright, detailed images even in low light. The 50MP telephoto offers up to 3.5× optical zoom – a bit more reach than Samsung’s 3× – and being high-res, it likely provides usable hybrid zoom up to ~10×. The ultrawide at 40MP is also higher res than Samsung’s 12MP, which could mean crisper wide shots and the ability to crop or correct distortion with more detail. Honor also brought over some of its image processing tricks from its Magic series phones, like the “Harcourt portrait effect” for studio-like portraits techradar.com. In video, the Magic V3 can do [expected 4K recording] and likely up to 4K60 on the main and tele cameras (Honor didn’t publicly list all modes, but there’s no indication of missing features). One potential downside: software processing. Early reviews (GSMArena) noted that the Magic V3’s image processing was a bit aggressive or needed fine-tuning. Some images could come out not as balanced as, say, a Pixel’s. But Honor was issuing updates – and given the hardware, the capability is there. Also, the dual 20MP selfie cams mean you can take detailed selfies whether the phone is open or closed – a convenience for video calls too. In short, the Magic V3 might be the most overkill in camera hardware here. It’s arguably the foldable camera champ of its generation – TechRadar even called it “a serious contender for the best foldable camera phone” techradar.com. Its large sensors and high megapixel count ensure that daylight photos are packed with detail, and nighttime shots benefit from the wide apertures and Honor’s multi-frame night mode. The telephoto lens, with 3.5× optical, gives it a leg up for zoom compared to the Fold6’s 3×. If camera flexibility matters, the V3 won’t disappoint – just be prepared for slightly shorter battery life when using that beefy camera system heavily (a trade-off of powering those sensors).
• Huawei Mate X6 Cameras: Huawei has a pedigree in smartphone photography, and they leveraged that in the Mate X6. The device features a Leica-branded triple camera: a 50 MP main camera with a variable aperture (f/1.4–f/4.0) phonearena.com phonearena.com, a 48 MP periscope telephoto (5× optical periscope zoom, f/3.0, OIS) phonearena.com, and a 40 MP ultrawide (f/2.2, 120°) phonearena.com phonearena.com. This is essentially the same system found in Huawei’s Mate 50/60 series, which are known for excellent photography. The variable aperture on the main camera is a rare feature – it can switch between wide open (f/1.4) for low light or shallow depth of field, and stopped down (up to f/4.0) for more depth of field in bright scenes phonearena.com. This means more control and sharper group or landscape shots without over-blurring, while still being able to get creamy bokeh or better night shots at f/1.4 when needed. The 48MP periscope offers 4× to 5× optical zoom (some sources say 5×, PhoneArena mentioned 4×) phonearena.com phonearena.com, giving a significant reach – you can do 10× or more hybrid zoom with good detail. Huawei also included a multi-spectrum color temperature sensor on the camera system (Huawei tends to use an RYYB sensor or multi-spectral sensor for improved color accuracy), and the imaging is co-engineered with Leica, which provides some filmic color profiles. In terms of performance: PhoneArena gave the Mate X6’s camera a score of 137, just behind the Fold6’s 141 phonearena.com. They described it as “a pretty capable camera, especially for a foldable. Its pictures are in every sense Instagram-ready.” phonearena.com phonearena.com In their testing, images tended to be vivid, bright, and sharp – perhaps a bit too processed for purists (Huawei likes punchy output by default). They noted the Mate X6’s default photo mode can over-saturate and over-sharpen slightly, which makes for eye-catching shots “that make drab scenes colorful and full of joy” but not the most natural look phonearena.com phonearena.com. Some might love that style for social media – the photos “pop” – while others might prefer dialing back saturation. Unfortunately, Huawei’s camera app on the X6 didn’t have alternative color profiles except even more vivid ones, so you get the Huawei/Leica default which skews towards bright output phonearena.com. That aside, the hardware excels: the low-light performance is great thanks to the large sensor and variable aperture (the X6 can use f/1.4 at night to pull in light). The telephoto is “pretty great” – producing clean, detailed images across its zoom range, and at long zoom the algorithms keep things surprisingly sharp phonearena.com phonearena.com. The ultrawide was the weakest of the trio, with some softness at the edges and over-sharpening noted phonearena.com, but still decent. For video, the Mate X6 does up to 4K (no 8K here due to chipset limitations), and produces very stable, pleasing 4K footage in good light phonearena.com. Night video wasn’t as strong (common issue – e.g. headlights overexposed) phonearena.com, but overall video is solid and on par with other high-end phones at 4K. Selfies on the Mate X6 rely on a single front camera (inner display) of around 8MP or so (the spec in that filpz blog is confusing with “8MP+48MP+50MP” likely referring to front+periscope+main) filpz.com filpz.com. Huawei expects you’ll use the rear cameras for selfies by unfolding the phone and using the cover screen as a mirror – which you can, and that yields fantastic selfies with the main or ultrawide camera (just like Samsung’s cover screen selfie preview trick). Summing up, the Mate X6 delivers arguably the most versatile camera experience: that variable aperture main can go from f/1.4 (night or portraits) to f/4 (sharp daylight scenes) – something neither Samsung nor Honor offer. Its periscope zoom is the longest of the three (others top out ~3×, Huawei goes ~5× optical) phonearena.com. So for zoom enthusiasts, Huawei wins. Its imaging style is very vibrant (which can be a pro or con). PhoneArena’s verdict captures it well: “It doesn’t have the most powerful camera [in absolute terms]… but it performs very competently in those areas” phonearena.com phonearena.com – meaning you’re not sacrificing much, if anything, by choosing the Mate X6’s cameras. In fact, in certain areas (zoom, night mode) it might even outdo the Fold6 or Magic V3. One more note: Huawei’s camera app is feature-rich – from Pro mode to special night, portrait, and even moon mode (given the periscope, you can actually take moon shots). So photography enthusiasts will find a lot to play with.

In conclusion, all three phones break the notion that foldables have “weak” cameras. The Galaxy Z Fold6 offers a well-balanced, reliable camera set that’s essentially flagship-grade (just shy of Ultra-level), with Samsung’s typically excellent video and consistency theguardian.com theguardian.com. The Honor Magic V3 arguably packs the most raw firepower – its triple cameras with 50+ MP sensors give it an edge in specs, and it lives up to it with impressive results and high zoom range techradar.com techradar.com. The Huawei Mate X6 brings innovation with variable aperture and a periscope lens, producing vibrant shots and excelling at telephoto imagery phonearena.com phonearena.com. Each has slight nuances: Samsung’s color tuning is crowd-pleasing and its camera app is straightforward; Honor’s processing is improving but hardware is stellar; Huawei’s imaging is rich and feature-packed but requires dealing with software workarounds for sharing (no Google Photos backup, for instance, without hacks). If forced to pick, photography enthusiasts might lean Huawei for the flexibility or Honor for the across-the-board high megapixels. But the differences are not night-and-day – in regular shooting, you’ll get fantastic shots with any of these, and all can credibly replace your standalone camera in most scenarios. It’s truly impressive that foldables now compete head-on with the best camera phones phonearena.com theguardian.com.

Battery Life and Charging

All that big-screen, big-performance glory is powered by batteries of differing sizes. Battery life and charging speed are crucial in daily use, and here we see some divergence among the three:

• Galaxy Z Fold6: Samsung equipped the Fold6 with a 4,400 mAh battery (split into two cells, one in each half), identical capacity to the Fold5. For charging, it supports 25W wired fast charging (USB PD PPS) and about 10–15W wireless charging (plus reverse wireless charging for earbuds) sypnotix.com crackberry.com. On paper, this is the smallest battery of the trio and the slowest charging. However, Samsung’s power management and the Snapdragon 8 Gen3’s efficiency help it punch above its weight in endurance. In testing, many reviewers found the Fold6 can last a solid full day of heavy use and often into a second day of lighter use. The Guardian reported about “two days [of use] using the two screens for ~4 hours each and several hours on 5G”, needing a charge roughly every other day theguardian.com theguardian.com. That equated to roughly 7–8 hours of active screen time spread over 48 hours, which is impressive and “similar to the best regular phones” theguardian.com. In PhoneArena’s battery test, Fold6 also performed slightly better than some competitors (likely owing to Samsung’s optimizations). It’s worth noting that One UI has excellent standby efficiency and allows you to customize battery modes (light performance mode, etc.), which can extend longevity. So while 4,400 mAh sounds low for dual 120Hz screens, the Fold6 manages competitive endurance – one reviewer noted it “lasts about 48 hours between charges… longer than the main folding competition” theguardian.com, likely referencing devices like Google’s Pixel Fold which had shorter life. On the charging front, 25W is modest these days: in practice the Fold6 charges from 0 to 50% in ~30 minutes and to 100% in around 80-85 minutes theguardian.com. (The Guardian measured 0–60% in under half an hour, full in ~82 minutes) theguardian.com. There’s no charger in the box, so you’d use any PD charger. Wireless charging at 15W is convenient but slow (around 2 hours+ for full). Samsung prioritizes battery longevity and safety over extreme charging speeds, so that’s a conscious trade-off. The battery is rated for at least 500 cycles to 80% health (Samsung didn’t give as high a figure as Fold7’s 2000 cycles, but likely similar standard) theguardian.com theguardian.com. Overall, the Fold6’s battery life is good, not record-breaking – it will get through a day of heavy multitasking, but if you really push the big screen continuously (say, 7-8 hours of on-screen use in one go), you will drain it by evening. Fortunately, topping up to, say, 50% is relatively quick, and many users found they could adapt by charging during a break or overnight without anxiety.
• Honor Magic V3: The Magic V3 comes with a large 5,150 mAh battery (again split in two cells) phonearena.com. This is ~17% larger capacity than the Fold6’s, which in theory should give it an edge. It also supports much faster charging: 66W wired charging and 50W wireless (with Honor’s proprietary wireless charger) techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. In practice, however, the Magic V3’s battery life turned out a bit puzzling. Despite the big battery, some early reviews noted battery life was only average. GSMArena’s tests reportedly showed lower endurance than expected, and TechRadar observed that “even with all the extra milliamp hours, it doesn’t seem to last any longer than the Galaxy Z Fold6”, though it “charges a lot quicker” techradar.com techradar.com. Users on forums also commented that battery life initially was mediocre but improved after a few charge cycles or software updates reddit.com reddit.com. One hypothesis is that the Magic V3’s ultra-bright displays and perhaps less aggressive background optimization caused higher drain. Honor might also have a learning-based battery algorithm (as one Reddit user mentioned, Honor phones can “learn” usage patterns to improve standby over time). In any case, expect the Magic V3 to comfortably last a full day, but maybe not two. It’s still a lot of juice – 5+ hours of screen-on time with heavy use should be achievable, and moderate users might get more. The upside is the charging speed: 66W wired can fill the battery from 0 to ~100% in roughly 45–50 minutes, and 0–50% in under 20 minutes techadvisor.com. That’s a night-and-day difference from Samsung. Wireless 50W is also among the fastest wireless charging on any phone (though you need Honor’s compatible charger); it can do a full wireless charge in around an hour. So, the Magic V3 lets you “top-up” quickly; a short 10-minute charge could give around 20-30% boost, which is great for busy schedules. If you forget to charge overnight, the fast charge has your back. As for actual screen-on runtime, TechAdvisor noted the Magic V3 (with 5150 mAh) had “excellent battery life” on the previous Magic V2 and expected similarly solid endurance techadvisor.com, but GSMArena’s review gave a more lukewarm assessment (they got lower results than Vivo or Oppo rivals, possibly due to software not being fully optimized). Over time, Honor can patch and optimize – and indeed Magic V3 units by late 2024 were receiving updates improving efficiency. In summary, Magic V3’s battery life is at least on par with Fold6 (a day of heavy use), and its charging speed is vastly superior. One caution: all that fast charging can generate heat, and some users noted the phone can get a bit warm when gaming or charging (it’s very slim, so not much thermal headroom) techradar.com techradar.com. But Honor likely balances the charging to avoid overheating.
• Huawei Mate X6: The Mate X6 packs the largest battery here at 5,200 mAh phonearena.com. Furthermore, it uses a Silicon-carbon battery technology, which allows higher energy density (Huawei boasted about this tech in their Mate X series) phonearena.com phonearena.com. This is how Huawei fit 5200 mAh in a sub-10mm device. Charging is identical to Honor’s: 66W wired and 50W wireless, with support for reverse wireless charging too phonearena.com phonearena.com. In testing, the Mate X6 performs well – PhoneArena’s battery tests showed an estimated 6h 25m screen-on usage in their heavy mixed use test phonearena.com phonearena.com. They called it a “solid showing” with “no weak links” in battery performance, though not “shockingly long” phonearena.com phonearena.com. In their specific breakdown, they got around 15 hours of web browsing and 9 hours of gaming on a charge (likely standardized tests) phonearena.com phonearena.com, which indicates that in lighter use scenarios the X6 can go quite far. Users have reported that the Mate X6 comfortably lasts a full day and can often go into the next. With 5200 mAh, it has that buffer that Fold6 lacks. But one must consider the Kirin 9020 chip is built on a bit older process node than Snapdragon 8 Gen3, possibly 7nm or so, which might be less efficient. However, Huawei compensates with aggressive background power management – Huawei phones typically kill background apps to save juice (which can be good for longevity, but sometimes you need to whitelist apps for notifications). The IPX8 water resistance also confirms the battery sealing doesn’t compromise capacity. As for charging, the Mate X6 being essentially the same spec as Honor’s, you get the benefit of very fast top-ups. Going from near-empty to full in under an hour is easily done with 66W. It’s likely about 45 min 0–100%. Wireless 50W will do ~1h15m or so to full with Huawei’s Stand charger. This means despite the big battery, you’re not waiting long to refill – a huge plus for a device meant to be used for productivity (quick coffee-break charge and you’re set for many more hours). Importantly, Huawei’s use of silicon-carbon battery may mean better longevity in terms of battery health (silicon anodes can allow more charge cycles). Huawei hasn’t given a cycle count for Mate X6 publicly, but their Mate 60 series battery was rated for 1,000+ cycles. Also, Huawei includes advanced battery management in software (e.g., smart charge that stops at 80-90% to preserve health if kept plugged in).

Battery life comparison: In everyday usage scenarios, expect all three foldables to last through a busy day (morning to night) of mixed usage (screen on 4-6 hours). The Fold6, despite smallest capacity, holds its own due to optimization; testers got ~7 hours screen time across 2 days or about 5-6 hours in one day heavy use theguardian.com. The Magic V3 has the capacity advantage but seems to translate it into roughly similar endurance as Samsung – possibly 5-7 hours screen time depending on use – with the caveat that initial firmware wasn’t fully optimized techradar.com. The Mate X6 likely has the slight edge for hardcore use – its bigger battery can push toward that 7-8 hour screen-on in one day threshold, meaning a bit more cushion. So if you want the absolute longest-lasting of the three, the Mate X6 might win by a small margin (and perhaps with future updates, Honor’s might improve too).

Charging comparison: Here it’s clear: Honor Magic V3 and Huawei Mate X6 blow Samsung out of the water. Being able to go from zero to full in ~45 minutes (or get a substantial ~50% charge in 15-20 minutes) theguardian.com techadvisor.com changes how you use the phone – you’re less likely to worry about topping off. Samsung’s Fold6, with ~80 min full charge and no charger included, feels antiquated in this aspect. That said, Samsung’s slower charging is gentler on the battery and generates less heat; some users prefer the peace of mind. But if you value quick pit-stop charging, Honor or Huawei have a clear advantage.

One thing to consider: using these large inner screens for extended periods (e.g., watching movies or multitasking for hours) will drain any of these batteries faster than a normal phone. That’s inherent – lighting up a nearly 8-inch OLED uses more power. So if your use case involves a ton of big-screen time, you’ll be happiest with the bigger batteries or the phones that can recharge fastest. Conversely, if you often use the cover screen for quick tasks, battery life can stretch longer on each of them.

In summary, Samsung’s Fold6 gives reliable all-day battery life for most and benefits from Samsung’s efficient software, but charging is slow by 2025 standards theguardian.com. Honor’s Magic V3 packs a big battery but initially didn’t dramatically outlast the Fold – it still comfortably lasts a day, and its super-fast 66W charging is a major plus techradar.com. Huawei’s Mate X6, with the largest battery and similar fast charging, offers a great combo of longevity and quick top-ups phonearena.com phonearena.com. Heavy users or road warriors might lean toward the Chinese brands for that extra screen time or rapid recharging convenience. None of the three have user-replaceable batteries, but they all support battery care features (like Samsung and Huawei’s battery protection modes). And as a footnote: by prolonging the life of these foldables, you’ll likely consider battery replacements around the 3-year mark if you use them intensively (Samsung and Honor should have service centers, Huawei might be trickier outside China, but their battery tech could age well).

Pricing and Availability

Foldable phones command premium prices, and these three are no exception – but there are differences in availability by region and slight price variations:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6: As Samsung’s flagship foldable, the Z Fold6 launched with an “eye-watering” price of £1,799 / €1,999 / $1,899.99 (for 256GB) theguardian.com theguardian.com. Essentially, around $1,900 USD base in the U.S. It comes in multiple colors (Samsung offered shades like Phantom Black, Navy, Platinum, etc., and even a special edition in some markets). Samsung distributes the Fold6 widely: it’s available in North America, Europe, Asia, and more, through both carrier and unlocked channels. In the US, carriers like Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile carry it (often with trade-in deals or installment plans). It’s also sold in Samsung’s online store and major retailers. Availability is no issue – Samsung has global reach, and the Fold6 is sold officially in basically every market that Samsung operates in. By 2025, since the Fold7 launched mid-year, the Fold6 may even see some discounts or bundle deals as it became the “last-gen” model (Samsung often keeps selling the previous model at a lower price once a new one comes). That said, the price tag is high – Samsung basically set the standard, and competitors undercut it slightly. If you’re in the U.S., the Fold6 was the option among these three since the others weren’t officially available there. And while $1,900 is steep, Samsung’s financing and trade-ins (e.g., trading an older phone for credit) often softened the blow. In short: the Fold6 is expensive but easily obtainable wherever you are (except perhaps in markets where Samsung doesn’t sell at all), and it comes with full warranty and support in those regions.
• Honor Magic V3: Honor priced the Magic V3 a tad lower than Samsung (likely intentionally to compete). In the UK, it launched at £1,699 for the 12GB+512GB model techadvisor.com. In Europe, that’s around €1,799–1,899 (TechAdvisor quoted €1,999 for Magic V2, but V3 might be similar or a bit less) techadvisor.com. No official U.S. release – Honor, as a Chinese brand, doesn’t operate in the U.S. market, so you can’t buy it through carriers or stores there (import is the only route, with no warranty). However, Honor made the Magic V3 available in Europe and UK pretty soon after the China launch. It was announced for global at IFA 2024 (Sept) and went on sale in markets like UK, France, Germany, Malaysia, etc., by late 2024 techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. It’s sold unlocked through Honor’s official web store and retailers. As noted, “As with all Honor products, the Magic V3 won’t be available in the US.” techadvisor.com. In terms of pricing relative to Samsung, Honor highlighted that the Magic V3 “remains cheaper than key rivals…Galaxy Z Fold6 (from £1,799/$1,899)” techadvisor.com. So you’re saving maybe $100-$200 (or equivalent) if you’re in a region where both are sold. Availability: The Magic V3 comes in a few colors globally (Black, Green, and a Reddish Brown vegan leather) techadvisor.com. Stock might be a bit more limited than Samsung’s, but by late 2024 it was “available to buy now” from Honor UK’s site and retailers like Amazon, Argos etc., in the UK techadvisor.com techadvisor.com. In Europe and Asia, similar story – it’s available but perhaps a niche item compared to Samsung. No carrier contracts (since it’s unlocked-only), but some markets might bundle freebies or have pre-order gifts (like an included case or smartwatch, which Honor has done). If you’re in say India, Honor had exited but possibly returning – though at time of writing, Magic V3 wasn’t officially in India (some rumors said Honor might re-launch phones there via partners). For Chinese pricing reference: in China, the Magic V3 started around CNY 9,999 (~$1,370) for base, but that’s not directly relevant outside. The global price is higher due to taxes and positioning. In summary, the Magic V3 is premium-priced but slightly undercuts Samsung, and is obtainable in Europe/UK and parts of Asia, but not officially in North America. For those regions that have it, you’re getting a top-tier foldable for a bit less money, which can be quite compelling if you don’t need the Samsung brand or support network.
• Huawei Mate X6: The Mate X6 is the priciest of the trio and the least widely available. Huawei initially launched it in China (late 2024) and didn’t announce widespread global release at launch. However, by early 2025 there were signs of a limited global rollout. It was reported that Huawei quietly introduced the Mate X6 in global markets around early 2024, focusing on regions like the Middle East, parts of Europe, and Asia via online stores filpz.com filpz.com. The price in China started around ¥14,999 (~$2,050) for a base variant. In Europe, one retailer listing had €1,999 for 12GB+512GB (PhoneArena also cited “EUR 1999” for the 12/512GB config) phonearena.com phonearena.com. It’s roughly £1,750-£1,899 if converted, but actual UK availability was not official. Essentially, the Mate X6 is around $2,000 when you find it – making it on par or slightly above Samsung’s price. If imported to the US, the price would likely be higher (and 5G might not work fully due to band differences, plus no warranty). Huawei did launch the Mate X6 in early 2024 in some international markets like Singapore and possibly a limited European release via online Huawei stores filpz.com. That said, due to the lack of GMS and ongoing restrictions, Huawei’s foldable is a niche purchase outside China. It’s mostly enthusiasts or those who explicitly want Huawei’s tech (or are in markets where Huawei still has a following, like parts of Middle East, Latin America, etc.). A blog noted Indian consumers were curious about it, but an India launch would be tricky without Google – still, Huawei’s Indian fanbase might import it filpz.com filpz.com. If you do manage to buy one in a supported region, you’ll get a standard warranty from Huawei. But in many places, you’d be on your own (or reliant on the retailer’s import warranty). There’s also the matter of after-sales: repair and support might be less convenient compared to Samsung’s well-established network. On the plus side, Huawei often bundles premium after-sales for its expensive devices (in China they sometimes include one-time screen replacement or extended warranty). Colors for Mate X6 include Black, White, Gray, Blue, Red in China filpz.com filpz.com (not all may be available globally). The Red “vegan leather” edition is the halo version.

Price summary: All three are very expensive, hovering around the $1,800-$2,000 mark. The Z Fold6 is around $1,900 at launch and is widely available with potential discounts or carrier deals theguardian.com. The Magic V3 is roughly $1,700 (excluding VAT) in markets like UK – a bit cheaper than Samsung techadvisor.com – so it tries to offer more for slightly less money. The Mate X6 sits around $2,000+ and is harder to get; it’s more like a luxury import in many places phonearena.com.

As for value: Many tech reviewers point out that foldables are priced for early adopters and those who truly utilize the multi-functionality. For instance, The Guardian quipped the Fold6 is “for the well-heeled only, priced according to the many expensive gadgets it hopes to replace: your tablet, phone and PC” theguardian.com theguardian.com. Indeed, if you think of it as buying a phone + small tablet in one, the price, while still high, is a bit more justifiable.

Availability caveats: If you’re in North America, realistically only the Samsung is straightforward to buy and use fully (with warranty and 5G). The Honor and Huawei would require importing (and in Huawei’s case, dealing with no Google). In Europe or Asia, you have the luxury of choice – and competition has perhaps led to some price aggression (Honor undercutting Samsung).

Finally, consider resale value: Samsung’s Fold will likely hold value better in secondary markets simply because it’s in higher demand and people trust the brand (plus no app caveats). Huawei’s might drop more due to the Google issue (only enthusiasts want it second-hand), and Honor’s is new in the foldable space globally so it’s a bit unknown but likely it’ll depreciate faster than Samsung. So if you upgrade often, that might be a factor.

Durability and Long-Term Support

Spending nearly $2k on a phone means you expect it to last. We’ve touched on build quality and water resistance, but here we’ll focus on real-world durability over time and the companies’ long-term support (updates/repairs):

• Build Durability (Hinges, Screens, and Resistance): All three phones have improved hinge designs that eliminate the gap when closed (reducing debris entry) and use robust materials. They each claim high durability: Samsung doesn’t specify fold count for Fold6 publicly, but the Fold5 was tested to ~200,000 folds, so Fold6 is at least that. Honor advertises 500,000 folds without failure for the Magic V3’s hinge phonearena.com – that’s roughly 10 years of 100 folds a day, an ambitious figure (possibly tested in lab conditions). Huawei didn’t give a number but likely it’s similar league (Mate X3 was tested to 200k). In everyday terms, none of these should suffer hinge problems through a typical 2-3 year use – squeaking hinges and loosening are far less common now. In fact, early adopters of the Mate X6 report the hinge stays tight (though some might find it too tight initially) phonearena.com, and Samsung’s is smooth and balanced. All three have an armor or steel reinforcement in the hinge to prevent flex or damage. The inner screens use ultra-thin glass with plastic top layers. They are inherently more delicate than traditional phone glass. You should not press hard with a sharp object or peel off the factory-installed screen protector (in Samsung’s case) unless it’s replaced by an expert. Samsung’s inner screen has seen improvements since the first Fold fiasco in 2019 – the Fold6’s UTG is tougher and the protective layer is better adhered. Still, users are advised to avoid nails or sharp tools on it. Honor’s “Super Armored” coating claims 500% increase in scratch resistance phonearena.com, which, if true, means the Magic V3’s inner screen might fend off micro-scratches from things like dust or fingernails much better. That’s encouraging for longevity (pocket grit is less likely to scuff it). Huawei’s inner screen is similar to Honor’s in using ultra-thin flexible glass with special coatings; Huawei’s Kunlun glass is on the outer display (super tough, comparable to Gorilla Victus or better) consumer.huawei.com. They also mention new second-gen Kunlun on Mate X6, claiming improved drop resistance for the cover consumer.huawei.com. So outer screens on all three are toughened glass (Samsung uses Gorilla Glass Victus 2) en.wikipedia.org and can survive typical drops like any flagship – though with a heavy foldable, a drop could still be nasty. The inner screens won’t shatter thanks to plastic layers, but they can dent or puncture if hit by a pointed object. Water resistance: All three are IPX8, meaning tested to survive immersion (generally 1.5-2m for up to 30 min) theguardian.com phonearena.com. Splashing, rain, or even an accidental drop in a bathtub – these should handle it. This is a huge durability win compared to older foldables. However, none have an IP rating against dust (no IP6X). Dust is the bane of foldables – tiny particles can get into the hinge mechanism or under the screen protector. Samsung uses brushes and sweeper tech inside the hinge to mitigate dust ingress, but they still caution against very dusty environments (e.g., construction sites or the beach). Honor and Huawei similarly don’t have a dust seal (designing a hinge with dust-proofing is the next frontier, rumored for future models). Real-world, a bit of pocket lint won’t kill these devices, but you should avoid exposing them to sand or fine dust. A grain caught under the folding screen can press and cause a dead pixel or scratch when you close it. So, while day-to-day durability (against water and normal use) is strong, care around dust/sand is still needed. Most users won’t encounter a problem, but for example, using the phone with dusty hands or in a sandstorm could risk it. Samsung’s upcoming Fold7 was hoped to improve dust resistance, but leaks say it’s still IPX8 only tomsguide.com 9to5google.com (sometimes phrased as “IP48” in marketing meaning dust protected not proof – effectively IPX8 still) samsung.com. Long-term screen crease/wear: The crease on these devices, as mentioned, is minimal on Honor and moderate on Samsung/Huawei. Over time, the crease can become slightly more pronounced after thousands of folds, but given their hinge designs, it’s unlikely to worsen dramatically within a couple of years. For example, many Fold3/Fold4 users report the crease looks the same after a year or two. So that’s not a major worry. Known issues: Earlier Samsung folds had issues like the screen protector bubbling or peeling after long use (especially in high heat or if pressure applied). By Fold6, Samsung’s factory-applied protector is improved, but some users still choose to replace it after ~year if it shows wear. It’s replaceable at service centers. There were also occasional incidents of Fold inner screen failure (like half going black) – usually due to impact or debris. Samsung’s warranty often covers screen issues if not user-induced (they sometimes replaced screens for free if a known defect). Honor and Huawei being newer in global markets, we’ll see how their screens hold up. The Magic V3 underwent durability testing (JerryRigEverything did a bend test on it) and it survived without frame damage, indicating good structural integrity (its steel hinge and fiber back help). All three should be used with a case ideally – and they come with one (Samsung includes a basic one in some regions; Honor includes a nice leather case in-box phonearena.com; Huawei often bundles a case in China). A case will protect the hinge and outer shell from scratches and reduce damage in drops. Users also often apply tempered glass on the cover screen for extra protection (easy to do as cover is flat glass). One more point: Huawei’s Mate X6 has a faux-leather back option which is more durable against shattering (no glass back to break) – a durability plus if you get that variant (Honor’s brown version is also vegan leather). Samsung’s back is Gorilla Glass Victus which can crack if dropped on a hard surface, so a case recommended.
• Software Updates & Long-Term Support: This is an area with clear differentiation.
  • Samsung: As noted earlier, Samsung promises up to 5 years of security updates and 4 generations of Android OS updates for its flagships – but actually, for Fold6 they went further. In 2023 Samsung announced certain devices (Folds included) would get “7 years of security updates” reddit.com. Specifically, the Fold6 is confirmed to get updates until July 2032 (7 years from release) theguardian.com theguardian.com. This includes at least 4 major Android versions (Android 14 -> 15,16,17,18) and then security patches onward, possibly more if they extend it. This level of support is unprecedented in Android and even beats Google’s own Pixel support (at that time). So Samsung Fold6 owners can rest assured their phone’s software will stay current and secure for a long time theguardian.com. This also means better resale value – a 3-4 year old Fold6 will still be getting updates, making it more appealing second-hand. Samsung also has a robust service network for repairs – foldable screen repairs are costly (~£500 for inner screen out of warranty) theguardian.com, but Samsung offers Samsung Care+ plans that reduce accidental damage repair cost (e.g., to £139 as per Guardian) theguardian.com. There’s even a self-repair program in some regions where Samsung provides genuine parts for folds theguardian.com. All told, Samsung excels in aftersales: you can get your Fold6 fixed in many places around the world relatively easily (with some wait if parts need ordering, but at least they have official channels).
  • Honor: Honor hasn’t publicly matched Samsung’s update policy. Typically, recent Honor flagships (like Magic5 series) have been promised 2 years of Android OS updates and maybe an extra year of security (some Honor phones got a third OS update, but it’s not guaranteed). Let’s assume Magic V3 will get Android 15 and 16, and security patches for around 3 years. It’s possible they might do 3 OS versions (to keep up with some competitors offering 3), but nothing official was noted. Being a late 2024 release, it came with Android 14, so Android 15 in 2025, Android 16 in 2026 are quite likely. Beyond that, uncertain. Honor is improving in this area but not at Samsung’s level. As for repairs, Honor in Europe at least would have service centers (since they sell there again). Foldable repairs are tricky, but since Magic V3 is sold officially in UK/EU, Honor would handle warranty repairs (likely sending to a central facility). Costs out of warranty are unknown (but expect similarly high costs for inner screen). Honor’s build quality seems solid so hopefully few repairs needed. The Magic V3’s hinge being complex might mean accidental damage (like drops) could be expensive to fix if hinge misaligns. But with care, that’s rare. One community concern with Magic V3 was about battery life optimization – but Honor can address that via updates, which they did (the Magic V3 received some OTA updates post-launch). Honor likely will support it reasonably, but if long-term (5+ years) support is critical to you, Samsung still leads there.
  • Huawei: Huawei, unrestricted by Google’s policies, can technically update HarmonyOS as long as they like. They have been releasing yearly HarmonyOS updates for their devices (HarmonyOS 3 in 2022, 4 in 2023, etc.). The Mate X6 launched with HarmonyOS 4.0; it will get HarmonyOS 5 and probably many more iterative updates. However, these aren’t Android version upgrades per se (though underlying AOSP version might update occasionally). The bigger issue is security – Huawei cannot use Google Mobile Services, but they still likely push security patches (AOSP patches) themselves. The commitment isn’t transparent, but Huawei has incentive to keep their high-end devices updated to maintain credibility. Let’s assume a good few years of support, but the specifics aren’t clear. On the hardware support front, Huawei’s situation outside China is tricky. If you import a Mate X6 and something breaks, you might have to ship it to an overseas service center (unless there’s a local third-party specialist). In some regions where Huawei still has presence (like parts of Europe, Middle East), you could get official service. Huawei often stands by its premium products – e.g., in China they might stock spare foldable screens for repair. But as a user, you’d want to be extra careful because warranty and repair could be a hassle if you’re not in a supported country. On the plus side, Huawei devices have proven quite durable (the Mate X2 and X3 had fewer reported issues than early Samsungs). If any company knows how to build a hardware-tough foldable besides Samsung, it’s Huawei.

Real-world durability anecdotes: One common theme for foldables is screen protector issues – it’s advisable to keep the factory protector on as long as possible. If it bubbles or peels (usually after a year or two), have it replaced professionally (Samsung does it, and likely Honor/Huawei’s service can too). Avoid extreme temperatures: don’t leave the foldable in a hot car or in freezing conditions, as the screen’s adhesive and plastic can be sensitive (Samsung had an issue where very cold weather could make the Fold’s inner screen brittle – rare, but caution in sub-zero temps). Also, when folding, ensure no objects (even a small coin or pen) are on the screen – closing on a foreign object can crack the screen or damage pixels (people have shut earbuds or keys in their foldables by accident – ouch).

Warranty: Samsung provides standard 1-year warranty (2 years in EU) and often a free foldable screen replacement within first year (in some regions). Honor likely has 1 year and maybe a free screen fix promo (not sure, but some Chinese brands do that for foldables early buyers). Huawei had some promo in China for screen insurance. If longevity is a priority, consider those Care+ plans.

Future software durability: Samsung clearly wins with 7-year support pledge theguardian.com. That means your Fold6 could still be secure and getting features in 2030. Honor and Huawei likely will not match that – you might find after 2-3 years, updates slow or stop. That’s something to weigh if you plan to keep the device long-term. However, given how fast foldable tech is advancing, some people upgrade foldables more frequently than slabs, wanting the new innovations (thinner, new form factors, etc.). If you’re an annual upgrader, all this is less critical, but then you care about resale value – where Samsung’s update policy helps it stay valuable.

Sustainability: Fun note – these devices are somewhat repairable now (Samsung’s Fold7 for example uses more recycled materials and has easier battery pull tabs etc.). But foldables are still not DIY-friendly beyond maybe replacing the outer screen or back. At least Samsung and Huawei claim use of recyclable materials (Samsung said ~14% of Fold7’s weight is recycled content) theguardian.com.

In essence, Samsung offers the most reassurance for the long haul – IPX8 water-proofing, a strong service network, and years of software updates theguardian.com. Honor’s Magic V3 is well-built with water resistance and a durable hinge, but being a first-gen globally, its long-term support is more limited (you’ll likely get a few good years out of it though, and physically it should hold up given the materials) phonearena.com techradar.com. Huawei’s Mate X6 is built like a tank and a “technological marvel” durability-wise phonearena.com, but owning it outside China requires a bit more dedication (for services/support) – if you’re in China or a region with Huawei presence, it’s easier. All will serve a few years easily if cared for; if your horizon is 5+ years, Samsung is the safest bet due to its update promise and easier repair access.

Upcoming Models and Rumors: The Next Foldables (Z Fold7, Magic V4/V5, Mate X7)

The foldable race doesn’t stop with these models – newer generations are on the horizon or already launched in 2025, bringing further refinements:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7: Samsung’s 2025 foldable flagship (launched in mid-2025) is the direct successor to the Fold6. According to early reviews and Samsung’s announcements, the Galaxy Z Fold7 made several major improvements. It features a thinner and lighter design – just 8.9 mm thick when folded (down from 12.1mm in Fold6) and 4.2mm unfolded theguardian.com theguardian.com. That’s remarkably slim – roughly as thin folded as a regular phone in a case. Reviewers described it as “put on a diet” and feeling much more like a normal phone in hand theguardian.com. To achieve this, Samsung did use some new materials (rumors suggested a switch to a lightweight titanium alloy frame, similar to what Apple did, though Samsung didn’t fully confirm in all regions) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. The Fold7 also delivered on the crease reduction – multiple sources say “the crease is virtually gone” on the Fold7’s inner display theguardian.com. Samsung likely adopted a teardrop hinge finally, which allows the screen to fold more gently. This puts Samsung on par or even ahead of others in crease visibility now. The inner display is still 7.6”, but improved – brighter and with less crease, the “best on a foldable yet” according to The Guardian theguardian.com. Another headline upgrade: the rear cameras. The Fold7 sports a 200 MP main camera (same sensor as Galaxy S25 series) along with a 12MP ultrawide and 10MP 3× telephoto theguardian.com theguardian.com. This is a big jump from Fold6’s 50MP – it means the Fold7 essentially has the camera of an S25 Edge/Ultra, removing one of the last compromises of foldables. The Guardian praised the Fold7’s camera system as “top-drawer… a great camera system not a significant downgrade on slab phones” theguardian.com theguardian.com. So Samsung clearly listened to critiques. The Fold7 uses the new Snapdragon 8 “Elite” for Galaxy (likely Snapdragon 8 Gen4 rebranded) with 12GB RAM theguardian.com theguardian.com, ensuring it’s even more powerful and efficient. It launches with One UI 8 / Android 16 out of the box theguardian.com, bringing enhancements like new lockscreen “Now Bar” widgets and more AI features integrated theguardian.com theguardian.com. Battery capacity remained 4,400 mAh, but due to efficiency gains it still gets similar battery life (~2 days moderate use) theguardian.com. Interestingly, dust resistance was rumored but ended up unchanged – the Fold7 still is IPX8 only tomsguide.com 9to5google.com. So fully dust-proof foldables from Samsung might come later. In summary, the Galaxy Z Fold7 is a significant leap: dramatically thinner/lighter, nearly crease-free, and with a flagship 200MP camera theguardian.com. It basically addresses most criticisms of earlier folds (bulk, camera, crease). The price held around £1,799 / $1,999 for base theguardian.com – expensive, but not increased from Fold6. With Fold7 on the market, Fold6 might drop in price or be available as a cheaper alternative, but tech-savvy buyers will drool over Fold7’s improvements. If you’re considering waiting, the Fold7 brings the foldable that much closer to perfection, and Samsung’s Fold8 in 2026 might even add dust proofing or other surprises.
• Honor Magic V4 / V5: Honor’s follow-up to the Magic V3 is a bit of a moving target. Rumors suggest that Honor may skip the “V4” name and jump to Magic V5 due to tetraphobia (4 being an unlucky number in Chinese culture) androidheadlines.com androidheadlines.com. Indeed, a tipster claimed “the HONOR Magic V4 won’t launch at all, it will be replaced by Magic V5” androidheadlines.com. Whether named V4 or V5, this next Honor foldable is expected around mid-2025 (the Magic V3 was July 2024, so roughly a one-year cycle) androidheadlines.com. Leaked specs suggest Honor is aiming even higher: one report says the next Magic V could have a record-breaking battery capacity exceeding 6,000 mAh notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Specifically, certification filings (MIIT) point to a battery with 5,950 mAh rated (split between 2,070 and 3,880 mAh cells) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. That would give it a typical marketed capacity just over 6,000 mAh – potentially the largest battery ever in a foldable phone. This is likely a response to devices like Oppo Find N5 and Vivo folds, and the use of new silicon-carbon battery tech (similar to Huawei’s approach). The next Honor foldable is also expected to stick with 66W charging (no bump there) notebookcheck.net, but frankly with 6,000 mAh you’d want at least that speed. In terms of performance, it will almost certainly use the latest Qualcomm chipset – by mid-2025, that means the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3+ or Gen 4. In fact, leaks call it the Snapdragon 8 “Elite” Leading Version for Magic V5 notebookcheck.net – which likely is the same chip family Samsung uses in Fold7 (Gen4). So Honor won’t be left behind in performance. Design-wise, Honor will likely continue to push thinness and lightness. Rumors teased that it might “surpass Oppo Find N5 and Vivo X Fold3 as the world’s thinnest and lightest foldable” notebookcheck.net. Given the Magic V3 was 9.2mm folded, maybe they try to go under 8.9mm to reclaim the crown from Samsung Fold7 and Oppo. It’s a challenging balance if they also increase battery, but perhaps using new materials (maybe titanium frame?) and more compact internals. There were also whispers of Honor improving the hinge to possibly add some dust resistance, but nothing concrete yet. On cameras, nothing specific leaked yet, but one can speculate Honor might upgrade something like using a new main sensor (maybe a 1-inch 50MP like Magic5 Ultimate had? That could make it heavy though). Or they might stick to a similar triple setup if it ain’t broke. In any event, Honor’s next foldable (Magic V5) is shaping up to focus on battery and thinness as key selling points notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. Also notable, Honor might expedite global launch – rumor said Magic V5 could launch before Samsung’s Fold7 in 2025 notebookcheck.net, potentially giving them a head start in the news cycle notebookcheck.net. If Honor can pull off a foldable with 6,000 mAh battery, sub-9mm thickness, and the latest chip, all while maintaining or improving on V3’s features (water resistance, great display, cameras), that will be a formidable competitor. Price will likely remain similar (£1699-1799).
• Huawei Mate X7: Huawei isn’t sitting still either. Leaks out of China (via GizChina and others) indicate the Mate X7 is in development for late 2025 (perhaps Q3 or Q4 2025) gizchina.com gizchina.com. The Mate X6 debuted in late 2024 (China), so a roughly yearly cadence makes sense. What can we expect? First, Huawei will likely continue the ultra-thin foldable design – rumors say X7 will be another “ultra-thin book-style foldable” carrying on X6’s approach gizchina.com. Possibly they might shave it to ~8.5mm folded or similar (given Samsung hit 8.9, Huawei will want to beat that). Indeed, one leak suggests Huawei intends to “shift the conversation again around ultra-thin foldables” with Mate X7 gizchina.com gizchina.com. Displays: The Mate X7 is rumored to have a 7.95-inch inner OLED (basically 8-inch) with “2K” resolution and LTPO 1-120Hz gizchina.com gizchina.com. So slightly larger screen than X6’s 7.93, likely narrower bezels. It will use ultra-thin glass again and probably improve brightness. Water resistance will remain (at least IPX8) – leaks say it’s “teased” but not confirmed if it’ll go beyond X8 gizchina.com gizchina.com. Camera tech: This is where Huawei might leapfrog. It’s reported Huawei is testing multiple 50MP sensors: possibly using a larger 50MP main sensor (1/1.3″ size) with variable aperture, or sticking to a 1/1.56″ 50MP depending on yield gizchina.com gizchina.com. There’s mention of a 50MP periscope telephoto that doubles as a macro (maybe with close focus), plus a multi-spectral camera for color accuracy gizchina.com gizchina.com, and an ultrawide (unknown MP). So the Mate X7 could pack a quad-camera system (Main + Periscope + Ultrawide + multispectral sensor). Huawei partnering with Leica means they’ll push imaging boundaries – perhaps even a step up from X6’s already great system. A multi-spectral sensor would help with better white balance and perhaps mimic their P60’s RYYB low-light abilities gizchina.com. With a 1/1.3″ main sensor, we’d see even better low-light and detail (that size is similar to Samsung’s 200MP, but lower MP, higher pixel size). Performance: Huawei likely will use an in-house Kirin 9030 or 9040 if they continue, built on improved node (they surprised the world in 2023 with a 7nm 5G Kirin; by 2025 maybe they’ll have 5nm). If not, possibly a 4G Snapdragon 8 Gen3 variant. But rumor suggests they stick to Kirin and even incorporate 5G again. So performance could improve, though still may lag Qualcomm’s latest a bit. Battery: one rumor claims the Mate X7 might actually use a slightly smaller battery than X6 to save weight (one Notebookcheck snippet said “tipped to come with smaller battery than Mate X6” – maybe to reduce thickness) notebookcheck.net notebookcheck.net. This is unconfirmed, but Huawei might aim for, say, 4800-5000 mAh to trim a millimeter. However, others think they’ll keep ~5200 mAh. They will almost certainly keep 66W/50W charging, as Huawei’s already at that and their 90W attempt in Mate X2 had heat issues, so 66W strikes a balance. Unique form-factors: Another exciting rumor is Huawei working on a tri-fold device (the Mate XT2) for late 2025 alongside X7 yugatech.com gizmochina.com. That would be a different product (a tablet-sized foldable that folds twice). If that comes, Huawei could again be pioneering new formats. But focusing on X7: it sounds like an evolution focusing on even better cameras and maintaining an ultra-thin premium build gizchina.com gizchina.com. If they execute well, leaks say “the Huawei Mate X7 could be the foldable to beat this fall [2025]”, combining “a nearly 8-inch screen, 50MP triple cameras, water resistance, and a slim chassis” into one device gizchina.com. That optimism gizchina.com shows Huawei is expected to push boundaries. Availability will likely remain limited globally, but tech enthusiasts will keep an eye on it as a benchmark of innovation.

In addition to those, it’s worth noting other upcoming foldables in 2025 from competitors: Google might release a Pixel Fold2 (the “Pixel 9 Pro Fold” mentioned earlier is presumably a 2024 model that got a camera score of 139, per PhoneArena’s chart phonearena.com). OnePlus might have a second-gen Open, and Xiaomi/Vivo will iterate too. Oppo’s Find N5 was referenced as having a huge battery and being extremely thin notebookcheck.net. All this to say, the foldable market in 2025 is heating up with lots of innovation.

For our trio’s brands specifically: Samsung’s Z Fold7 demonstrates Samsung’s commitment to addressing user feedback – it’s “a giant leap over previous models, removing many niggles” theguardian.com. Honor’s next foldable (whether V5) seems poised to focus on raw specs like battery and being first with new Qualcomm chips notebookcheck.net. Huawei’s Mate X7 will likely double down on design elegance and camera superiority gizchina.com.

If you’re planning ahead: The Fold7 is the one to beat as of late 2025, especially for global users (it’s widely available and truly polished). The Magic V5 could be a dark horse if Honor continues aggressive pricing and solves the battery optimization fully – a 6,000 mAh foldable under 9mm would attract power users. And Huawei’s Mate X7, while niche due to software, might set new standards in hardware capability for foldables, possibly boasting the best camera system among foldables and an incredibly refined build.

In essence, the foldable arena is evolving fast. What’s cutting-edge in the Z Fold6, Magic V3, and Mate X6 today will be further refined tomorrow. The good news: even if you buy now, these models are so advanced that they will remain powerful and relevant for years. But expect features like creaseless displays, even better durability (dust proofing), lighter builds, and crazy cameras to continue trickling into the next generation as seen in the Z Fold7 and rumored in others theguardian.com gizchina.com. It’s an exciting time – foldables are truly coming into their own, and these three devices are evidence of that progress.

Conclusion

Choosing between the Galaxy Z Fold6, Honor Magic V3, and Huawei Mate X6 isn’t easy – they’re all cutting-edge foldables that bring phone and tablet experiences together, yet each caters to slightly different priorities:

• Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold6 excels as the all-rounder: it offers a highly refined user experience with rock-solid software (and unmatched 7-year update support) theguardian.com, strong multitasking capabilities, and a proven durable design (IPX8 water protection, sturdy hinge) theguardian.com theguardian.com. It may not have the flashiest specs on paper (e.g. “only” 50MP camera, 25W charging), but it’s incredibly well-balanced. It’s the safe choice if you want a foldable that “just works” globally – Google services, Samsung’s support network, and a polished One UI make it hassle-free. As one review put it, “the Fold6 is the ultra-premium device of choice”, aiming to replace your phone+tablet and doing so with “small but meaningful” upgrades that keep it on top theguardian.com theguardian.com. With the Fold7 out now, the Fold6 might even be found at a slight discount, making it a bit more accessible. If longevity, after-sales, and an excellent, no-compromise (aside from price) experience are your priorities, the Galaxy Z Fold6 remains a fantastic pick – and it’s still arguably “the best folder going” of its generation despite only iterative upgrades theguardian.com.
• Honor’s Magic V3 shines as the sleek innovator: it’s the thinnest and one of the lightest foldables, without sacrificing premium features techradar.com techradar.com. In hand, it feels futuristic – that near-crease-less 7.9” display phonearena.com and the mere 9.2mm folded profile really wow users who dislike bulky gadgets. Yet it also packs a punch: top-tier Snapdragon 8 Gen3 performance techradar.com, a monster 5150 mAh battery (with super-fast charging) techadvisor.com, and a very robust camera array that can trade blows with any phone techradar.com techradar.com. Reviewers call it “a feat of engineering that feels premium through and through” techradar.com techradar.com. There are minor caveats – MagicOS software is feature-rich but a departure from stock Android, and its long-term update policy isn’t as generous as Samsung’s. Also, availability is limited to certain regions (no USA). But for those who can get it, the Magic V3 is arguably the most technically impressive device here – it “raises the foldable bar” by proving a foldable can be super-slim, water-resistant, and still perform like a champ techradar.com techradar.com. If you’re an early adopter who values cutting-edge design (and bragging rights to the thinnest foldable) and you don’t mind its premium-but-slightly-lower-than-Samsung price, the Honor Magic V3 is an outstanding choice that shows how far foldables have come.
• Huawei’s Mate X6 stands out as the luxury powerhouse: it combines an elegant, robust build with some of the best tech in the industry. The Mate X6 has been called “the most elegant” foldable and “a technological marvel” in design phonearena.com, melding a slim, curved form with premium touches (like the beautiful vegan leather option). It’s not just looks – it’s tough (IPX8 water resistant, high-grade materials) and has thoughtful durability features like its second-gen Kunlun glass and reinforced hinge phonearena.com consumer.huawei.com. Its camera system is perhaps the most versatile here – variable aperture, periscope zoom, Leica color science – making it a joy for photography enthusiasts phonearena.com phonearena.com. And its large battery with fast charging ensures it keeps up all day phonearena.com phonearena.com. The elephant in the room is software: without Google services, it demands a bit of effort for Western users phonearena.com. Yet, Huawei’s HarmonyOS/EMUI is smooth and highly capable, even pioneering some multitasking ideas (like running 3 apps at once) consumer.huawei.com phonearena.com. If you can live without native Google integration (or are willing to use workarounds), the Mate X6 rewards you with a truly top-tier device that in many respects leads in hardware innovation. It is the priciest and hardest to obtain of the trio – more for the tech connoisseur or those in regions where Huawei still operates. But as PhoneArena concluded, “the Mate X6 is not just a great foldable, but a great phone, full stop” phonearena.com – using it is “a celebration for every foldable fan” phonearena.com. That sentiment sums it up: despite its hurdles, the Mate X6 delivers a uniquely gratifying user experience that some will find well worth it.

In closing, these three foldables collectively show how far the genre has come. You no longer have to accept major compromises – you get big, bright 120Hz displays, waterproofing, strong cameras, all-day batteries, and decent durability in a single device that folds into your pocket. They each have their edge: the Fold6 is the most well-rounded and supported, the Magic V3 is the slick new contender pushing design boundaries, and the Mate X6 is the elegant innovator with photographic flair. Whichever you choose, you’ll be treated to the cutting edge of mobile technology in 2025. As foldables continue to mature with upcoming models (Galaxy Fold7’s nearly invisible crease and 200MP camera, Honor’s rumored battery beast Magic V5, Huawei’s ambitious Mate X7, etc.), the future looks bright and bendy. But for now, the Galaxy Z Fold6, Honor Magic V3, and Huawei Mate X6 are three of the best foldable phones on the planet – each ready to unfold a new world of possibilities in your daily life.

Sources:

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 review – The Guardian (Aug 2024) theguardian.com theguardian.com theguardian.com theguardian.com
• Honor Magic V3 coverage – Tech Advisor / TechRadar (2024) techadvisor.com techradar.com techradar.com techradar.com
• Huawei Mate X6 review – PhoneArena (Dec 2024) phonearena.com phonearena.com phonearena.com phonearena.com
• Galaxy Z Fold7 early review – The Guardian (Jul 2025) theguardian.com theguardian.com
• Rumors and leaks – AndroidHeadlines, Notebookcheck, GizChina (2025) androidheadlines.com notebookcheck.net gizchina.com
• Additional specifications – Wikipedia, PhoneArena specs, TechAdvisor en.wikipedia.org phonearena.com phonearena.com techadvisor.com