Huawei Mate X7 Review: Foldable Camera Upgrades That Impress in 2025

With the introduction of the Mate X7, Huawei made a radical change in the camera department although still keeping some similarities with the Mate X6. The focal length of the 50MP main sensor is now larger and has a variable aperture ranging from f/1.5 to f/4.0, which means that the camera will capture more light and detail.

The 50MP telephoto camera is no longer a fixed one, as it has a 3.5x optical zoom with an f/2.2 aperture support, while the 40MP ultrawide camera and dual 8MP selfie cameras have been given little attention in terms of changes.

The camera module has taken on a new look that Huawei has dubbed the “Time Space Portal” and this is quite a departure from the rounded bump of the Mate X6. Thus, the main sensor has gradually increased to 1/1.28 inches, and as a result, dynamic range is improved and claimed, although in the end, testing in real-world situations gives slightly better but not dramatic jumps.

Along with the periscope lens, the telephoto has used a vertical structure which has brought down the size of the module by 44% but has allowed for close-range focus and still has optical image stabilization.

During bright lighting, the main camera of the Mate X7 takes clean 12MP photos, which are quite detailed and accurately represent the colors. A variable aperture gives the control of the depth of field; the opening of f/1.5 makes brighter images with shallower focus, while f/4.0 is sharp in the whole scene. The option of shooting in 25MP mode remains open for the users, which has the drawback of moderately increasing the file size but at the same time allowing for high-quality, large prints.

The 2x cropped zoom does not compromise the image quality and comes very close to the 1x primary camera. On the other hand, the 3.5x telephoto camera produces sharper images than the X6’s 4x zoom, which has excellent clarity and very detailed portraits. The ultrawide shots may be in 12MP but the resolution is still high, and the color consistency is still behind the last year’s model.

The Mate X7 boasts multiple close-up options. The telephoto lens has a close focusing distance of 5cm, while the ultrawide camera can function as a macro in the scene. The macro function is even done invisibly if the main camera is directed at a nearby object. The X6's depth of field is slightly narrower, which helps to define the subject-background separation more.

The performance of selfies is excellent on both the internal and external screens. Both 8MP cameras deliver sharp, well-lit selfies with natural skin tones and a broad range of lighting. Also, the phone user can take high-resolution selfies with the main cameras, using the cover screen as a viewfinder.

There is a striking difference between the flagship smartphones in dim light conditions, as the main sensor of the Mate X7 is significantly bigger. The picture is taken with all the details and texture; moreover, the dynamic range is better than in the case of the X6. The 2x optical zoom is excellent in low-light conditions and still delivers very good quality. On the contrary, the telephoto images may vary due to heavy noise cancellation or, in some cases, not so perfect stabilization. Ultrawide photos are reasonably good, but occasionally, there are white balance problems.

The rear cameras allow recording in 4K at 60fps, while the front one can shoot in 4K/30fps. The daylight video recordings of the new model are as good as or even better than those of the Mate X6, while the stabilization and the definition of the zoomed footage (2x, 3.5x, 10x) are the main factors behind the improvement.

The nighttime video is 1x and 2x zoomed, excellent, whereas telephoto 10x video is mediocre. On the whole, video quality is decent with the primary and ultrawide lenses, but there are slight discrepancies at the extreme zoom levels.