Note: We may earn commissions (at no cost to you) if you buy through links on our site. Learn more.
NOTE: This model is discontinued and may no longer be available to purchase new. See the latest cell phones or compare used prices.

Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G review

7.2/10 AVG.
RATING
Compare Compare  
Compare Compare  

Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G
Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G
Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G
Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G
Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G
Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G
Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G
Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G
Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G
...


7.2/10
Informr score
The Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G currently has an Informr score of 7.2 out of 10. This score is based on our evaluation of 18 sources including reviews from users and the web's most trusted critics.

What's good

  • Incredible battery life
  • Very bright screen
  • Good performance

What's bad

  • Some lag when using processor intensive apps
  • Heavy and not easy to use one-handed
  • Comparatively low screen resolution

The second generation Ascend Mate from Huawei maintains the same large screen as the original while improving upon the internal hardware. Despite having a pocket-stretching 6.1-inch display, Huawei manages to keep the body of the phone a relatively slim 6.3 x 3.3 x 0.4 inches though it's slightly hefty at 202 grams. Techradar describes it as feeling like a, "light, yet thick slate of glass." Due to its large size, critics found it difficult to wrangle one-handed though the curved and textured back give it a decent grip to prevent accidental drops.

The display itself, while large, offers a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels for a low 241ppi pixel density. In normal situations reviewers didn't notice any significant detail loss but did find pixilation on text heavy sites. Despite some clarity issues, they go on to mention that the colors are vibrant, albeit slightly saturated, and the screen brightness is perfect for outdoor use.

Keeping in line with their mid-tier price, the Huawei Ascend Mate 2 offers a decent 1.6GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM. Benchmark tests place it firmly in the middle of the smartphone pack and real life testing backs up the data. Experts didn't notice any significant lag during everyday usage though they did experience some hiccups when playing processor heavy games. What really blew away critics was battery life. The Ascend Mate 2 comes equipped with a 3,900mAh battery that, when put through rigorous battery draining tests, lasted a whopping 25 hours. Real life testing put the battery life at around 4 days with moderate usage. In addition, the battery can also be used to charge other devices with a micro-USB-to-micro-USB cable or micro-USB-to-Lightning cable.

While there are a few issues with the phone, most reviewers have no problem recommending it for the price point. Slashgear says for the price, "…it's easy to overlook the relative lack of explosive or otherwise stand-out features on the Huawei Ascend Mate 2." CNET adds, "The Huawei Ascend Mate 2 has a few nits to pick, but it remains the best-value Android phone of its size."


Android
Operating system
Operating system
Android
1.6 GHz
Processor
Processor
1.6 GHz
6.1"
Screen Size
Screen Size
6.1"
13+ MP
Camera
Camera
13+ MP
4050 mAh
Battery


What the Critics Are Saying...


GadgeTell
GadgeTell

I find the Huawei Ascend Mate2 to be quite the impressive smartphone. I think that the company was smart to cherry-pick certain hardware while leaving the rest untouched. The result is an affordable smartphone with great camera optics and a large 6.1” screen. For only $300 off-contract, the As...

- Stanley Goodner, GadgeTell
Mobile Syrup
Mobile Syrup

The Ascend Mate 2 is a great mid-range solution. Priced at $399 outright on WIND, this device is a great example of more than adequate performance balanced with a great price. Huawei has made sacrifices where they won’t be missed (like the lower resolution display) and really pushed forward in...

- Jane McEntegart, Mobile Syrup
Brighthand
Brighthand

While the Ascend Mate2 is fine for personal and business use, there are going to be tradeoffs due its size. For one, the device will stick out of most pockets and will mostly need to be carried in a bag. Additionally, some people might not be comfortable holding such a large phone while on calls.The...

- Brighthand Staff, Brighthand
GigaOM
GigaOM

Only have $300 to spend on an off-contract phone? If you don’t mind a large handset, Huawei’s Ascend Mate2 is worth the look. It has some advanced features, a solid camera and a massive battery along with LTE support.

- Kevin C. Tofel, GigaOM
Android and Me
Android and Me

The Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G LTE is a very solid device, especially for the $300 price tag. With a nice display lacking in resolution, good performance, a decent camera, and some incredibly battery life, this device will definitely suit a lot of people. Hell, it suited me for the time I used it aside...

- Dima Aryeh, Android and Me


Prices (Where to Buy)




Common Questions


Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G prices will vary depending on retailer, age, special offers and whether or not it's purchased with a service plan. If purchased with a 2 year service contract for example, you would likely pay much less for the phone itself up front. Huawei's suggested retail price is $299.99. You can compare Ascend Mate 2 4G prices from around the web here on The Informr.



Huawei backs up the Ascend Mate 2 4G with a 1 Year parts & labour warranty.


If your Ascend Mate 2 4G has problems and is still within its warranty period, you could contact Huawei support or the retailer you purchased the phone from. You'll find Huawei's contact information here. If your phone is off warranty and needs repair for a physical problem such as a broken screen or bad battery, you should visit an authorized service centre or a local phone repair shop. You can also connect with others in The Informr Community Forum to find and share answers to questions.




Resources


Manuals / User Guides Helpful Links Share / Embed

Maybe one of your friends will find this review helpful? Please help us spread the word.


Quick view

Screen Size
6.1"

The Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G's screen size is 6.1 inches with 720 x 1280 pixels resolution.

Processor
1.6 GHz

There is a ARM Cortex-A7 Quad core 1.6 GHz processor (CPU).

OS

The phone runs on the Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (Update Available: 5.1 Lollipop) operating system (OS).

Camera
13+ MP

You can take photos with the phone's onboard 13+ MP camera.

There is also a secondary front facing camera with 5+ megapixels resolution.

Storage
16 GB

Internal memory is 16 GB. An external, MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB) expansion slot is available for increased storage capacity.

Battery
4050mAh

The phone is powered by a Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion), 4050 mAh battery. Huawei's performance ratings are 1999 minutes, 1001 minutes Wi-Fi surfing.

Ascend Mate 2 4G Specs

Overview
Release Date March 31, 2014
Regions Available USA, Canada
Operating System Android 4.3 Jelly Bean (Update Available: 5.1 Lollipop)

Compare Android Smartphones

Processor ARM Cortex-A7 Quad core 1.6 GHz
Internal Storage 16 GB
RAM 2 GB
Hearing Aid Compatible No
TTY/TDD No
Noise Cancellation No
SAR Head: 0.3 W/kg
Body: 0.799 W/kg
Manufacturer Warranty 1 Year
Accessories Included USB Power Adapter, Manual, Data Cable
Cellular
Networks
GPRS, EDGE, HSUPA, HSPA+, LTE
Mobile / Cellular Data
4G/LTE
Push-to-talk (PTT) No
Wi-Fi Calling Unknown
Voice over LTE (VoLTE) Unknown
SIM card size
Yes
Dual SIM No
Connectivity
USB Micro-USB 2.0
USB OTG Support No
GPS Type A-GPS
Infrared No
Bluetooth 4.0
Bluetooth Profiles A2DP, AVRCP, OPP/FTP, HFP, HSP
Bluetooth Audio Codecs SBC
Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n
Mobile Hotspot Yes
Memory Expansion Slot Yes
Expansion Slot Info MicroSD, MicroSDHC (up to 64 GB)
NFC No
Data Tethering Compatibility Yes
Camera
Main Camera
Resolution / Aperture
13+ Megapixels
Zoom
Yes
Flash
Yes (LED)
Additional Rear Camera Info
Auto focus, Effects, Face detection, Geotagging, Multi-shot, Panorama, Smile detection, HDR, Sound & Shot
Video Recording Formats
3GP / 3GPP, H.264 / AVC, MPEG-4, WMV
Video Recording Parameters
Front Camera
Resolution / Aperture
5+ Megapixels
Additional Front Camera Info
No
Video Recording Parameters
Display / Screen
Type Color
Technology LCD (IPS)
Colors 16.7 million
Resolution 720 x 1280 pixels
Pixel Density 241 pixels
Size 6.1 inches
Secondary Display No
Sensors Ambient Light, Proximity, Motion / Accelerometer, Gyroscope, Digital Compass
Multi-Touch Yes
Fingerprint-Resistant Coating No
Additional Display Features Capacitive touch screen, Glove Touch
Power & Battery
Battery Type Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion)
Battery Capacity 4050 mAh
Removable Battery No
Wireless Charging No
Fast Charging No
Video Playback Time Up to 1081 minutes
Internet Use (Wi-Fi) Up to 1001 minutes
Internet Use (Cellular) Unknown
Talk Time Up to 1999 minutes
Standby Time Up to 25.9 days
Mixed Usage
Physical Characteristics
Design Type Bar
Material Plastic
Colors Crystal Black, Pure White
Dimensions [H x W x D] 16.1 x 8.5 x 0.9 cm (6.3 x 3.3 x 0.4 in)
Weight 202 grams
Water Resistant / Waterproof Unknown
Rugged design No
IP Rating No
Headset Jack 3.5mm
External Speakers Yes
Input / Navigation
Sleep / Wake Key Yes
Home Key No
Input / Keyboard Type Touchscreen
Navigation Type Touchscreen
External Volume Control Yes
Fingerprint Sensor No
More
Additional Information Other Names (AKA):
Related Links Manual (PDF)
Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G Reviews
Where to buy Huawei Ascend Mate 2 4G
Suggest a correction