Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G review: Value king

Unboxing

Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G ships in a sleek-looking retail box which contains only the basics. The handset comes bundled with a charger, microUSB cable and some paperwork.

The retail package

A pair of bundled headphones bundled with the phablet would have certainly been appreciated. Considering the budget nature of the device though, we don't see their lack as a deal-breaker.

Design, build quality, handling

Depending on one's worldviews, the design of the Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G can be described as either utilitarian, or just plain dull. Regardless how you look at it, the phablet will certainly not wow you with its appearance.

Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G in the flesh

Like its predecessor, the handset is available in two color schemes - black and white. The former is definitely the stealthier option, while white will surely appeal to those who like a flashier alternative.

Build quality of the device is nothing short of exceptional. The body of the Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G is superbly well crafted from high-quality polycarbonate, while its display is entirely covered by Corning Gorilla Glass 3.

The physical measures of Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G are 161 x 84.7 x 9.5 mm, while its weight tips the scale at 202 grams. The phablet is slightly more compact, but a tad heavier than its predecessor, the Huawei Ascend Mate (163.5 x 85.7 x 9.9 mm and 198 grams).

Handling the Huawei Ascend Mate2 is unsurprisingly manageable, though far from perfect. The phablet has a fine texture on its back, so it is not overly slippery. It has one-hand screen mode as well, though we reckon that the best way to handle it is with two hands.

Handling the Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G

The power/lock key is easily reached with one hand on the right side of the device. The same goes for the volume rocker.

Display

Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G totes a 6.1" IPS+ LCD display with a resolution of 1280 x 720 pixels. Its pixel density comes in 241ppi - not mind-blowingly sharp, though respectable enough for a large-screen device with budget-friendly aspirations.

The phablet's display

The screen is made with low temperature poly-silicon for power efficiency. It also boasts brightness control which adapts with the content on display.

Despite its far from impressive resolution by today's flagship device standards, the display of the Huawei Ascend Mate2 4G boasts impressive viewing angles with no color shift and only slight contrast loss thanks to its IPS nature. Contrast isn't too shabby either, especially considering the price tag of the phablet.

A closer look at the display

The screen has a dedicated mode for use with gloves too. It is activated via a switch in the settings menu.