27 Apr
Blog

JBL Bar 9.1 Review: Wireless Dolby Atmos With A Few Flaws

JBL Bar 9.1 wireless Dolby Atmos soundbar speaker

JBL Bar 9.1 review: Wireless Dolby Atmos with a few bugs

"JBL's Bar 9.1 offers a unique, fully wireless design, but this feature comes at a high cost."

  • Super easy setup

  • Large, powerful bass

  • Convincing Dolby Atmos and 5.1 sound

  • Practical wireless speakers

  • Supports eARC, 4K, Dolby Vision

  • Not enough entries

  • Not enough EQ settings

  • Dialogue needs a boost

  • Mediocre for music

Sound bars do a tough job. The really good ones somehow manage to replace a full 5.1 home theater surround system with just a single elongated speaker cabinet and possibly a wireless subwoofer.

Any soundbar that uses satellite speakers – whether connected to the soundbar or connected to an electrical outlet – may produce better sound, but at the expense of convenience and physical space. This is the real reason why sound bars make sense for so many people.

That's what makes JBL's Bar 9.1 so convincing: With a pair of battery-powered, completely wireless satellites, it not only promises the real acoustic separation of the physical speakers, but also brings Dolby Atmos into the mix for an impressive 3D experience – everything for round $ 1,000.

JBL has set a high standard for Bar 9.1. Succeeds? Let's find out.

design

JBL Bar 9.1 Dolby Atmos Soundbar side viewSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

I personally don't think soundbars should attract attention – at least not visually – and Bar 9.1 tries to keep its physical presence to a minimum. Frankly it's boring, but in the best possible way.

The dark gray plastic case has only the slightest shine and is still only 47 inches long, even in its widest form – with both satellite modules at the ends. Take these modules off and you barely have 35 inches left.

It's also amazingly short and just under 2.5 inches tall. That should fit under all but the shortest TV stands. The minimal set of four controls on top can easily be ignored, and the scrolling LED indicator on the front is hidden behind the speaker grille and is completely invisible when not in use.

The bar 9.1 reduces its physical presence to a minimum. It looks boring, but in the best possible way.

The subwoofer is a different story. It's a very bulky and boxy unit that turns out to be a challenge if you don't want it to remain visible.

JBL Bar 9.1 Dolby Atmos soundbar subwooferSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

If you're wondering how these detachable wireless satellites work when the Bar 9.1 is wall-mounted (which you can do with the included hardware), that's pretty impressive: the docking magnets are incredibly strong. Sitting requires a concerted effort – and sometimes both hands – to pull them freely. And although I haven't tested it, there is an option to mount the satellites on the wall at their secondary locations.

When the satellite is fully charged, you have a playing time of approximately 10 hours. A warning message appears on the bar display, informing you when a boost is required. Docking again is the easiest way, but the satellites cleverly have their own micro USB ports. This means that you can leave them technically in the rear or wall-mounted position and simply run a micro USB cable to them to charge them continuously. This can be an appealing option if you are planning sequential screenings of Lord Of The Rings films, as the satellite's batteries will take three hours to fully charge after discharging.

Sound bars are said to be easy to set up and use, but the JBL Bar 9.1 takes simplicity to a new level

This otherwise excellent design has only one irregularity: in some markets, JBL contains a set of four end caps to cover the exposed charging contacts on the bar and the satellites when they are not docked. Given the possibility of keeping the satellites permanently in this state thanks to these micro USB charging ports, this makes a lot of sense. What makes no sense is why Bar 9.1 doesn't always come with them. For example, our test unit didn't have one in the box.

To install

JBL Bar 9.1 Dolby Atmos soundbar displaySimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Yes, sound bars should be easy to set up and use, but the JBL Bar 9.1 takes simplicity to a new level. After connecting the soundbar and subwoofer to the appropriate sockets and connecting the HDMI output of the bar to the HDMI ARC (or eARC) connector on your TV using the supplied HDMI cable, you are done with the basics.

The last step is to calibrate the system. Drag the surround modules from their houses next to the main bar and place them next to you. Pressing one of the buttons on the remote control for three seconds triggers a short but loud test tone, which is recorded by the bar's built-in microphones. Place the environment in its final positions and repeat the test. That's it. It took me longer to unpack the components than to set them up.

You can also connect the Bar 9.1 to Wi-Fi for AirPlay or Chromecast music streaming. Oddly enough, this has to be done using either the Apple Home app or the Google Home app on a smartphone or tablet. My attempts to use Apple Home failed, but Google Home got it working.

links

JBL Bar 9.1 Dolby Atmos soundbar connections at the rearSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Simplicity is great until it gets in the way of what you want to do. The connections of the JBL Bar 9.1 are a good example: You get an HDMI input, an HDMI ARC output, an optical input and a USB connection.

This means that with multiple source devices like streaming players, Blu-ray players, game consoles, etc., you need to make some decisions about how they are connected and how to switch between them. At this price, the Bar 9.1 should behave like a real A / V receiver replacement with at least four HDMI inputs.

Including the optical connector can be helpful for older non-HDMI ARC televisions. However, please note the following: Dolby Atmos does not work via an optical connection. So if you want the full Atmos experience on an older TV, use your Atmos source. The device must be connected to the bar's only HDMI input.

The USB port is honestly a mystery to me. JBL says you can use it to play music from a USB stick or external drive, but I can't imagine why you want it to. Only MP3 files are supported and playback cannot be controlled at all.

Intelligent functions

JBL Bar 9.1 Dolby Atmos soundbar with remote controlSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Despite the fact that most premium sound bars are now compatible with some kind of voice assistant, the JBL Bar 9.1 does not claim to officially support any of them. Maybe it's an oversight. I was able to configure the soundbar in both the Google Home and Apple Home apps. Google Assistant and Siri recognized them and initiated music streams.

Amazon's Alexa seems the weird A.I. however out.

A more puzzling question is why the Bar 9.1 with its two built-in microphones was not designed as a real smart speaker. With the Sonos Beam, you can talk to Google Assistant or Alexa for less than half the price. The $ 400 link bar from JBL acts as a Google Smart Speaker and Android TV streamer.

Sound quality

JBL Bar 9.1 Dolby Atmos soundbar expandedSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Overall, the JBL Bar 9.1 lives up to its promise to offer a powerful home cinema experience. When it comes to films and shows with a Dolby Atmos soundtrack or even just a Dolby Digital 5.1 track, immerse yourself in a sound ball.

I had a lot of fun watching John Wick, Chapter 3: Parabellum, a film tailored to demonstrate the strengths of Bar 9.1. Gunshots were heard with precision from different corners of the room, while in the motorcycle chase you could feel the growing whine of the motors of the motorcycles as they approached from behind and then with Wick & # 39; s ride (if only briefly) were level.

You may be tempted to leave the rear speakers docked to the soundbar, but this should be avoided. The bar 9.1 relies heavily on the placement of these satellites to provide an impressive experience and is difficult to restore spatial audio without it.

With a subwoofer that is as big and heavy and powerful as the one that comes with the Bar 9.1, you can expect serious basses that won't disappoint. The 10-inch submarine that shoots down will let go of your fillings effortlessly if you allow it to. With 300 watts of power, it's a good thing that you can choose from five levels of bass playback with the remote control. I found that level five can get a little uncomfortable at times.

But don't put the bass back too much. At the lowest level, the bar 9.1 loses a significant amount of low-end and it becomes clear that the drivers in the soundbar were not set to work well without the sub. It is definitely a package deal.

The biggest gap is the lack of a dialog improvement mode.

As good as the Bar 9.1's surround sound chops are, there are some limitations that prevent them from performing as well as I expect a soundbar to do at this price.

The main disadvantage is the lack of EQ settings. Yes, you can change the bass level, the degree to which the Atmos speakers unfold their magic, and the volume intensity of the satellites, but that's all she wrote. There are no discrete settings for movies, TV shows, or music, and no way to control the treble or middle independently. Even budget sound bars offer more options. The biggest gap, however, is the lack of a dialog enhancement mode.

There have been many times in which I had to crank up the total volume to overcome the under-emphasized central channel. My family noticed it too; My wife asked me why it felt like our television had become so loud lately.

Bar 9.1 is also a mediocre music machine. If you only play tracks that benefit from the latest recording techniques, such as Beck's Hyperspace album or Billie Eilish's No Time To Die tracks, it is actually very pleasant to be surrounded by these songs. However, take a journey back in time to more traditional mixes, and the tracks sound encased in the soundbar case.

This problem is exacerbated by a clear lack of midrange definition. You can use bar 9.1 as a Bluetooth speaker, but I recommend sticking with AirPlay or Chromecast, which both sound a lot better.

Wireless problems

JBL Bar 9.1 wireless Dolby Atmos soundbar speakerSimon Cohen / Digital Trends

Every time you disconnect a physical connection between a source and a speaker, there is a risk of interference and other connection problems. I've seen this more than once on real bluetooth earbuds. Unfortunately, this can also affect the performance of the Bar 9.1 wireless satellites.

I noticed several times that both wireless speakers suffered from poor connection. It was not a constant – most of the time things were very stable, but every now and then I heard them interrupted. Given what I do for a living, my media room may have slightly more wireless devices than average, which could have helped, but the room itself is relatively small. The speakers were never more than a meter from the soundbar and always had a line of sight without physical barriers.

Of course, this will vary depending on your personal area, but it is something you should be aware of. These speakers are only wireless. So if you find that their connection is not stable, there may be very little you can do to improve it.

Our opinion

The JBL Bar 9.1 is an innovative solution to an age-old problem: better immersive sound without losing the simplicity of a sound bar. It works out. With an effortless setup and wireless speakers that you can put up almost anywhere, it's a very chic design. However, barebone input options, minimal audio settings and matte music playback are difficult to swallow at this price.

Is there a better alternative?

When freedom from fully wireless rear satellite speakers is a must in a sound bar, the JBL Bar 9.1 is not just a good choice, it's the only choice. But be prepared that JBL has restricted other functions and even the sound quality by offering this cool function. If you agree with wired rear speakers, the Vbyio SB36514-G6 36 ″ 5.1.4 Dolby Atmos soundbar is a much better value.

How long it will take?

The Bar 9.1's construction and materials are excellent, and the wireless satellite modules are also built to last, so they'll likely be able to withstand a lot of docking and undocking over the years. However, keep in mind that all rechargeable batteries will eventually run out and we don't know how easy (or expensive) it will be to replace them when they're done.

Should you buy it

If you're a movie dog who loves big, bold basses and has a strong desire to avoid laying cables at all costs, the JBL Bar 9.1 may be a good choice despite its shortcomings. Everyone else should think long and hard before spending $ 1,000 on this soundbar – you can find great Dolby Atmos sound for a lot less.

Editor's recommendations




01 Apr
Blog

Huawei Mate Xs Review: Folding Marvel, Frustrating Flaws

huawei mate xs review open screen

"The Huawei Mate Xs is a technical master class that is affected by faulty software and a disappointing speaker."

  • Excellent construction

  • Can be used both folded and unfolded

  • Nice screen

  • Quick charge

  • Useful multitasking functions

  • Excellent camera

  • Unreliable software

  • No Google Mobile Services

  • Bad audio

  • Very expensive

  • Shelf life is unknown

Smartphones are usually easy to check. For example, the shape and general functionality rarely change drastically. However, the Huawei Mate Xs is not easy. Not only is it completely different from most other phones because it folds up, but also because it costs £ 2,300 or about $ 2,750 and has no Google mobile services on board.

Still, it remains a convincing phone, and it's impossible to ignore the dramatic benefits that come with owning it. They range from the viewing experience to the camera to the cache for using such a futuristic phone. There are frustrating elements, but I never wanted to stop using the Mate Xs.

design

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

The Huawei Mate Xs is what many people would consider a real folding smartphone because it looks and works like a normal smartphone before it unfolds into a tablet. This way you can quickly send a message with one or two hands at any time without opening the phone or watch a video on the big screen. To achieve this, the large screen of the Mate Xs can be folded back on itself and becomes "normal size" until it is needed again.

I found that under normal circumstances I didn't have to flip the screen open and typing when the phone is closed is easier as it is just like any other large, modern smartphone. This versatility – phone in one minute, tablet in the next – is addictive, and the return to a non-collapsible phone is restrictive. It's also less noticeable when you use the phone in public, unlike the Galaxy Fold, which has to be unfolded to be really useful. This comes in handy if you don't want to draw attention to the fact that you're using a $ 2,750 smartphone.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

A rail on the right side of the phone has a button that can be used to release the screen from its collapsed position. It's easy to look with your index finger without looking, but you need two hands to unfold the Mate Xs. The central hinge has a wonderful, firm and high quality effect with just the right resistance. It snaps into place without much fuss and remains completely flat after completion.

This is a big deal because if it were only a few degrees away from flatness, the screen would look poorly constructed. Regardless of whether you look at the Mate Xs screen folded or unfolded, it always looks just right. There is a crease, but it is hardly noticeable when you look directly at the phone.

When folded, the lines are clear, as the back of the screen folds flat against the rail and creates a thick piece of smartphone that you can hold. It is 11 mm thick, closed and only 5.4 mm thick at the thinnest point. At 300 grams, however, this is one of the heaviest smartphones currently available.

When closed, it is slippery due to the rounded sides and the lack of grip. You can use it closed with one hand, but you must hold the phone firmly. I mostly used it like the Galaxy Note 10 Plus and other large phones, holding it in one hand and wiping it with the other. When opened, the vertical rail on the right becomes an excellent stopping point and an inspired design piece.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

How about durability? The design and materials of the screen have been improved over the Mate X, but there is still concern that the exposed screen will be destroyed quickly. I have been using the Mate Xs with other devices for a few weeks now. The screen has collected a few small scratches on which it bends sideways. However, I cannot immediately notice them when the screen is on.

Whether it collects more scratches will only become apparent over time, as will the hinge. It has eased somewhat in recent weeks, but remains firm.

screen

Using the Mate Xs with the screen closed is like any other Huawei smartphone. The 6.6-inch OLED has a resolution of 2480 x 1148 pixels and shows strong, dynamic colors with excellent clarity right down to the app icons on your home screen.

Compare it to the stunning screen of the iPhone 11 Pro, and the Mate Xs really questions its superiority. It produces the same natural tones that make the Apple phone screen a winner, and then adds a pleasant saturation to give it a visual boost. It is wonderful.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

The fully unfolded 8-inch screen with 2480 x 2200 pixels differs in some respects from the Galaxy Fold. Both are amazingly sharp when playing 1440p videos, with the Mate Xs again showing a little more liveliness than its rivals, but missing some of the richer, more natural tones. The unfolded Mate Xs offer you a fantastic video experience, but with black bars above and below the picture.

I can live with the black bars, but not with the Mate X's frankly terrible speaker. It's a single speaker on one side of the device, and it can't come close to the excellent audio experience of the Galaxy Fold and most other flagship phones. It's a big disappointment for such an expensive video focus device.

Samsung Galaxy Fold (left), Huawei Mate Xs (right) Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Since the phone only consists of screens with partially deactivated areas when folded, some problems with touch sensitivity occur when using the phone in the closed landscape format. Buttons near the fold may stop responding until you adjust your touch point, and scrubbing through videos can be frustratingly difficult to activate. However, there is no such problem on all other sides of the phone.

Visually, the Mate Xs surpasses expectations with its beautiful, perfectly calibrated screen, but due to the poor audio experience it does not become a dream partner for mobile films.

camera

There are four camera sensors on the Mate X, all of which are positioned in the side rail on the back of the phone. The main lens has 40 megapixels and an aperture of 1: 1.8 and is connected to a 16 megapixel ultra wide-angle lens, an 8 megapixel telephoto lens and a flight time sensor.

You won't find a dedicated selfie camera with the main lenses doing selfie tasks as you turn the phone. This will activate the screen on the back so you can see what's going on. It's a clever, simple solution and can be used when taking photos of other people so they can review their pose.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

The camera can be used with the screen open or closed, and the app interface is changed to be more suitable for the larger screen. The app offers a wide-angle shooting mode, a 3x optical zoom and a 5x hybrid zoom. There is also Huawei's night mode, both portrait and aperture mode for images with a bokeh effect, as well as a macro mode.

Up to 4K 60fps can be recorded for videos. Huawei collaborates with Leica on its cameras, and there are several Leica camera modes to choose from that work similar to conventional filters and give photos a unique Leica look.

I love the photos taken with the Mate Xs. The color balance, vibrancy, details and tone are expertly assessed to ensure that the scenes have atmosphere and emotions. The Leica filters can be cumbersome, but when used carefully they give nice results. Edge detection in portrait and aperture modes is excellent, and even super macro mode works well. 3x and 5x zoom shots are great, but the 50x digital zoom is only for display because the photos taken are pixelated.

Above all, I like the reliability. Regardless of the situation, I know that the Mate Xs will make a great, usable photo for me. The lack of a selfie camera is a problem: there is no face unlock on the Mate Xs. The power switch on the side has a fingerprint sensor that is relatively fast and reliable. However, I miss the convenience of face unlocking, especially when there are problems with notifications that I'll talk about next.

Given Huawei's track record with cameras since the P20 Pro, it should come as no surprise that the Mate X's camera works so well. Quality is one thing, but I also think that the different modes, the artificial intelligence and the simplicity of the app increase my creativity so much that I just like to take photos on the phone to see what I can get. For me, this is the hallmark of a great camera.

Software and connection

Google Mobile Services (GMS) is not installed on the Mate Xs. Therefore, you need to use the Huawei App Gallery, Amazon App Store or APK files to transfer your favorite apps to the device. I've tried a few workarounds to get GMS on the Mate Xs, but none of the easy routes work, and although there may be more technical routes that work, they may have questionable effects on the phone. I found that the more apps I installed from alternative sources, the less reliable the app became.

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Using the methods above, I installed most of the apps I need. However, for almost all Google services you need to use a browser. I chose Firefox so that I can easily sync all my bookmarks with Chrome, although you can install Chrome with an APK, just like with Google Maps. The problem with this, however, is that you can't sign in to your Google Account to use saved places or bookmarks.

There is another problem with downloading apps from the Amazon App Store and APK files that has to do with notification support. It's random at best, as the Mate Xs almost never provide Twitter or Messenger notifications.

The usually reliable Huawei email client became problematic even after a software update and often refused to sync my Exchange account. I could use WhatsApp, but not with my chat history. What was worse was that Line Messenger, an app that I use a lot, does not work and there is no mobile payment system. The app situation on the Mate Xs and P40 is so complex that I wrote a completely separate article about it.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Another annoying change is the inability to use an app drawer on the Mate Xs. This is not the case with the Huawei P40 or any other EMUI 10-based phone I use. However, there is no alternative here to distribute all of your apps across multiple home screens. The software is sometimes unreliable. Some apps can only be opened after the phone has been restarted, and the search function in the settings does not always work.

Finally, the Today pop-up is not very helpful. It only contains a few shortcuts, the screen time and a list of messages. Even worse, all messages came from sources behind a paywall, making them completely useless for those without a subscription. Coincidentally (or not) the stories from news UK publications, a group that recently partnered with Huawei to add their apps to the App Gallery, have been merged.

What about the good things? EMUI 10.1, based on Open Source Android 10, is smooth and fast, and tailored to make switching between screens on the Mate X seamless and comfortable. It works really well. Regardless of whether you expand the "Settings" window, the e-mail client or the browser, it is adapted immediately and attractively, so that you have more screen space and more control. The gesture control system also responds. I like the indicators on the sides of the screen that indicate that your swipe gesture has been recognized, and the system-wide dark mode looks brilliant.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Huawei's multitasking is also top notch. Swipe and hold the page for a second to bring up a quick launch bar with apps. Then drag the displayed apps. If you simply tap an app in the bar, it will appear as a floating window.

The large, square screen is very suitable for productivity. The SwiftKey keyboard is standard, but Gboard can be installed as an alternative. I don't like SwiftKey because of its massive keys, desperation to register, and crowded keyboard layout.

However, it does have a split screen where the thumb can be entered when the screen is open that Gboard doesn't have, so I have to use it more often. However, the split screen has to be activated manually and won't return to normal view when you close the phone – another thing you should hate about SwiftKey.

Unfortunately, the software on the Mate Xs frustrated me more than on other Huawei phones, including the new Huawei P40. Some changes felt like a step backwards, while others still felt like a work-in-progress, making me less willing to accept the changes I need to make to live without access to Google Play. While Huawei can't fix this aspect of the Mate Xs, the other parts are in good control and can change with future software updates.

Battery and power

Inside is a Kirin 990 chipset with an integrated 5G modem, 8 GB RAM and 512 GB storage space as well as a second 4G SIM slot. A 4,500 mAh battery supplies the Mate Xs with power and is charged using the supplied 55 W charger, which, however, cannot be charged wirelessly. The superb SuperCharge system fully charged the battery in 55 minutes after 30 minutes to reach 80%. With a few photos, games, surfing and about 30 minutes of video, the battery has enough power to last a whole day.

I was able to perform the following benchmarking tests based on the apps available to me. The results show that it is next to the LG G8X dual screen, but far behind powerhouses like the Galaxy Note 10 Plus. The results come from apps that are not available in the app gallery, which may have affected the results, and I don't think they show the absolute power of the Kirin 990, which has proven strong and fast in every situation.

3DMark 2,791 (volcano)

Geekbench 5: 2693 multi-core, 761 single-core

Games play well and the Mate Xs has effective cooling so the phone doesn't get hot. In contrast to the Galaxy Fold, games can be played with the phone folded or opened. However, note that when playing some games on the larger screen, some cropping takes place due to the aspect ratio. This is noticeable in asphalt legends and games like Hill Climb Racer. but not for games with vertical alignment like Cut the Rope 2.

Andy Boxall / DigitalTrends

Network reception and performance are often only mentioned when it comes to garbage. However, the Mate Xs should be recognized for their first-class ability to receive a signal. Switching from the Galaxy Fold with poor reception shows how much better the integrated 5G modem can detect a 5G signal. The reception is great across the board. The 4G performance in my region is significantly better than some other phones.

Price, availability and guarantee

The Huawei Mate Xs costs £ 2,300, which is around $ 2,750. It is available through Huawei itself, Carphone Warehouse and in a contract with Three UK. Huawei grants a two-year warranty in the UK. The Mate Xs is not sold in the United States, but can be bought as an import.

Our opinion

The Mate Xs is almost the most expensive smartphone from a mainstream manufacturer that you can buy today. The cost can be justified in part by the amount of cutting-edge technology in terms of design, screen, and hinge, but is much more difficult to justify when you consider the software's vulnerabilities and audio trash. The Mate Xs is impressively versatile, has a strong battery and performance, a beautiful screen and is equipped with an excellent camera. This makes it a great everyday companion that is fun.

Is there a better alternative?

The next competitor is the Samsung Galaxy Fold, valued at $ 1,900. It can be folded inwards rather than outwards. Although there is an outside ad, it is too small to be used for much more than displaying notifications or Google Maps. However, it does have Google Mobile Services on board, the camera is also very good, and the audio is better than that of the Mate Xs. On the other hand, it's not only flawed because of the outer screen, but also because of its bulky design. The Huawei Mate Xs is the better folding phone.

If you just want a big-screen smartphone, the 6.4-inch Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra is $ 1,400 and the 6.5-inch iPhone 11 Pro Max is $ 1,100. I would probably go for the $ 1,100 Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus, which offers many features of the S20 Ultra as well as the S Pen pen at a cheaper price.

The Huawei Mate Xs is the better folding phone.

If you're showing off on a folding phone and want to spend less, the $ 1,400 Galaxy Z Flip is another option, although again that's a different proposition than the Mate Xs, as it has a normal 6.5-inch screen, which can be halved for easy transportation and convenience.

If you want something bizarre, check out the cheaper LG G8X Dual Screen, which offers some great multitasking benefits, is a lot harder than the Mate Xs, and also has a great price.

How long it will take?

The Mate Xs is not waterproof, so you need to be careful with it and you will likely be concerned about the screen's durability, despite Huawei's assurances that it is more robust than the first generation model. Treat it badly and it will likely get scratched, but that's true of almost every phone. Huawei regularly provides updates for EMUI, but it is not known how long it will take for Android 11 or higher to appear on a current Huawei phone.

If you buy it now, you have one of the most modern, futuristic smartphones currently available, and this ensures that it stays fresh and powerful for many years. Huawei has numerous software and hardware improvements that ensure that the software runs smoothly and the capacity of the battery is optimally used.

Yes, you will spend a fortune to get one. Assuming you can now live with the lack of Google Apps, the Mate Xs will serve you very well in the coming years. During this time, Huawei promises improvements to the app gallery so that it could become more accessible to international audiences in the coming months.

Should you buy it

No, but not for the reasons you might think. The lack of Google Apps is a problem, especially when you're deep in the Google ecosystem. However, for many people, little adjustment may be required to cope with it daily. Instead, it is other aspects of the Mate Xs that make it difficult to recommend. The audio is disappointing, and the unreliable software doesn't meet my expectations for Huawei, so it doesn't live up to the expectations you'd get after paying the extremely high price.

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