Huawei Pura X Max: Why importing it is only worthwhile for a select few
The Huawei Pura X Max is designed for the Chinese market and is difficult to obtain in Europe, even through import retailers. Nevertheless, the foldable has plenty to offer, as our camera comparison with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 demonstrates.
HarmonyOS 7.0 also comes with a few surprises: English, German, and several other system languages are available, along with eSIM support. However, only Chinese apps come preinstalled. EasyAbroad provides a workaround, allowing users to install numerous apps from Google, Meta, Microsoft, and other providers. The service is presumably aimed primarily at Chinese users traveling abroad.
In our testing, Google Maps worked flawlessly, and WhatsApp notifications arrived reliably. However, Chinese characters occasionally appear throughout the interface, and the news feed is entirely in Chinese.
EasyAbroad also offers banking apps, as well as PayPal and Wero. This means mobile payments through compatible banking apps could potentially work. However, actual compatibility and payment functionality depend on the individual app and have not yet been fully tested. Google Pay, on the other hand, does not work, and Huawei Wallet is not supported in Germany.
Rumors about 5G support on Huawei smartphones sold in China persist. However, our Pura X Max connected exclusively to LTE networks. The measured data speeds were also consistent with LTE connectivity. Whether this is due to network compatibility or other limitations remains unclear.
The Pura X Max is more practical for everyday use than expected. Nevertheless, limited availability, incomplete localization, uncertainties surrounding individual apps, and the lack of 5G connectivity in our testing remain significant drawbacks. Those willing to accept these compromises will get a distinctive foldable smartphone. For most buyers, however, officially available alternatives are the more convenient choice.
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