No one will accuse Huawei of being a slave to fashion. The Ascend Mate’s body is the definition of utilitarian: outside of the speaker and 8MP rear camera, the back and sides are dominated by matte plastic. While this makes the LG and Samsung alternatives seem like works of art, it delivers the sturdy grip that’s virtually necessary for a phone this big.
The soft-touch finish on our black model ( there’s also a white version) is pleasing enough in our palms. At the front, there’s just as much austerity. You’ll find a 1MP front camera as well as the requisite sensors and speaker, but it’s largely a sea of scratch-resistant Gorilla Glass. All navigation takes place on-screen.