Condensation heat transfer performance can be improved by increasing the condensate removal rate. Commonly, this can be achieved by promoting dropwise condensation mode in which super/hydrophobic coatings applied on the entire condenser surface. Herein, alternative mini-scale straight patterns consisted of hydrophobic (beta) and less-hydrophobic (alpha) regions were formed on the condenser tubes. The existence of the two adjacent regions generates wettability gradient which can mitigate condensate and increase its removal rates. A parametric study was conducted to experimentally determine the influence of (beta/alpha) ratios on the heat transfer performance and droplet dynamic under saturation condition near the atmosphere pressure with the presence of non-condensable gases (air). The results reveal that all patterned surfaces exhibited a drastic enhancement in terms of condensation heat transfer coefficient and heat flux compared to those of filmwise condensation. More interestingly, some (beta/alpha) ratios significantly outperformed a surface with a complete dropwise condensation. In addition, an optimum (beta/alpha) ratio of (2/1) exists with beta and alpha-regions widths of 0.6 mm and 0.3 mm, respectively. The heat transfer coefficient of the optimum ratio is peaked at a value of 85 kW/m(2) K at a subcooling of 9 degrees C, which is 4.8 and 1.8 times that of a complete filmwise and dropwise condensation, respectively. Our study also reveals that the beta-regions served mainly as droplet nucleation sites with rapid droplets mobility; whereas the alpha-regions promoted droplet removal from the neighboring beta-regions, and served as drainage paths where condensate can be drained quickly under gravitational force. Furthermore, the existence of both alpha and beta-regions on the condensing surface controls the droplets maximum diameters of the growing droplets on the beta-regions. The maximum diameter is approximately 0.56 +/- 3% mm, which is 26% the size of the droplets maximum diameter on a full beta-region surface. In summary, this wettability-driven mechanism allows droplets to be removed from the condensing surface at higher rates, leading to a substantial enhancement in the condensation heat transfer coefficient. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.