Huawei Mate XT: World’s First Tri-Fold Smartphone Launched
As expected, Huawei announced the world's first triple foldable phone: the Huawei Mate XT. This is a device that, unlike the foldables seen so far, folds not once but twice. It has two hinges and a screen that splits into three to get even closer to the concept of a "mobile phone that turns into a tablet."
Huawei hasn't skimped on anything. The company has launched a device that exudes a premium scent from all four sides, offering a vegan leather back in black or red with gold details that look elegant. Here we have a generous camera module with three lenses, although we will discuss them later. Let's move on to the crux of the matter: the screen and the hinge.
The Huawei Mate XT has two hinges that allow the phone to be used in different positions. The hinge system flexes internally and externally at the same time and, thanks to its sliding rail structure, the thickness is kept at bay.
It's a truly complex system made up of 26 precision cams that, on paper, should offer both strength and smoothness in closing. In addition, Huawei claims to have reduced the inner crease by 25% and used the largest UTG glass in the industry to offer "twice the impact resistance."
The screen can be used in three modes: single mode (a conventional mobile phone), dual mode (a foldable Fold-type ), and triple mode (a tablet). In single mode, the size is 6.4 inches and the thickness is 12.8 mm. In dual mode, the screen grows to 7.9 inches and the thickness is considerably reduced. In triple mode, the screen increases to 10.2 inches, sports a "3K" resolution and the phone reduces its thickness to 4.75 mm.
The main screen (single mode) is the part of the screen that, when fully extended, would be on the left. If we want to use dual mode, we have to unfold what would be the back part, the camera area. And for triple mode, we simply have to fold what was previously the main screen inwards.
The idea is that we can have a conventional mobile for everyday use, something larger for productivity, and something even larger for entertainment. We are talking about a mobile that allows us to go from a 6.3-inch screen to a 10.2-inch tablet. It is, more or less, as if we could get an iPad Air from an iPhone 15. All this with the advantage of not having the fold in the middle of the screen, but on the sides.
Along with the tri-fold display, Huawei also introduced a foldable touch keyboard that pairs with the Mate XT for a desktop-like experience, which could be a useful accessory for workaholics.
Leaving the screen aside, which is difficult to say, let's talk about the components. Huawei has not skimped and has implemented 16GB of RAM and several internal storage options, reaching terabytes in the most capable version. The processor is the same one we saw in the Pura 70, a Kirin 9010 5G manufactured by SIMC in seven nanometers that, in terms of raw power, would be somewhat below the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.
as for the camera, Huawei has once again opted for its XMAGE technology, which consists of a 50MP main sensor with 5.5x optical zoom, a 12MP periscope, and a 12MP wide angle. Selfies are handled by an eight-megapixel sensor. It's a simple lot, but Huawei has proven to be capable of great things in terms of photography.
Moreover, the operating system is, as it could not be otherwise, HarmonyOS 4.2. Not only has it been optimized for this format, but it is also seasoned with various artificial intelligence tools such as a text editor, a translator, etc. The battery, despite the form factor, is not short at all: 5,600mAh with 66W fast charging, 15W wireless charging and 7.5W reverse wireless charging.
Finally, the Mate XT works with Huawei's two-way satellite calling feature that allows the user to make calls even in areas without cellular or Wi-Fi reception.
Price and availability
The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design is available in Black and Red, with the 16GB + 256GB version priced at 19,999 yuan (2,820 USD, 2,548 Euros). The higher-end 16GB + 512GB version costs 21,999 yuan (3,108 USD, 2,800 Euros) and the top-end 16GB + 1TB version costs 23,999 yuan (3,390 USD, 3,050 Euros).
The sale will go live for customers in China on September 20. Looking at the trends, it is highly unlikely that the phone will be launched in the global market.
