HUAWEI MATE XT SMARTPHONE GOES WORLDWIDE

 World's first tri-fold smartphone huawei mate XT, launches globally  

The first tri-fold smartphone was launched in China last year, but its global release has now been confirmed. Huawei Mate XT, the dubbed world’s first tri-fold smartphone, launches worldwide. First introduced in Sep 2024, the Huawei Mate XT, smartphone has seen the light of day so far with 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of memory storage on board. The pre-order opened on 18 Feb, 2025, while those who have reserved early are to receive their smartphone as early as 13 Mar, 2025. For the rest, the shipping starts on 15 Mar, 2025. Mobile tech company Huawei launched the world's first tri-fold smartphone in Sep 2024, but it was only available in China. Now you might still have a search on your hands to find one.

When fully unfolded, the tri-fold smartphone has a thickness of 3.6mm, which can be similar to that of a pencil. The display is 10.2 inches, and when folded, the screen size is 6.4 inches. Behind the Huawei Mate XT smartphone is the ‘Star Diamond’ design of the camera. This has already appeared in the company’s previous series, which is the Ultimate Design products. The back cover also uses ultra-thin leather, adding a grainy texture to the design. Samsung is expected to add another layer to its foldable phone options this year, with an as-yet-unnamed tri-fold model that's tipped for launch around the third quarter. But Huawei has beaten the mobile titan to the punch with the Mate XT.

There are two colours available for the global launch of the Huawei Mate XT smartphone: Black and Red. Both of them adopt the ultra-thin leather mixed with light, aerospace-grade fibre. A feature which marks the tri-fold device’s brand is its hinge system. It’s the reason it can unfold two more screens. The company uses what they call the advanced precision hinge system. It means the inward and outward folding hinges operate around a dual-track link. This offers users three different layout options while on the move. The company says that the Mate XT boasts a Multiview in One experience that "redefines a smartphone display's capabilities by supporting seamless switching between single, dual, and triple screen modes." When folded out across its dual hinges, a 10.2-inch tablet display at 2,232 x 3,184 pixels is presented. One of those hinges can be collapsed back for a 7.9-inch, 2,232 x 2,048-pixel dual-screen. And both hinges can be folded down for a half-inch-thick smartphone with a 6.4-inch screen with 2,232 x 1,008 pixels. Whatever your panel poison, the OLED display sports a 90-Hz adaptive refresh rate, and up to 240-Hz touch sampling.

The company introduces what it describe as ‘Multi-Directional Flexible Materials.’ The 10.2-inch display may appear flat when unfolded, but it is flexible enough not to crack when the user folds it back. There’s also the feature named K HUAWEI X-True™ Display. It’s the setting that allows the Huawei Mate XT smartphone to switch between single, dual and triple screen modes, depending on the user’s needs. The dual hinge mechanism caters for three different display options: a single screen mode for "quick tasks such as calling or photography," a dual screen for "information browsing, such as reading articles and checking emails," and a triple-screen tablet mode which "delivers immersive viewing and makes multi-task management a breeze". Meanwhile, the core components of the hinge mechanisms are said to be made from "ultra-high-strength steel" for durability, while Huawei promises smooth folding action thanks to multi-drive technology.

When the users go for the triple screen mode, the Huawei Mate XT smartphone also lets them multitask on the device. The dual-screen mode is more ideal for using the browser while taking notes and even reading articles while waiting for emails. The single-screen mode is the standard one, which is more suitable for quick tasks, including photography. Speaking of taking photos, the device has what the company describes as Huawei Xmage. Moving around back, the raised triple camera array features a 50-megapixel main, a 12-MP ultra-wide and a 12-MP periscope telephoto, all with optical image stabilization. There's a "10-size adjustable physical aperture" available to cater for diverse photographic needs, 5.5x optical zoom and 50x digital will help bring distant subjects closer, and Ultra Speed Snapshot aims to snap subjects moving at high speed in sharp detail. The rear cameras, plus the 8-MP selfiecam out front, are capable of 4K UHD video recording too. The triple camera array sticks out too much for flat tabletop usage, so the Mate XT comes with a built-in kickstand. 

The Mate XT runs Huawei's own operating platform, comes with 16 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage, features dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.2, and cables via USB-C, but lacks an audio jack and storage expansion. The slim 5,600-mAh battery solution supports 66-W fast charging, and 50-W wireless. The handset is wrapped in a super-slim vegan leather coat, made from "an ultra-light and ultra-strong aerospace-grade fiber", in black or red finish options. And you'll have to heft around a device weighing 10.5 oz (298 g). It allows for a ten-size adjustable physical aperture as well as a periscope telephoto camera and ultra-wide-angle camera. Users can choose between the device’s 5.5x optical zoom and 50x digital zoom. Inside the smartphone, there’s a 5600 mAh ultra-thin silicon anode battery, which is only 1.9 mm thick. It contributes to making the entire Huawei Mate XT as thin as possible. As you might expect, the price of entry into Huawei's tri-fold universe is high, at a whopping €3,499 in fact (which converts to around US$3,650, but it's unlikely to see official release in the US). The global shipping begins on 15 Mar, 2025.