TechPhonesI tested Huawei’s tri-fold phone – Google and Samsung could learn a few new tricksThe Huawei Mate XT is the world’s first tri-fold phone – and it’s even more impressive than I’d imaginedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechPhonesI tested Huawei’s tri-fold phone – Google and Samsung could learn a few new tricksThe Huawei Mate XT is the world’s first tri-fold phone – and it’s even more impressive than I’d imaginedWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
The Huawei Mate XT is the world’s first tri-fold phone – and it’s even more impressive than I’d imagined
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
Having testedthe best folding phonesfor many years now, I feel as though 2024 has been a tipping point in getting foldables to a no-compromise proposition – just as I said of theGoogle Pixel 9 Pro Fold, which exceeded my expectations and has become my daily driver that’s now always in my pocket.
So when the opportunity to get ahold of thebrand new Huawei Mate XT– a world-first innovation, thanks to its triple-fold design – I jumped at the chance to see the future of folding phones in action. Huawei’s ‘Ultimate Design’ device (as written on its rear) is a deeply impressive bit of kit – one that’s almost confounding in its brilliance.
Indeed, withSamsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 6altogether so similar to its predecessor, and Google having only just elevated its conventional folding phone prospects, it’s clear that Huawei’s research and development could teach the other big dogs a new trick or two in makingthe best Android phonesof the future.
Sure, the Mate XT isn’t going to be a viable product for many people right now – not least on account of its cost – but it is a wonderful glimpse into the future’s potential of the format. Here are five key points about Huawei’s triple-fold innovation, as based on my time using the device:
1. It can fold multiple ways
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As I see it: you’d never need a tablet again. That kind of scale would be ideal for long journeys when you want to watch, say,Netflix’s latest no.1 movie, or various other types of media. The typical ‘crease’ – of which there are two here, of course – is subtle, akin to theOnePlus Open, and front-on I couldn’t notice them. Add 120Hz variable refresh rate and oodles of brightness and this giant screen in your pocket is unlike anything else I’ve ever seen in such a device.
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2. The hinges are impressive
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(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
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(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
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(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
I’d assumed before seeing the Mate XT that its build quality was going to be up for question. But that’s really not the case: I found the hinge mechanisms really robust, there’s no ‘crunchiness’ to their operation (which I’ve seen and felt with some foldables of the past), and the resistance feels just right – it’s not too loose, not too stiff, enabling adjustment of both as you wish, concertina style.
Huawei has really nailed that aspect of the Mate XT’s mechanical design, which is clearly integral to a product such as this. The displays around the hinges aren’t obstructed either, which means no disruption of the screen’s flow. That’s testament to how advanced this product is – I can’t even imagine how many variants were created in pursuing this final outcome.
It’s not just the hinges that impress, though, the overall handset’s build quality is of a very high calibre indeed. How so much screen can be packed into a sub-300g device isn’t to be understated – that’s not a huge amount more than the 257g Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold – and the choice of metal frame and textured material cladding is right on point.
3. Battery technology is a step ahead
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(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
Far as I can recall, Huawei was the first phone-maker to put a silicon-carbon battery in one of it’s phones. I know, battery technology isboring. But battery tech is also critically important – it’s the number one consumer pain point when it comes tothe best phones, as people want all this tech to last for seemingly forever on one charge.
4. Not compromising on cameras
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(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
(Image credit: Future / Mike Lowe)
I was a little sceptical of such a large camera bump on the rear of the Mate XT, and I’m not sure that octagonal design is the one for me either. But I’m of the view that just because a phone folds, doesn’t mean it should compromise on its camera setup. And with Google’s Pixel 9 Pro Fold not upgrading the cameras over theoriginal Pixel Fold, I think most foldable phone-makers have room for improvement here.
Huawei has quietly been making leaps forward in camera technologies over the years. I remember using the Huawei P30 Pro, which was a revelation in night shooting when it first launched five years back in 2019. That was thanks to new sensor technology, which the brand has continued to further develop. Other technologies, such as variable aperture, have also made it into Huawei’s line-up – which also features here in the Mate XT.
I’ve only had a short time thumbing around the Mate XT’s camera offering, but I’m pleased to see its triple camera setup delivering a 50-megapixel main (with optical stabilisation and f/1.4-4.0 variable aperture), a 3x optical zoom (also with stabilisation) and an ultra-wide lens too. There’s also no under-display camera interrupting the screen’s visuals, which I also think is the right move.
5. But it’s pricey and software limited
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So I’m painting a positive overall picture of Huawei’s tri-fold phone, but that’s because the Mate XT is truly impressive for so many reasons. It’s also truly expensive – but just because it costs as much as aMacBook Pro 16-inchdoesn’t mean it won’t delivervalueto certain users. That’s fairly specific, though, with a China-only launch for now and Huawei’s HarmonyOS (rather than full Google Android with Play Store) on board.
Today’s best Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Honor Magic V3 and Huawei Mate XT dealsGoogle Pixel 9 Pro Fold$1,629ViewSee all pricesSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6$1,899.99$1,599.99ViewSee all pricesHonor Magic V3$1,899$1,799ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Honor Magic V3 and Huawei Mate XT dealsGoogle Pixel 9 Pro Fold$1,629ViewSee all pricesSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6$1,899.99$1,599.99ViewSee all pricesHonor Magic V3$1,899$1,799ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Honor Magic V3 and Huawei Mate XT dealsGoogle Pixel 9 Pro Fold$1,629ViewSee all pricesSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6$1,899.99$1,599.99ViewSee all pricesHonor Magic V3$1,899$1,799ViewSee all pricesWe check over 250 million products every day for the best prices
Today’s best Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, Honor Magic V3 and Huawei Mate XT deals
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold$1,629ViewSee all pricesSamsung Galaxy Z Fold 6$1,899.99$1,599.99ViewSee all pricesHonor Magic V3$1,899$1,799ViewSee all prices
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold$1,629ViewSee all prices
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold$1,629ViewSee all prices
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold
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Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6$1,899.99$1,599.99ViewSee all prices
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6$1,899.99$1,599.99ViewSee all prices
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6
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Honor Magic V3$1,899$1,799ViewSee all prices
Honor Magic V3$1,899$1,799ViewSee all prices
Honor Magic V3
Honor Magic V3
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