Shortly after Apple unveiled the iPhone 16, Chinese tech company Huawei announced “the world’s first triple-fold smartphone” — the Mate XT Ultimate Design. Foldable phones typically have a single hinge, but this device sports an interesting bi-fold hinge that allows it to fold up in a ‘Z’ shape.
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The Mate XT can operate in three different configurations. When opened fully, the Mate XT has a massive 10.2-inch, 3K (2,232 x 3,184 pixels) OLED display. Users can close a third of the touchscreen to have a 7.9-inch device. That’s bigger than an unfurled Galaxy Z Fold 6. Collapsing the smartphone entirely gives you a 6.4-inch screen, with 2,232 x 1,008-pixel resolution.
The product page for the Mate XT is in Chinese, but translations exist online. According to GSMArena, each configuration has an intended purpose. Huawei claims the “single-screen mode is ideal for daily tasks [while] the dual-screen is optimized for web browsing and reading”. The unfolded array is reportedly the “best for detailed work or study”.
You’ll notice in the previews that the device is thin. Opened up, the Mate XT is a mere 3.6mm (about 0.15 inches) thick and weighs 298 grams or 10 ounces. That weight includes the large camera array jutting out from the back.
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The camera consists of three different lenses. It houses a 50MP lens that supports PDAF (phase detection autofocus) and OIS (optical image stabilization), a 12MP telephoto option, and a 12MP ultra wide-angle camera. The device also includes a “laser autofocus module”.
The device is a luxurious smartphone with a hefty price tag. The Mate XT Ultimate Design is available for pre-order in China for 19,999 Yuan, which is about $2,800 — more than triple the cost of the iPhone 16. However, it is unlikely the phone will ever reach the US. The US has banned Huawei from doing business in the country, citing security concerns.
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But now that Huawei has shown the world that a triple-fold smartphone is possible, will we see other companies copy the design? Maybe. Samsung has experimented with bi-folding displays in the past, though whether the tech giant’s next device has a tripe-fold design remains to be seen.
