Huawei has changed the landscape of the smartphone market with the introduction of the HUAWEI Mate XT – the world’s first tri-fold smartphone. The device was introduced in the global market during the HUAWEI Innovative Product Launch event held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
As one of the attendees of the launch event, I was able to get a little peek at the new foldable and it was interesting, to say the least. That said, here’s my brief experience with the HUAWEI Mate XT.
HUAWEI Mate XT
Full Speicfications
| Display | Single: 6.4-inch 2232×1008 LTPO OLED, 90Hz Dual: 7.9-inch 2232×2048 LTPO OLED, 90Hz Triple: 10.2-inch 2232×3184 LTPO OLED, 90Hz |
| Processor | undisclosed |
| GPU | undisclosed |
| RAM | 1TB |
| Storage | 16GB |
| Rear Camera | 50MP main (RYYB, OIS) 12MP ultrawide 12MP periscope telephoto (OIS) |
| Front Camera | 8MP |
| Battery | 5600mAh 66W wired HUAWEI SuperCharge 50W wireless HUAWEI SuperCharge |
| OS | HarmonyOS 4.2 |
Build and Design
The HUAWEI Mate XT at first glance is definitely a premium-feeling device with its vegan leather back and very classy gold trims along the hinges and sides. The gold trims pair really well with either of the two colorways – Nebula Red and Black.
In addition, the Star Diamond Design on the camera module on the third panel looks extra stylish. I can’t forget the Sinusoidal Cutting process coupled with the Eonic Curves, which creates the unique textures on the outer rim of the island.
Another stylish touch to the back panel is the little token on the panel that is used as the outer display.
What’s most surprising about the HUAWEI Mate XT is how slim it is when you get to Triple Screen mode, which is even slimmer than my lens cap. However, it was nerve-racking to hold it fully unfolded on the opposite side of the camera module because of how slim it is. I’m guessing this is something that you’ll eventually used to.
Display
Its display is what impressed me next to the hinge and the innovation in presenting the tri-fold design.
Fully unfolded, you get a 10.2-inch panel, Dual Screen mode offers a 7.4-inch display, and Single Screen mode it’s a 6.4-inch screen. These are LTPO OLED panels with a 90Hz refresh rate.
Now sure, a 90Hz refresh rate on a flagship device in 2025 feels wrong, but let’s not forget that this is the first tri-fold device in the market.
That said, I enjoyed how smooth it is to switch between the three screen modes. It was very snappy and seamless. It took a bit for me to figure out though that you need to flip the device around to get to Dual Screen mode, but it all makes sense when you fully unfold the HUAWEI Mate XT.
However, it must be said that with a three-display smartphone, you’ll have to deal with one more crease. This isn’t quite an issue for everyone, like myself, but I know it’s worth mentioning
Performance
Performance isn’t something I got to fully test as I only got to try it out in small bursts. However, with the little moments that I had with the HUAWEI Mate XT, it felt very smooth.
I watched our friend Jayvee Fernandez, The Philippine Star Technology Editor play Goddess of Victory: Nikke on his review unit and it seemed to handle it with ease. It also made me realize that compared to more traditional foldables, a tri-fold device offers more flexibility, especially in gaming.
The longer display that the Triple Screen mode offers is an even better experience for games like Goddess of Victory: Nikke which plays in a portrait orientation.
I can’t forget that Huawei packed an impressive 5600mAh battery amidst the slim design. Again, I didn’t get to test how long this lasts when powering the three panels but I hope I get to test it soon.
Camera
Despite being foldable, Huawei didn’t hold back when it comes to optics on the HUAWEI Mate XT. The rear camera module has a 50MP main RYYB camera accompanied by two 12MP lenses for ultrawide snaps and the other a periscope telephoto lens. The latter offers 5.5x optical zoom and maxes out at 50x zoom.
It has the HUAWEI XMAGE imaging technology that the company uses for its flagship devices.
Here are some samples I took:
I was quite surprised though to find out that you can’t use the outer panel and couple it with the rear panel to take better-quality selfies. When you fold the outer panel inward with the camera app on, it basically tells you to fully unfold the device for you to capture photos.
I suppose this makes sense the device switches to the two inner screens when you go for Dual Screen mode. But I hope it is something that you’ll be able to do so you can see yourself while using the rear cameras for higher-quality selfies.
The front camera is an 8MP snapper that takes pretty good shots. It doesn’t stand out but it is good enough to post on social media based on the photo I took.
Initial Thoughts?
My brief time with the HUAWEI Mate XT has me impressed with such an innovative device. Its overall design and just how slim it can get is just awe-inspiring. That’s coupled with the large battery and a flagship-level camera system.
However, with the local pricing officially announced at PHP 199,999, it clearly isn’t for everyone. But I’m certain it will be something everyone would love to experience for themselves. Because of this, I’m grateful I got to see it and try it out even for a bit.
I hope we get to fully experience the device for ourselves.
If you want to learn more about the HUAWEI Mate XT, visit the official website.
Ram found his love and appreciation for writing in 2015 having started in the gaming and esports sphere for GG Network. He would then transition to focus more on the world of tech which has also began his journey into learning more about this world. That said though, he still has the mentality of "as long as it works" for his personal gadgets.
