The Huawei Mate XT has officially arrived, and it's making waves with its unique triple-fold design. Under the company's “Ultimate Design” branding, this premium smartphone boasts impressive features and an equally impressive price tag.
If you're thinking of splashing out on this cutting-edge device, you'll need to set aside around 19,999 Yuan (roughly S$3,660). That's more than S$1,000 for each screen, with the entry-level version offering 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage.
For those who want the best, the top-tier model has 16GB of RAM and a whopping 1TB of storage. At 23,999 Yuan (about S$4,440), it's certainly not cheap, but for that price, you'll enjoy a stunning 10.2-inch display powered by HarmonyOS 4.2 when the phone is fully unfolded.
A tablet-sized foldable phone
The Huawei Mate XT's screen size sets it apart from other foldable phones. When fully unfolded, the display measures 10.2 inches, rivalling full-sized tablets. By comparison, Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold6 offers a 7.6-inch display, making the Huawei Mate XT significantly larger and closer in size to a traditional tablet. When partially unfolded, the Huawei Mate XT reveals a 7.9-inch display, which still outdoes many competing foldable devices.
The design is also different from its rivals. While phones like the Galaxy Z Fold6 and the Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold feature a single hinge that allows the screens to fold into each other, the Huawei Mate XT uses a more complex “accordion fold” system. When fully collapsed, one of the screens forms a 6.4-inch external display, offering versatility that other foldable phones can't quite match.
High-end specs with a few unknowns
While Huawei has not revealed every technical detail about the Mate XT, there are several standout features we do know about. The phone uses a vibrant OLED display and is powered by a 5,600mAh battery, giving it enough juice to handle a full day of usage. The rear camera setup is impressive, featuring a 50MP main camera and two 12MP ultrawide and periscope lenses. You'll find an 8MP camera for selfies and video calls on the front.
The phone weighs in at 298 grammes and has a thickness that ranges from 12.8mm when fully folded to just 3.6mm when unfolded. However, there are still a few unknowns, such as the device's exact processor power and any artificial intelligence (AI) features it may include.
Almost five million pre-orders, but no international release yet
According to Huawei's official pre-order page, the Mate XT has already garnered nearly five million pre-orders in China. This staggering figure highlights the strong demand for this innovative smartphone. However, for those outside of China hoping to get their hands on the Mate XT, there is some disappointing news. So far, the launch is exclusive to China, with no word on when or if it will be released in other markets like Singapore.
In summary, the Huawei Mate XT is shaping to be one of the most exciting foldable smartphones of the year, offering a unique design, large display, and premium features. However, with its hefty price tag and limited availability, whether it will become a global hit remains to be seen.
