Huawei, the Chinese technology company, has officially launched its second trifold smartphone, the Mate XTs, in China. This release continues the brand’s push to re-establish itself in the premium smartphone segment after years of US trade restrictions. Priced from 17,999 yuan (about $2,520 USD), the Mate XTs actually comes in slightly cheaper than its predecessor, the Mate XT. That said, it still sits firmly in the luxury category, joining the very short list of trifold devices available worldwide. Huawei has been at the forefront of this niche, positioning itself as a pioneer in the foldable space.
Key Takeaways
- New Device: Huawei introduces its second trifold smartphone, the Mate XTs.
- Price: Starting price of 17,999 yuan, roughly $2,520 USD.
- Design: Dual-hinge design that folds into a Z-shape, shifting from a standard phone to a full-sized tablet.
- Performance: Powered by Huawei’s Kirin 9020 chipset and HarmonyOS 5.
- Market Position: Reinforces Huawei’s lead in the trifold market, which rivals like Samsung are still exploring.
A Return to the Foldable Market
The arrival of the Mate XTs signals Huawei’s confidence in foldable technology, particularly in its home market. Since the US sanctions that cut off access to key American technologies and Google services, Huawei has doubled down on developing its own chips and software. That strategy seems to be paying off in China. According to recent data, Huawei shipped nearly half a million units of its first trifold model, the Mate XT, in the first six months of this year alone. That performance secured the company an impressive 75 percent share of the Chinese foldable market.
The Mate XTs builds on that momentum. Inside, it runs on the Kirin 9020 chipset, which is an upgrade from the Kirin 9010 used in the earlier version. At the launch event, Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, emphasized that the new chip delivers a 36 percent performance boost. For Huawei, that gain is more than just a technical step forward. It represents progress in its broader goal of semiconductor self-reliance.
The device also ships with HarmonyOS 5, which is becoming the backbone of Huawei’s hardware ecosystem. HarmonyOS is designed to provide a seamless experience across different devices, from phones to tablets and even laptops. The Mate XTs adds another layer of practicality by supporting PC-level applications such as WPS and Wind, catering to users who want productivity features on the go.
Design and Features
What makes the Mate XTs stand out visually is its dual-hinge design. It folds in a Z-shape, opening up into a large 10.2-inch display. Depending on how it is folded, users can treat it as a compact phone, a medium-sized screen, or a full tablet. When folded down, the device is just 12.8 mm thick, which is relatively slim for a trifold form factor. Its weight, at 298 grams, matches that of the first-generation model.
The OLED display offers an adaptive refresh rate between 1 and 120 Hz and a resolution of 2232 x 3184 pixels. The cover screen, on the other hand, measures 6.4 inches with a 1008 x 2232 resolution. As for build, it combines a glass front with an aluminum frame and either a nylon fiber or vegan leather back, giving users some material choice.
For photography, the Mate XTs includes a triple rear camera system. The main 50 MP sensor has a variable aperture, joined by a 12 MP periscope telephoto lens with 5.5x optical zoom, and a 12 MP ultrawide lens. Charging options cover both fast wired and fast wireless modes, which has become a baseline expectation for high-end devices.
Interestingly, Huawei’s timing might not be coincidental. The Mate XTs was unveiled just days before Apple is expected to announce its next iPhone lineup. Some see this as a calculated move, a way to draw attention to Huawei’s own innovation in hardware before Apple dominates headlines. While Samsung and a few others have teased trifold concepts, Huawei remains the only company actually selling such a product on the market today. That distinction gives it a unique, if narrow, lead in this experimental but increasingly intriguing category.
FAQs
Q. What is a trifold smartphone?
A. A trifold smartphone is a mobile phone that has two hinges, allowing it to fold twice. This design lets the device transform from a regular-sized smartphone into a much larger screen, similar to a small tablet, when unfolded.
Q. How does the Huawei Mate XTs differ from other foldable phones?
A. Most foldable phones, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold or the Honor Magic V, have a single hinge and fold in half. The Huawei Mate XTs has two hinges and three screens that fold into a “Z” shape, giving it a much larger display when fully open.
Q. Does the Huawei Mate XTs have Google services?
A. No, due to US trade restrictions, Huawei phones sold in most markets do not have Google Mobile Services (GMS) pre-installed. They use Huawei’s own AppGallery and HarmonyOS ecosystem.
