huawei reveals mate XT, the world’s first tri-fold smartphone with three large glass displays

Mate XT Ultimate Design, a tri-fold smartphone from Huawei

Hours after Apple unveiled its iPhone 16, Huawei surprises its fans with the release of the Mate XT Ultimate Design, dubbed the world’s first tri-fold AI smartphone with three large screens made of glass. This is also the debut of Huawei’s Tiangong hinge system, which allows the smartphone to bend both its internal and external components with ease. The multi-screen device features an embedded slim rod structure between the hinges so that the tri-fold smartphone doesn’t take up much space. Integrating the rod helps the design team make the smartphone slimmer, so even though it has three displays, it feels like it only has a single screen when folded. The triple-folding smartphone is available for pre-orders and is set to launch on September 20th, 2024.

all images courtesy of Huawei

AI smartphone with a frame made from steel

When the tri-fold AI smartphone is unfolded, the display measures 10.2 inches and doesn’t seem to have creases or show the rod between the screens. For those who are concerned about the hinge system, Huawei says that the core components of the Mate XT Ultimate Design come from steel typically used in making rockets, so the device can resist deformation even with frequent opening and closing. The tri-fold feature isn’t the only standout aspect of the new Huawei smartphone. The rear is also a design element to marvel at.

So far, there are two colors available: red and dark black, both of which have leather skins. Strips of black gold linings detail the edges of the tri-fold smartphone, gleaming both day and night. The new smartphone comes with a new update to the in-house HarmonyOS of the technology company. Some of the AI features of the Mate XT Ultimate Design include a voice editing function to help polish up voice-to-text transcription as well as a translation expert for side-by-side language switching in texts. The AI also supports photo editing, which can extend the background of a picture or remove objects from photos when the user desires.

Huawei surprises its fans with the release of the Mate XT, the world’s first tri-fold AI smartphone

Displays with 3K ultra-high resolution

When it comes to the multiple screens, it’s not necessary for users to always unfold the tri-fold smartphone. They can fold everything and just use one screen, which is typical for a common smartphone user. For dual mode, they can open another screen and have different apps displayed on each. This may be useful when reading and taking notes at the same time. That or when users need to jot down information from a web tab. The three screens are also suitable for entertainment since the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design effectively becomes more like a tablet.

Huawei says that the displays are in 3K ultra-high resolution and that there’s a 92 percent screen-to-body ratio. This means there are fewer bezels or edges around the screens. The display also features a composite, laminated structure using a non-Newtonian fluid and the industry’s largest double-impact-resistant glass material. Flipping the tri-fold smartphone over, Huawei opts for a diamond shape for the camera casing. The company describes it as the first foldable smartphone whose cameras have 10 variable apertures. One of them is a periscope telephoto camera, and another is an ultra-wide-angle lens that can record and capture images at all focal lengths.

the multi-screen device features an embedded slim rod structure between the hinges

The cameras support 5.5x optical zoom and 50x digital zoom. These features can allow users to take panoramic photos of glaciers, lakes, and seas even if they seem up close. Beyond the cameras, users who hike and camp in remote areas may appreciate that when the tri-fold smartphone loses signal coverage based on the users’ location, it can still communicate through Huawei’s dedicated satellite, Tiantong.

The Mate XT Ultimate Design comes with a silicon, anode-based battery. It is 1.9mm thin and has a capacity of up to 5600 mAh. As of publishing this story, Huawei has made pre-orders for the tri-fold smartphone available. The model with 256GB memory costs around 2,800 USD, while the 512GB version is at 3,000 USD and 3,300 USD for the 1TB.

view of the unfolded Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design