After much anticipation, Huawei has officially launched the first foldable smartphone in the world, the Mate XT, featuring three screens and a unique dual hinge design. Priced at an impressive $2,800, this device aims to strengthen Huawei’s position as a leading force in the smartphone market, coinciding with the recent announcement of the iPhone 16.
The Mate XT showcases an innovative dual-hinge mechanism that allows it to fold into a “Z” shape, providing multiple usage configurations. When completely folded, the OLED display measures 6.4 inches, similar to that of a standard smartphone, while the display expands to an impressive 10.2 inches when fully opened.
According to Reuters, there have already been over 4 million pre-orders for the Mate XT. This figure is based on research from IDC, which noted that around 4 million foldable devices were sold globally in the second quarter of the year.
However, Bloomberg has suggested that these numbers might be misleading. The pre-order system merely informs customers who express interest about purchasing the smartphone when it launches later this month, which curiously coincides with the release of the iPhone 16, and does not require any deposit or upfront payment.
The base variant of the Mate XT, which comes with 256GB of storage, is priced at $2,800. There are two other models available: the 512GB version is priced at approximately $3,089 (21,999 yuan), while the 1TB variant can be purchased for around $3,370 (23,999 yuan). All options are equipped with 16GB of RAM.
During the launch event, Huawei did not disclose any information regarding the processor that powers the Mate XT. This omission has led many to speculate that there could be a lack of groundbreaking advancements, with the high price tag potentially not reflecting significant performance enhancements, as noted by Bloomberg.
The device is equipped with a robust 5,600mAh battery that supports both 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. It houses a 50-megapixel main camera, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens, and another 12-megapixel periscope camera on the rear. On the leftmost screen, when unfolded, there’s an 8-megapixel hole-punch camera for selfies.
Huawei’s executive director, Richard Yu, emphasized the company’s dedication, stating, “Today we present a product that many could envision but couldn’t bring to life. Our team has tirelessly worked for five years without giving up.” He further declared that this launch aims to “rewrite the history of the industry, transform science fiction into reality, and usher in a new era of foldable technology.”
As of now, Huawei has yet to announce the availability of the Mate XT in markets outside of China.