Chinese smartphone giant Huawei has unveiled the world’s first tri-fold smartphone, the Mate XT, marking a significant leap in mobile technology. The Mate XT, which can fold in three ways like an accordion screen door, was introduced just hours after Apple’s launch of the iPhone 16 series.
The Mate XT has already garnered immense interest, with over 3 million preorders recorded on Huawei’s website by the time of publication. The device is set to begin shipping from September 20, aligning its release closely with that of its U.S. competitor.
Yu Chengdong, an executive director at Huawei, highlighted the Mate XT’s impressive specifications during the launch. The smartphone boasts a 10.2-inch screen when fully unfolded, making it the largest folding screen phone available. Despite its size, the device maintains a slim profile of just 3.6 millimeters when unfolded. This feat was achieved by incorporating a high-capacity battery made with the thinnest silicon anode material globally, resulting in each battery cell being only 1.9 millimeters thick.
The Mate XT’s screen features a 16:11 aspect ratio, closely resembling that of a laptop, which significantly enhances the viewing experience for widescreen content compared to the almost-square screens of other foldable phones.
“In terms of software compatibility, Huawei leads the folding phone market,” said Guo Tianxiang, a research manager at IDC China. “The battery has seen considerable improvement in both capacity and size due to the use of silicon carbide anode, but attention must still be paid to power consumption and heat issues.”
The innovative design allows for single, dual, and triple screen modes, offering users flexible transitions between different forms. Yu Chengdong emphasized Huawei’s dedication over five years to developing the new hinge mechanism, which allows the device to fold both inward and outward, a departure from traditional folding designs.
Despite these advancements, some technical challenges remain. Market analysts point out that creases on the screen cover have yet to be fully resolved, and the expansive 10-inch screen may impact battery life. Additionally, with a starting price of 19,999 yuan (approximately $2,800), there is skepticism among social media users regarding the high cost and the practical value of such a large screen in daily use.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
