Huawei Has launched World’s First Tri-fold Smartphone, Mate XT
The Genius Media Nigeria reports that Chinese smartphone maker Huawei on Tuesday unveiled the world’s first triple-fold smartphone, called the Mate XT, which users can fold in three ways like a melodeon screen door.
The product launch came hours after its US competitor Apple revealed the iPhone 16 smartphone series. Both products will ship starting September 20 as detailed in a China Global Television Network (CGTN) report.
The report further stated that the Huawei phone had received more than 3 million pre-orders by the time of publication, according to Huawei’s website.
Brief History of Huawei
Huawei Technologies Co. Limited is a Chinese multinational digital communications technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in Shenzhen, Guangdong. It designs, develops, manufactures, and sells telecommunications equipment, consumer electronics, smart devices, and various rooftop solar products. The corporation was founded in 1987 by Ren Zhengfei, a former officer in the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The company was initially focused on manufacturing phone switches. Huawei has since expanded to more than 170 countries to include building telecommunications networks, providing operational and consulting services and equipment, and manufacturing communications devices for the consumer market.
Further, it overtook Ericsson in 2012 as the largest telecommunications equipment manufacturer in the world. Huawei surpassed Apple and Samsung, in 2018 and 2020, respectively, to become the largest smartphone manufacturer worldwide, according to reports. Amidst its rise, Huawei has been accused of intellectual property infringement, for which it has settled with companies like Cisco.
Mate XT: The largest and the thinnest folding phone by Huawei
Yu Chengdong, an Executive Director at Huawei, stated that the Mate XT’s screen measures 10.2 inches (25.908 centimeters), and the phone is 3.6 millimeters thick when unfolded, making it the largest and thinnest folding screen phone on the market. To achieve this design, the Mate XT features a high-capacity battery constructed with the thinnest silicon anode material available globally, achieving a remarkable 1.9-millimeter thickness for each cell.
The screen aspect ratio of Mate XT is similar to a laptop screen
What’s more, the screen’s aspect ratio is 16:11, that is close to that of a laptop screen, significantly reducing letterboxing when playing a standard 16:9 widescreen video compared to the almost-square screens seen on most mainstream foldable phones.
“In terms of software compatibility, Huawei is already the best in the folding phone market. The battery has seen considerable improvement in both capacity and size due to the use of silicon carbide anode, still attention must be paid to power consumption and heat issues,” said Guo Tianxiang, a research manager at IDC China in his conversation with CGTN.
The Mate XT offers a versatile design with single, dual and triple-screen modes, allowing for flexible transitions between different forms. Yu noted that Huawei has dedicated five years to pioneering its innovative hinge mechanism, which revolutionizes traditional designs, enabling both inward and outward folding.
Despite these advancements, some technical flaws of folding phones persist. According to market analysts that crease on the screen cover remain unresolved, and a 10-inch screen could seriously affect battery life.
Additionally, with a starting price of 19,999 yuan (around $2,800), This roughly translates to Rs 2,35,060. Currently, the device has been launched only in China. It is to be seen if the device will be launched in other nations. It is also crucial to note that social media users are skeptical about the high cost of folding phones and the practical value of such a large screen.
