SmartPhone

A unique phone model, the Huawei Mate XT, stands out in the smartphone world for its advanced, triple-folding design.

The Huawei Mate XT is a phone that is different from the usual “flipping” or “folding” models. Instead, it has a “trifold” design, a new breakthrough in the smartphone industry.

I had seen some information and videos about this model online, but since it was exclusive to China, my curiosity about its practical utility, the durability of the creases, and its general handling made me reconsider.

Challenges and Considerations:

I wanted to know if the phone would be difficult to carry, what its physical trade-offs are (such as the screen creases that often occur in folding screens), and how practical cases would be for a triple-folding device. Additionally, I was also wondering why it is called a “trifold” if it only folds twice.

Huawei touts the experience of using the Mate XT phone in different forms.

Pocket or backpack-friendly:

When folded, the Mate XT fits easily into a pocket or backpack and works as a “regular” single-screen smartphone with an impressive design and excellent performance. I gave this experience a very good rating, calling it an “8 out of 10,” which is on par with some of the best single-screen experiences.

First fold: Small tablet mode:

Once the phone is opened it transforms into a small tablet with a 7.9-inch square display, which is the same size as other folding phones like the Pixel Fold or Samsung Galaxy Z Fold.

While this mode is functional and looks fine, it feels like an intermediate step, as reviewers suggest it’s not the main intended mode for use — “Another fold is far from greatness.” The crease from this first fold is minimal and easy to ignore, providing a comfortable, almost seamless display experience.

Bezels and display:

The bezels around the screen remain thin, giving the phone a polished look. There is a small strip of blacked-out pixels on the far left, which doesn’t detract from usability.