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When Speed set off on his livestreamed tour across East Asia, he was amazed by the new three folding phone made by Huawei called the Mate XT. With an awesome tri-fold design and a screen that transforms from pocket-sized to tablet-sized in seconds, it’s becoming increasingly popular. Here’s everything you need to know about the device Speed just had to bring back with him.
Is the Huawei Mate XT Worth It?
The Mate XT is actually the world’s first commercially available tri-fold smartphone. Shenzhen, often called China’s Silicon Valley, served as the launch site for the Mate XT back in September last year. It’s unique tri-fold design allows it to transform from a compact 6.4-inch phone into a full-sized 10.2-inch tablet. Speed was so excited, that he purchased the phone on the spot and brought it back to the U.S., sparking even more buzz around the Mate XT’s futuristic design and rare availability.
The Huawei Mate XT truly feels like a glimpse into the future. It features a massive 10.2-inch OLED display when fully unfolded, folding out twice in a clever, compact way. Despite its size, it weighs under 300 grams and measures just 3.6mm thick when fully open. It’s powered by Huawei’s Kirin 9010 processor, with 16GB of RAM, up to 1TB of storage, and a 5,600mAh battery. The camera system is impressive too, with a 50MP main lens, a 12MP ultra-wide, a 12MP periscope telephoto, and an 8MP front camera.
However, the Mate XT comes at a premium price — and it’s not officially available in the U.S. While it has launched in places like Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Mexico, buyers in America must import it. Even then, they’ll face issues like network compatibility and the absence of Google services.
The main reason for this is the ongoing U.S. sanctions against Huawei, which prevent them from launching new smartphones domestically. These sanctions also restrict access to crucial technology, including support for Google Mobile Services (GMS) — a huge part of the typical Android experience in the U.S.
I’m not sure how speed did it, but somehow he’s found a way to get those services of his device.
Other Folding Phone Options
Still, all hope isn’t lost if you’re looking for one of these foldable phone. There are great alternatives available. Although they don’t feature three screens yet, they still offer incredible dual-fold screen options. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 features a 6.2-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner display, with powerful specs like the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip, 12GB of RAM, and up to 1TB of storage. It’s highly polished and fully optimized for the U.S. market. You can get the Z fold 6 now too, this has the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor upgrade. But do keep in mind it’s much more expensive at the moment.
Meanwhile, the Google Pixel Fold takes a slightly different approach with a shorter, wider design when folded, making the front screen feel more natural. It unfolds into a 7.6-inch OLED display and delivers Google’s signature clean Android experience, with excellent cameras and clever software for multitasking.
Other top-tier options include the OnePlus Open and the Honor Magic V2. The OnePlus Open offers a 7.82-inch inner display and a 6.31-inch outer screen, both with smooth 120Hz refresh rates. It’s powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 with 16GB RAM, 512GB storage, and a Hasselblad-tuned camera setup with a massive 67W fast charging. The Honor Magic V2 — though not officially sold in the U.S. — is the slimmest foldable yet, featuring a 7.92-inch inner and 6.43-inch outer display, plus a stunningly slim 9.9mm profile when folded.
You could go for the latest Honor Magic V3 model which is also out now, with better processing and some other improved features. But the V2 is the cheaper way to get into foldable devices of this size, even though they are still premium phones.
Watch IShowSpeed get the Mate XT and more on folding phones with our video below:
All these options are impressive, but the Huawei Mate XT still stands apart. It might not have the absolute best raw performance, but when it comes to screen innovation on a smartphone, it arguably offers the most futuristic experience you can get right now.
Thanks for reading. Oh and by the way! If you’re on the lookout for a new laptop, make sure try our Laptop Finder Quiz. Otherwise, check out our similar tech reviews on the links below.
