Huawei to bring massively expensive trifold smartphone to world market

There's everything to play for, but there ain't no Play Store

Huawei is bringing its triple-fold Mate XT smartphone to a global audience, but with an eye-watering reported price tag, the question is – who will want to buy it?

The Mate XT was unveiled in China last year, billed by the company as the world's first commercially available trifold smartphone, featuring an extra hinge so that it can fold up into a kind of Z shape.

The Mate XT at the Malaysia event - Photo: Huawei (click to enlarge)

Today, at an event in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Huawei said the Mate XT is ready to make its debut worldwide, although it isn't clear yet which countries it intends to make it available in. A spokesperson told us that this is likely to be on a country-by-country basis.

Indications are that the device is likely to cost at least €3,000 (about $3,100 or £2,500), making it substantially more costly than most other smartphones, even rival folding devices such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip6, which is currently on sale for at least £1,000 (about $1,200) in the UK, and around the same Stateside ($1,219 when we looked).

The mobile operating system this device runs is listed as EMUI 14.2, Huawei's own platform which is based on HarmonyOS 4 and Android 12. This is a result of US sanctions that blocked Huawei's access to Google Mobile Services, and not having access to Google-flavored Android, its apps and its Play Store may put off many potential buyers.

In fact, we asked Huawei if it really expects consumers in Europe to buy the Mate XT, considering the deteriorating relations between the west and China that have seen many countries order the removal of telecoms gear made by the company from their networks, but we have yet to get a response.

In terms of specifications, the Mate XT has the equivalent of a 6.4in screen with a resolution of 2232 x 1008 pixels when closed up, expanding to a 10.2in display with 2232 x 3184 pixels when fully unfolded.

The phone uses Huawei's proprietary Kirin 9010 processor, 16 GB of memory and 256 GB to 1TB of flash storage. As well as 5G, it supports Wi-Fi 7, has a 50 MP camera and weighs about 300g.

Huawei's broader launch of its costly foldable comes amid talk of an impending launch of the iPhone SE 4 from Apple, said to be due this week. This is expected to be a step up in specifications over the last incarnation of Cupertino's more budget-level device a few years ago.

"The upcoming iPhone SE will offer a substantial upgrade in specifications, making it an affordable option for users seeking an iPhone equipped with Apple Intelligence, as well as other hardware features trickling down from flagship models," said Omdia senior research manager Jusy Hong.

"By incorporating the latest chipsets, the new iPhone SE will also help expand Apple's base of AI-capable iPhones, bringing Apple Intelligence exclusive features such as enhanced Siri and machine learning capabilities to a broader audience."

Additionally, Huawei showed off the MatePad Pro 13.2in tablet and the Band 10 "smart band" device at its event in Kuala Lumpur. ®