We are back with another HUAWEI device!
This time, we’re testing their latest top-of-the-line foldable smartphone, the HUAWEI Mate XT—the world’s first commercial trifold smartphone.
Aside from its unique tri-fold feature, what else does this phone offer? Is it worth its hefty price tag? Let’s find out!
First, let’s talk about its design. HUAWEI has truly pushed the boundaries of foldable smartphones with this device. When we first got our hands on it and started unfolding it, I felt a mix of excitement and nervousness. But after a few hours, I got used to it.
In terms of dimensions, the HUAWEI Mate XT is quite heavy, weighing 298g. It holds the title of the thinnest trifold smartphone in the industry, measuring just 3.6mm when unfolded.
When placed side by side with a regular phone, the difference is quite noticeable. However, when folded, it becomes 12.8mm thick, which can create a noticeable bulge in your pocket. I’d recommend carrying a pouch or a sling bag for convenience.
As for the frame, the volume rocker and power button, which also serves as a fingerprint sensor, are located on the right side. The top houses an IR blaster, a microphone, and a speaker grille, while the bottom features a USB-C port, a SIM tray, another microphone, and another speaker grille.
The variant we have is the stunning Ironman Red, featuring a vegan leather back panel with gold accents around the frame. Design-wise, as a fan of Iron Man, I absolutely love this colorway! But for those who prefer a more classic look, there’s also a black variant. One minor drawback is that flipping open the cover screen can be a bit tricky due to the slim frame.
Now, onto the display. When fully unfolded, the HUAWEI Mate XT boasts a massive 10.2” LTPO OLED display with a 3K resolution.
The cover display measures 6.4” with a 1008×2232 resolution, while the dual display mode offers a 7.9” screen with a 2048×2232 resolution. Navigating through the interface is smooth, thanks to the 90Hz refresh rate.
Watching your favorite shows on this device is a treat, especially when utilizing the full display. The seamless transition between different screen sizes is another highlight, making multitasking a breeze—whether you’re using the dual display for split-screen or enjoying immersive content.
The crease on the display is also barely noticeable, which enhances the viewing experience. When using it outdoors, the cover screen is sufficient for everyday tasks.
Now, let’s move on to its cameras. The HUAWEI Mate XT is equipped with the Ultra Aperture XMAGE camera system, featuring a triple-camera setup: a 50MP OIS main sensor, a 12MP periscope lens, and a 12MP ultrawide sensor. The punch-hole cutout on the front houses an 8MP selfie camera.
Rear Camera Samples
In terms of photography, the cameras deliver flagship-level quality. Photos are rich in detail, with true-to-life colors and a wide dynamic range.
Rear Camera Samples (Portrait and Low Light)
Portrait shots stand out with excellent subject-to-background separation, and even in low light, images remain social media-ready without requiring post-processing.
Selfie Camera Samples
The selfie camera, while decent, isn’t the best. It captures good details and sharpness, but if you want better quality shots, you can always use the rear cameras. To illustrate, here’s a side-by-side comparison of images taken with the selfie camera versus the rear setup.
For video recording, the rear camera supports up to 4K@60FPS when steady shot is turned off and 1080P@60FPS with steady shot enabled. Meanwhile, the selfie camera can record up to 4K@30FPS but lacks a steady shot feature.
Now, let’s talk about performance. Under the hood, the HUAWEI Mate XT is powered by the 7nm Kirin 9010 chipset and runs on EMUI 14.2.
It is paired with a massive 16GB of RAM and 1TB of UFS 3.1 storage—more than enough for all your files and apps.
For productivity, this device excels. As mentioned earlier, the display is great for multitasking, and with the fast UFS 3.1 storage, everything runs smoothly. The trifold design is also useful for work-related tasks and entertainment purposes.
When it comes to gaming, we tested Genshin Impact on the highest settings at 60FPS, and the performance was excellent.
There were minimal frame drops or stutters, making for a smooth gaming experience. Here are some benchmark results.
Now, let’s discuss battery life. The HUAWEI Mate XT packs a 5600mAh battery, which is impressive given its form factor. In our video loop test, the battery lasted about 20 hours and 34 minutes when folded and around 13 hours when unfolded.
For charging, it supports 66W SuperCharge and 50W wireless SuperCharge. Charging the device from 0 to 100% via wired charging took approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes.
Finally, let’s talk about the price. The HUAWEI Mate XT is priced at PHP199,999 for the 16GB RAM and 1TB storage variant.
If you’re someone who loves cutting-edge technology or simply wants to flex a unique and premium device, then the HUAWEI Mate XT is for you. It’s undeniably a luxury gadget, making it inaccessible to most consumers. However, HUAWEI has once again set a new standard in the foldable smartphone market.
So that’s the HUAWEI Mate XT! What are your thoughts on this device? Let us know in the comments below!
If you want to have a better look on HUAWEI Mate XT, you might want to check out our review video on our YouTube Channel!
ManilaShaker is a tech media producing insightful and helpful content for our local and growing international audience. Our goal is to create a premier Philippine digital consumer electronics resource that provides the most objective reviews and comparisons globally.
