Huawei Mate XT: a technological “threesome” for a smartphone that weighs
In 2019, the United States placed Huawei blacklisted. A decade later, although weakened, the Chinese brand is still alive and even allows itself to be a driving force for innovation in the world of tech. So, while a good number of manufacturers have announced that they are working on a smartphone that folds into three thanks to two hinges, Huawei has outdone them by unveiling its own model, called Mate XT.
This “tri-fold” therefore has three Oled screens, or rather a large screen which folds into three, accordion style. A true technological showcase, the device had to have a robust technical sheet given its launch price: 20,000 yuan in China, or around €2,500. With its in-house Kirin 9010 chip (which also powers the Pura 70 Ultra), its 5600 mAh battery compatible with fast charging and its complete triple photo module, we can say that the Mate XT does not disappoint, even if it is not free of flaws.
A smartphone that packs a punch
Folded, the Mate XT looks like any folding smartphone that got a little loose during the holidays. With its 12.8 mm thickness, or 0.7 mm more than a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 already considered imposing, Huawei's tri-fold appears particularly massive. However, it could hardly be otherwise due to its unique form factor. Visually, this gives the impression of a sandwich with several layers, a rather substantial sandwich, an impression which is confirmed in the hand. However, if its thickness can eventually be forgotten over time, this is not the case for its mass.
Although the Z Fold 6 is already not one of the lightest, the Mate XT feels more like holding a small brick. With 298 g on the scale, the terminal is heavy, very heavy. It is also quite disconcerting to hold a 6.4-inch smartphone with a classic appearance when folded. Even opened in two parts, it remains heavier than any classic folding model, although this weight is felt less than when completely closed.
From the first opening, we can already appreciate the technological prowess: the rear flap, which houses an equally imposing photo block, unfolds first and its finesse is immediately evident. However, despite this thinness, the smartphone seems robust. Then, we unfold the other part, which is not so simple due to the fairly rigid hinge (reinforcing the impression of solidity) and the rounded edges of the device. But once fully unfolded, the effect is striking.
A tablet in your pocket
What the smartphone lost in thickness when folded, it gains when fully unfolded. The device then turns into a real 10.2-inch tablet with an impressive thinness of 3.6 mm, the thinnest and therefore the lightest on the market. For comparison, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite and theiPad 9released in 2020 and 2021 respectively, weighed 467 g and 497 g with equivalent diagonals. Huawei thus seems to have realized the idea behind the first folding smartphones which is to offer a tablet the size of a wallet.
Although we were not able to carry out measurements in the lab, the screen seemed to us to be of excellent quality. However, the Mate During a quick look at the display settings, we noticed that the refresh rate, although adaptive, does not exceed 90 Hz. On a product whose price could reach €3,000, if it were to arriving in our region, it stings…
As for the photo part, we were surprised to discover a 5.5x telephoto lens on such a thin model. Certainly, the photo block is prominent, but this is already the case on more classic folding smartphones, like the Honor Magic V3. A selfie camera is also present in a punch-hole centered at the top of the main screen. It therefore finds itself completely off-center on the left once the device is opened.
Another technical feat from the Chinese brand, the Huawei Mate XT has a generous 5600 mAh battery thanks to the use of an accumulator just 1.9 mm thick. In the world of smartphones, this capacity is more than comfortable, but in the world of tablets it can lead one to fear the worst. Although we have not been able to test its endurance, we can be reassured with the charging power amounting to 66 W wired and 50 W wireless.
Goodbye Google, room for harmony?
If the hardware exudes luxury, the software part could confuse more than one person. Like all the brand's smartphones since the P50the Mate XT runs HarmonyOS. The few apps (native or not) that we tried run perfectly smoothly. Huawei has probably done a lot of software work so that apps automatically and instantly adapt to the format and orientation of the screen. Please note that these good impressions only apply to the handful of services we have tried, and there is no guarantee that this will always be the case. As always, the user experience also depends on the work of the developers.
Who says HarmonyOS, also says total absence of Google services. If there are alternative stores, like GBox or Aurora Store, you will have to know (or want to) do without them. Especially since in this specific case, the use of platforms allowing you to circumvent this limitation can cause some security problems, or simply compatibility problems. During our test of the Huawei Pura 70 Ultra, the Bonjour RATP app could be installed this way, but did not allow us to validate our Navigo pass despite the presence of NFC. Finally, the absence of 5G is a cause for concern, as with the entire manufacturer's catalog since the sanctions imposed by the US government. A shame when we know that Huawei is one of the companies with the most 5G patents in the world.
Finally, if the experience is very fluid, another point left us a little unsatisfied. With such a large display area, we expected to be able to use three apps at the same time. Huawei probably felt this was unnecessary, since it's impossible to use more than two at a time. Facing the OnePlus Open and its Open Canvas mode, which allows you to navigate between three windows, this tri-fold seems not to have really been designed for such advanced multitasking use. The system still needs to evolve to really take advantage of the three-part screen. Damage.
A smartphone for the informed public
Huawei therefore gives birth to a hybrid device between bulky smartphone and futuristic tablet. Its extreme thinness, double hinge and large Z-folding screen impress, although its use raises questions. Who would really need — or want — such a device? For the moment, it remains a niche product, aimed at technophiles willing to spend a small fortune. Its limited multitasking use, the absence of Google services and the incompatibility with many essential apps make it a somewhat frustrating terminal, the main reason for which is its unfolded use.
For now, Huawei is focusing on the Chinese market, but one thing is certain: the Mate XT heralds what appears to be a new era for the foldable smartphone and phone market. And this is just the beginning!
