Huawei’s $3,600 Tri-Fold Marvel: Why Hasn’t Samsung Done This Yet?

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A Revolutionary Foldable That’s More Than Just a Gimmick

In an era where smartphones have started to feel repetitive and uninspired, Huawei has stepped forward with something genuinely bold — the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate, the world’s first tri-fold smartphone. Released in China in late 2024 and now expanding globally, this device is shaking up the entire foldable landscape, making many wonder: Why hasn’t Samsung done this yet?

At an eye-watering price of €3,499 (\~\$3,660), this tri-fold phone offers a 10.2-inch screen that folds neatly into your pocket, stunning hardware craftsmanship, and a level of multitasking functionality unseen in today’s flagship foldables. Despite software compromises and lacking Google apps out of the box, the Mate XT Ultimate pushes boundaries in both form and function — and might just be the new benchmark for foldable innovation.

the Original

Huawei made waves with the launch of the Mate XT Ultimate, the world’s first tri-fold smartphone. Initially a China-exclusive, it shattered preorder records and has since expanded to global markets. The Mate XT Ultimate boasts a 10.2-inch unfolded display, yet folds into a form factor slimmer than many book-style foldables like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series.

The design is engineering brilliance — a slim 3.6mm unfolded body, 12.8mm when folded, and a robust hinge system with a small crease. The phone offers three screen modes: a 6.4-inch outer screen, a 7.9-inch mid-fold display, and the full 10.2-inch interior spread. Each is high resolution and well-optimized for specific use cases like texting, multitasking, or video consumption.

The viewing experience is particularly impressive thanks to a 16:11 aspect ratio, which is ideal for 16:9 videos — a major improvement over the boxy display ratios on rivals. Performance is driven by Huawei’s Kirin 9010 chip, supported by 16GB RAM and up to 1TB of storage. Although it lacks Google apps natively, users can still install them via workarounds.

Camera performance is solid but not flagship-level, with a 50MP main shooter, 12MP periscope, and 12MP ultrawide lens. Battery life is a concern due to the large screen size, although Huawei includes a 5,600mAh battery with fast charging and even a bundled kickstand case for better media use.

Overall, it’s expensive, ambitious, and unlike anything else currently available — raising the bar for what a foldable can truly be.

What Undercode Say:

A Bold Statement in a Market of Safe Bets

Huawei’s tri-fold Mate XT Ultimate isn’t just a gimmick — it’s a strategic provocation aimed at both consumers and competitors like Samsung and Google. While Samsung continues refining its Fold series with incremental updates, Huawei just leapfrogged the innovation curve. The tri-fold design allows the device to function as a phone, tablet, and mini-laptop, all in one — solving the very problem that current book-style foldables have failed to address: limited usability in tablet mode.

Functional Engineering, Not Just Flashy Tech

Where most foldables compromise utility for design, the Mate XT Ultimate prioritizes function over form — and yet still nails the form. At 3.6mm thin unfolded, it’s a technical masterpiece, managing to fold not once but twice without turning into a brick. Compared to Samsung’s Fold 6 at 12.1mm folded, Huawei’s innovation clearly exposes the stagnation in Samsung’s hardware evolution.

Real Multitasking Potential

This device genuinely enhances productivity. The three-display structure allows for simultaneous multitasking, such as video calling, note-taking, and email browsing — a massive leap beyond current dual-screen setups. If foldables are meant to replace tablets and laptops, Huawei is the closest to achieving that vision.

Software Weaknesses Are Huawei’s Achilles Heel

The main drawback, however, is the software experience. EMUI 14 feels behind, lacking the polish of One UI or Pixel UI. The absence of Google apps globally is a real issue for Western users, and while sideloading is possible, it remains a barrier to mainstream adoption. HarmonyOS, used in China, appears more refined — raising questions about Huawei’s strategy for international software deployment.

Price vs. Value: Who’s It Really For?

At nearly $3,660, this phone

🔍 Fact Checker Results

✅ Huawei is the first company to mass-produce and release a tri-fold smartphone globally.
✅ The Mate XT Ultimate includes a 10.2-inch display, powered by Kirin 9010 and supports up to 1TB storage.
❌ Despite suggestions, installing Google Play Store on EMUI devices is not officially supported and may pose security risks.

📊 Prediction: Is the Future Triple-Folded?

Huawei’s bold step into the tri-fold market won’t remain unchallenged for long. Samsung, known for capitalizing on form-factor trends, will likely introduce a tri-fold prototype by 2026, possibly under the Galaxy Z Tab line. However, unless Google loosens its grip on app integration in Chinese-made devices, Huawei may struggle with global adoption.

That said, if tri-fold phones like the Mate XT Ultimate can be refined in durability, software, and pricing, they could disrupt tablets entirely and form a new hybrid category in mobile computing — foldable ultramobiles.

🕵️‍📝✔️Let’s dive deep and fact‑check.

References:

Reported By: www.zdnet.com
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