Huawei’s latest Mate XT Ultimate pushes the boundaries of innovation as the world’s first tri-fold phone, combining the usual phone mode with the wide display of a tablet. This review will explore its key features and evaluate its performance in different aspects.
Sources indicate that the Mate XT Ultimate comes with a number of accessories, including a regular charger and a car charger, wireless earphones, and a protective cover with a rotating stand.
Design
The Mate XT Ultimate’s design features a unique and innovative design that sets it apart from traditional smartphones. Its standout feature is the tri-folding mechanism, which allows the phone to transform from a pocket-sized device with a 6.4-inch cover screen into a spacious 10.2-inch tablet.
When folded, the Mate XT Ultimate is thicker than traditional smartphones, measuring 12.88mm thick. However, it is similar in size to other folding competitors such as the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and OnePlus Open. Weighing in at 298g, despite being heavier than a standard smartphone, it’s surprisingly manageable and comfortable to hold.
When unfolded, the phone is remarkably thin, measuring just 3.66mm thick. This thinness contributes to its elegant appearance. The phone is available in either red or black vegan leather, both with gold hinges and accents. The triple-folding mechanism consists of two hinges that create a flat, solid 10.2-inch display. While the phone’s design is generally well-executed, one potential concern is the exposed portion of the display on the outer edge when folded. Huawei recommends using the supplied case to protect the display from damage.
Display
The Mate XT Ultimate’s display is undoubtedly its most captivating feature. With three distinct screen sizes, it offers unparalleled versatility for different use cases. The main internal display measures 10.2 inches diagonally and features a 3K resolution. The wide 16:11 aspect ratio is ideal for viewing content, providing an immersive experience for watching videos and playing games.
The display has a 90Hz refresh rate, which ensures smooth scrolling and fluid animations. While it’s not as high as the 120Hz refresh rate found on many flagship phones, it still provides a satisfying user experience.
When partially folded, the phone offers a 7.9-inch square-shaped display, similar to a tablet. This mode is suitable for multitasking and productivity tasks. The outer cover display, measuring 6.4 inches, acts as a traditional smartphone display, allowing users to handle basic tasks without opening the device.
Despite the innovative folding design, the Mate XT Ultimate’s display has two subtle creases. However, these creases aren’t very noticeable during normal use, especially when viewing content in full-screen mode.
Performance
The Mate XT Ultimate is powered by the Kirin 9010 processor, a chipset developed in-house by Huawei. While this processor isn’t as advanced as the latest chipsets from Qualcomm or Apple, it still provides efficient performance for most tasks.
The phone runs on Huawei’s Harmony OS, a feature-rich, optimized operating system with iOS-inspired themes. Sources suggest that navigating between apps is smooth and users will notice the speed in general usage. However, it should be noted that the Kirin 9010 may slow down under heavy loads, which could impact performance during demanding tasks like 3D gaming.
One potential downside for international users is the lack of native Google services due to the US ban on Huawei. While there are workarounds to install these services, their absence could be a concern for some users.
Gaming Performance
While Huawei doesn’t explicitly address the Mate XT Ultimate’s gaming capabilities, the phone’s processor and display suggest that it handles most mobile games with ease. The Kirin 9010 is a powerful chipset, and the large, high-resolution display provides an immersive gaming experience. However, as mentioned earlier, the processor may slow down under heavy loads, which could impact performance in resource-intensive games.
Camera
The Mate XT Ultimate Design features an advanced camera system embedded in an octagonal camera island. The primary camera features a 50MP sensor with a variable aperture, allowing for greater control over depth of field and image brightness. The phone also includes a 12MP ultra-wide camera and a 12MP telephoto camera that offers 5.5x optical zoom.
While the camera system isn’t the phone’s primary focus, initial impressions suggest that it produces decent quality images in both bright and low-light conditions. However, the telephoto lens is said to struggle in low-light indoor conditions when zoomed to its maximum 10x capability.
Camera advantages and disadvantages
Camera Features
50 MP main camera with variable aperture
5.5x optical zoom with telescopic lens
Decent image quality in different lighting conditions
Camera disadvantages
The telephoto lens performed poorly in low light
The ultra-wide camera has a lower resolution compared to competitors
Memory
The Mate XT Ultimate Design comes with 16GB of RAM and offers a variety of storage options, including 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. This generous amount of memory and storage space ensures smooth multitasking and provides ample space for apps, photos, videos, and other files.
Connectivity
The phone supports standard connectivity options such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and NFC.
Battery
The phone packs a 5,600mAh battery, which is large for a foldable phone. However, given the phone’s large 10.2-inch display, battery life is still a potential concern. Sources suggest that the display will likely be power-hungry, so it may be difficult to achieve a full day of battery life with heavy usage.
To alleviate this concern, Huawei has included up to 66W wired fast charging and up to 50W wireless fast charging. These fast charging capabilities ensure that users can quickly recharge the battery when needed.
Conclusion
The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design is a great phone that showcases the company’s spirit of innovation. Its triple-folding design, large screen, and powerful performance make it an attractive device for users looking for a unique and diverse mobile experience.
However, the phone’s high price, potential battery life concerns, and lack of native Google services for international users are factors to consider. Overall, the Mate XT Ultimate Design is a bold step forward in mobile technology, but its practical appeal may be limited to a limited audience willing to accept its drawbacks.
Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Price
The price of the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate in the Chinese market is equivalent to $2,800, or about 135,000 Egyptian pounds, making it one of the most expensive smartphones currently available.
The price of the device varies from one country to another depending on the offers and stores, but we always strive to provide official prices.
