Huawei Launches Mate XT: A Revolutionary Tri-Fold Smartphone

Huawei recently launched its Mate XT, a tri-fold smartphone, outside of China in a strategic move to expand its presence in international markets after facing significant challenges due to U.S. sanctions. This device is the first of its kind, featuring an innovative design that makes the Mate XT unique in the world of foldable phones.

Mate XT Price and Availability: Everything You Need to Know

The price of the Mate XT starts at €3499 ($3660), but Huawei has not yet disclosed the countries where this model will be available, raising questions about its future plans in global markets. However, it seems that the phone will first be available in select European markets, with the possibility of expanding to other regions later.

Unprecedented Innovation: The World’s First Tri-Fold Phone

The Mate XT from Huawei is the world’s first tri-fold smartphone, making it a standout innovation in the foldable phone market. While traditional foldable phones can only be folded once, the Mate XT offers a double-folding technology, allowing users to fold the device in three different points. This means the phone can be opened flexibly to display content on a single, dual, or even triple screen. This technology provides users with an entirely new experience and allows them to control how content is displayed with ease.

Challenges and U.S. Sanctions: Impact on Huawei

Huawei was once one of the world’s largest smartphone manufacturers, directly competing with Apple and Samsung in the premium smartphone market. However, U.S. sanctions on the company have cut its access to advanced processors and Google’s Android system, leading to a significant decline in its global market share.

In international markets, Huawei’s share in the smartphone market is only 0.3%, according to data from the International Data Corporation (IDC). However, Huawei has managed to regain some strength in China, where its market share rose to 17% in 2024 compared to 12% the previous year, thanks to its latest smartphone featuring an advanced chip.

Huawei Mate XT: Designed for a Specific User Group

According to Francisco Jeronimo, Vice President of Data and Analytics at IDC, it is unlikely that the Mate XT will be sold in large quantities. The phone is expected to be targeted specifically at individuals who can afford an expensive device and are looking for a phone that showcases their financial capabilities. Jeronimo believes that the Mate XT will appeal to wealthy individuals who want to flaunt their ownership of the latest mobile technology.

Even if Huawei sells half a million units of the Mate XT, the revenue could reach $1.5 billion, which could help the company assess its appeal outside China amid ongoing challenges.

Technical Limitations: Mate XT Lacks Android Support

One of the biggest obstacles the Mate XT may face in global markets is its lack of support for Google’s Android operating system, the world’s most popular OS. Huawei’s AppGallery does not provide access to many popular apps that users outside China rely on, such as Google’s most well-known applications. This could negatively impact the phone’s appeal in international markets, where Android and the apps available on it are an essential part of the user experience.

A New Challenge for Huawei’s Appeal in the Market

In summary, the Mate XT represents an important step in Huawei’s strategy to regain its position in international markets, despite the significant challenges the company faces. The phone will serve as a test of Huawei’s appeal under the constraints of technical limitations and economic sanctions. If Huawei succeeds in marketing its tri-fold device effectively, this could mark a new beginning for the company’s return to global competition in the smartphone industry.