Huawei’s Newest Smartphone Folds Into Thirds
It seems like every tech company has a foldable phone nowadays, but one Chinese firm is taking the art of cellular origami even further.
Huawei just unveiled what it says is “the first-ever commercial triple foldable phone,” Dezeen reported on Wednesday. The new Mate XT Ultimate Design is hinged in two directions, meaning that you can use it in single, dual, or triple-screen mode, depending on how much you unfold it. When fully splayed out, the device’s OLED touchscreen measures 10.2 inches, with a screen ratio of 16 by 11 and 3,000 pixels.
More from Robb Report
To create the triple fold, Huawei developed a hinge system that allows for both inward and outward folding, Dezeen noted. The hinges have 26 precision cams that ensure smooth opening and closing, and the structure was made in such a way as to reduce bulkiness. When folded, the phone is just 12.8 millimeters thick; when completely open, it’s a mere 3.6 millimeters.
When you’re using the Mate XT Ultimate Design, it’ll automatically switch between the different screen modes, Dezeen wrote. At its full size, the phone works similarly to a tablet, with the brand recommending that you read books or magazines that are spread across two pages. And you can use the device as a regular old phone too, making calls or taking photos with the four built-in cameras.
Ultimate Design is the most premium of Huawei’s labels, Dezeen reported, and as such the Mate XT features high-end details like red or black leather wrapping on the back of the phone. The Ultimate Design logo is done up in gold to match the metal components, and the device’s layered steel construction can be seen along the case edges and the camera surround.
Huawei is just the latest company to innovate in the foldable-phone space. While it doesn’t yet sell a foldable device, Apple recently received a patent for such a phone, which may even come with a so-called self-healing display. Meanwhile, Google sells the Pixel Fold and Samsung has the Galaxy Fold.
The Mate XT Ultimate Design is set to be released on September 20. Stateside buyers will have to wait to get their hands on the phone, though, as Dezeen noted that it’s expected to only be for sale in China.
Sign up for RobbReports's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
