Huawei's tri-fold phone goes global—Will it launch in India?
What's the story
Huawei has announced the international release of its innovative Mate XT Ultimate, the world's first trifold phone.
Launched in China in September 2024, the device has gained significant popularity.
The global rollout will include countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, UAE, Saudi Arabia and Mexico.
As per Elliot Mulley-Goodbarne from Huawei UK PR team, the device is "not coming to the UK or US for the time being."
But will it launch in India, the world's second-biggest smartphone market?
Product details
Mate XT Ultimate: A high-end device with unique features
The Mate XT Ultimate is a premium device, costing more than $3,660. In China, it retails at $2,800 but has been sold by scalpers at higher prices.
The phone comes in a single configuration with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
Users can enjoy three different screen configurations thanks to the dual-hinge folding display: a compact 6.4-inch display when closed; a larger 7.9-inch screen when partially unfolded; and a tablet-sized 10.2-inch display when fully opened.
Specifications
Advanced camera and battery features
The Mate XT Ultimate features 50MP main camera, a 12MP ultra-wide lens, and a 12MP periscope telephoto shooter with 5.5x optical zoom and OIS.
It also packs a powerful 5,600mAh silicon-carbon battery.
Huawei credits the uniqueness of the trifold design to an advanced precision hinge system, which makes sure the opening-closing mechanism is smooth.
The device boasts a thickness of just 3.6mm when unfolded.
India availability
Huawei Mate XT Ultimate's India launch unlikely
Huawei's tri-fold smartphone, despite its global launch, is unlikely to make its way to India.
The Chinese tech giant has not sold phones in India for quite some time and does not provide after-sales support here.
Furthermore, the phone comes with a hefty price tag, and the lack of access to essential Google services, such as Maps and Play Store, makes importing the device into India an unwise decision.