Mate XT: Huawei tees up global release in wake of Samsung tri-fold smartphone rumours

The Mate XT Ultimate Design has been around for a few months now, having been presented at the end of summer 2024. This announcement only applied to China though, where the device still remains exclusive. There were unofficial reports that the Mate XT would receive a global release this quarter though, which Huawei now confirmed itself.

Based on recent rumours, Samsung may deliver its first tri-fold this summer alongside a successor to the Galaxy Z Fold6 (curr. $1,499.99 on Amazon). Regardless, Huawei will beat Samsung to releasing a tri-fold smartphone globally. As the teaser below makes clear, Huawei considers the Mate XT an extension of its foldable division, which began in 2019 with the Mate X.

Incidentally, while the same video highlights subsequent Mate X releases, it misses out the Mate X5 that Huawei only ever offered in China. The Mate XT appears to be the only device that Huawei will showcase globally on February 18; the newer Mate X6 debuted outside China before Christmas. Although Huawei has confirmed the location and date of its next launch event, it remains to be seen how much the Mate XT will cost outside China, where it started at CNY 19,999 (~$2,750) last September.