Despite controversies that Huawei's dual-fold tri-fold (3-fold) smartphone 'Mate XT 2' resembles the design of Samsung Electronics' 'Galaxy Z Tri-Fold', all models sold out immediately after reservations opened. While the official price has not been disclosed, it is expected to reach around 20,000 yuan (approximately 4.07 million won), considering the previous model.
According to Chinese information technology (IT) media Quicker on the 1st, Mate XT 2 sold out in just two seconds after reservations opened at 10:08 a.m. the previous day for all colors and storage capacities. However, Huawei has not disclosed the initial stock or the number of reservation holders.
The Mate XT 2, officially launching on the 7th, will be the first to feature Huawei's new operating system (OS), HarmonyOS 7. It will be released in three colors: black, white, and purple.
The Mate XT 2 is launched with a standard 16GB memory and storage capacities of 512GB and 1TB. An optional viewing-angle-limited display, which prevents content from being seen clearly when viewed from the side, is available as an option. This function is similar to the 'Privacy Display' introduced by Samsung Electronics on the Galaxy S26 Ultra. The top-tier model equipped with 16GB memory and 2TB storage will be released only in purple. It comes standard with a viewing-angle-limited display and includes a stylus.
The most significant change is the folding mechanism. The previous model, Mate XT, which was the world's first commercialized tri-fold phone, featured an 'S-shape' structure that folded one side of the screen inward and the other outward. The successor adopts a 'wing-type 3-fold' structure where both screens fold inward. When the device is fully folded, the large flexible display retracts inside the device, offering advantages in terms of screen protection and durability.
This structure has drawn comparisons to Samsung Electronics' previously unveiled Galaxy Z Tri-Fold's 'G-shape', leading to criticism on Chinese online platforms that Huawei copied Samsung. However, Chinese IT tipster Ding Zaoshuma explained that although the two products appear similar, there are differences in the folding sequence and the arrangement of screens and cameras.
He stated, "The new structure of Mate XT 2 is very close to Samsung's G-shape and could even be called a G-shape, but the folding sequence is reversed," evaluating Huawei's approach as more ergonomic. With Samsung's method, users must flip the device to use the external screen after folding it, whereas with the Mate XT 2, the external screen can be used without changing the folding direction.
Wei Qingdong, Chairman of Huawei's Terminal Business Group, claimed that when unfolded, the Mate XT 2 is only 3.5mm thick, making it the thinnest and largest-screen foldable phone. The rapid depletion of initial reservation stock confirmed that demand for new form factors remains strong even at high price points. However, whether it will be a commercial success will likely be determined after the scale of reserved stock and official sales figures are disclosed.
in TECH
