There may be a new winner in the works. | Image by PhoneArena
While Samsung may have permanently terminated its tri-foldable efforts after a brief and limited US run, Huawei is aggressively keeping up the pace. Having already released not one but two tri-fold iterations to the global market, the brand is reportedly gearing up for number three.
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A new trifold is in the works
Back in 2024, Huawei released the world's first trifold phone, the Mate XT Ultimate Design. The device became surprisingly famous despite its steep asking price of around $3,500 and limited market availability.
The Huawei Mate XT successor may be coming soon. | Image by Weibo
As we said in our Huawei Mate XT review, this was just the beginning. According to Weibo leaker Hyperdimensional Realm, the brand is gearing up for a refresh, supposedly called Mate XT 2.
What's the point of the trifold phones?
Expected improvements
The Weibo tipster claims the device would feature an all-new custom Kirin 9050 Pro chip. The SoC is rumored to be Huawei's next cutting-edge processor built on the 5nm process.
The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design makes tablets virtually obsolete | Image by PhoneArena
The trifold device could pack a larger battery, reportedly around 6,000mAh. For reference, the Mate XT comes with a 5,600mAh battery and supports 66W wired charging.
Hyperdimensional Realm also claims the camera capabilities will be largely similar to the Huawei Mate X7, which is the brand's latest book-like foldable device.
This one features a 50MP main lens with OIS, a 40MP ultra-wide unit, and a 50MP telephoto lens with 3.5x zoom and OIS. It's unclear whether the upcoming trifold device will feature the same hardware or deliver similar photo quality.
Huawei is also rumored to improve the hinge quality. In addition, the device could debut in October 2026.
A quick review of the Huawei Mate XT. | Video by PhoneArena
In late 2025, Samsung launched its response to the Mate XT, the Galaxy Z TriFold, in South Korea. The device was subsequently released in the US in January 2026.
Despite its sky-high asking price of $2,899, the device was sold out in minutes, and it was expected that it would be restocked for US customers sometime in February.
What does that mean for Huawei? Easy — the brand has virtually no competition now. This is, of course, great news for Huawei, but not so much for the end user.
At the end of the day, Huawei is still facing a US ban, so anyone wishing to try the trifold experience has to resort to third-party import solutions. Worse still, those who want to use Google services have to go through some hoops and loops, which isn't exactly a 'user-centric' experience.
Success isn't guaranteed
If Samsung launches a new TriFold, it could outsell the Huawei Mate XT 2. | Image by Samsung
As I see it, even with virtually no competition, the success of the Huawei Mate XT 2 isn't guaranteed. For starters, Kirin's chips continue to lag behind Apple's and Qualcomm's high-end solutions.
Secondly, the lack of US availability is a major hurdle. Even for the most dedicated tech enthusiasts, the absence of local warranty support or a physical store that can handle hinge issues may be a dealbreaker.
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Polina Kovalakova, a News and Affiliate Content Writer, has nurtured a passion for mobile technology since the era before smartphones. With a history of exploring a variety of devices, her insights into the mobile world are both broad and nuanced. Polina's non-partisan view extends to appreciating nearly every smartphone brand, a reflection of her open-minded approach to technology. Polina is equally passionate about uncovering the best online deals, tirelessly working to ensure her readers snag top-tier tech at unbeatable prices.
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