September 10 in China Huawei introduced its first tri-fold phone called Mate XT Premium DesignAhead of the grand launch, the device is available for pre-order on Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com for those who want to get their hands on the novelty early.
It’s no surprise that the company is keeping its pricing details under wraps, but one thing is for sure: the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design will be the first commercially available tri-fold phone, and not a concept phone like the Tecno Phantom Ultimate 2 that was unveiled earlier this month.
The pre-order page also confirms a few other details about the complex device. It will be available in China from September 20th and will be available in two memory options: 16/512GB and 16GB/1TB. Color options: Ruihong and Xuanhei.
According to teasers released by Huawei earlier this week, the Mate XT has a sleek, slim design when folded. When you open it up, you’ll find a tablet-sized display that’s said to be around 10 inches, with a complex dual-hinged design.
Huawei has reportedly managed to keep the phone’s thickness under 5mm when it’s open. That’s an impressive feat if true. When folded, it turns into a regular smartphone, perfect for carrying in your pocket.
Flipping it over, the rear design takes inspiration from the Mate 60 RS. We see the familiar octagonal camera module that houses the periscopic telephoto lens. The rear panel is covered in luxurious vegan leather, which is a nice touch for a premium phone.
As for its price, that’s still a mystery. Leaks point to 14,900 yuan ($2,000), which isn’t surprising considering this is Huawei’s first foray into tri-fold technology. It’s also rumored to be limited edition, making it a potential collector’s item for early adopters.