The world of smartphones has been revolutionized with Huawei introducing its Mate XT, touted as the first trifold smartphone to hit the market. After spending an entire week with this innovative device, I provide my thoughts on its design, functionality, and future prospects for this cutting-edge technology in this comprehensive blog post.
Unfolding the Trifold Magic: A Hands-On Experience
Huawei’s Mate XT is a groundbreaking smartphone that boasts three unique modes to fit your lifestyle – as a regular phone with a 6.4-inch display, a square shape resembling other foldables at 7.9 inches, or fully opened into an expansive 10.2-inch tablet. The device feels somewhat unnatural and takes time to get used to the folding mechanism due to each segment having different hinge points that make it easier for users to open up the device with minimal stress on the hardware.
The Mate XT is surprisingly comfortable to hold despite its bulkier size, offering a more convenient alternative than traditional tablets while being thinner and lighter than average 10-inch tablets. However, durability remains an issue as the magnetic attachment of the three segments may not be enough to withstand everyday wear and tear. Moreover, users must live with scratches and fingerprint smudges that cannot be avoided in this innovative device.
Bypassing Google Mobile Services: The Software Challenge
One challenge with Huawei’s Mate XT is its lack of official support for Google Mobile Services (GMS), which means no Play Store or access to Google apps out-of-the-box, leaving users reliant on sideloading tools like Aurora Store and microG. While this workaround does allow Android and Google app installation, the longevity of this arrangement remains uncertain due to potential updates that may hinder GMS support in the future.
Streaming & Multitasking: The Pros and Cons
Streaming content is a breeze on Huawei’s Mate XT as it offers an ideal screen size for entertainment purposes. However, multitasking within the device is limited by its current split-screen feature which only supports two apps at once. This could potentially be improved with future software updates to accommodate more applications in each fold of the phone.
The Bottom Line: Is It Worth $4000?
The Huawei Mate XT undeniably showcases groundbreaking engineering and pushes the boundaries of mobile technology; however, its current limitations in terms of functionality, durability concerns, and potential future software support make it difficult to justify a price tag of around $4000. As an early-adopter device with room for growth and improvement, Huawei’s Mate XT may not be ready for mainstream appeal just yet.
In conclusion, while the innovative trifold design offered by Huawei’s Mate XT is impressive, it remains to be seen if this unique technology will be embraced by consumers looking for their next smartphone purchase.
