Huawei has finally launched its groundbreaking trifold phone, the Mate XT, outside of China, marking a significant milestone in the company's efforts to expand its global presence in the mobile market. The Mate XT, which was first unveiled in China in September 2024, boasts a unique dual-hinge folding display that offers users three different screen configurations: a 6.4-inch panel when closed, a 10.2-inch tablet-sized screen when fully opened, and a 7.9-inch display when only partially unfolded.

The Mate XT's impressive specs don't come cheap, with a hefty price tag of €3,499 (approximately $3,660). This makes it one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, rivaling other high-end devices from competitors like Samsung and Apple. However, the phone's innovative design and features may justify the cost for some consumers.

One of the Mate XT's standout features is its impressive thinness, measuring just 3.6mm thick at its thinnest point when open. This is even thinner than the upcoming Oppo Find N5, which is being promoted as the "world's thinnest" foldable phone. The Mate XT also features a large 5,600mAh battery, which should provide sufficient power to last the day, even with the larger screen size. The phone supports both wired and wireless charging, adding to its convenience.

The Mate XT's camera system is also noteworthy, featuring a 50-megapixel main sensor, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens, and a periscope shooter. However, the phone's lack of support for Google apps and services, including the Play Store, may be a significant drawback for some users. Huawei has launched its own Android-free operating system, HarmonyOS Next, but the Mate XT has not yet been upgraded to that software, even in China.

Despite the Mate XT's impressive specs, its availability outside of China is limited. Huawei has confirmed that the phone will not be launching in the UK or US markets, at least for the time being. The company has also not disclosed which other markets the phone will be available in, or when. The Mate XT will be available in a single configuration, with 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.

The Mate XT's launch was accompanied by the unveiling of several other Huawei products, including the FreeArc open-ear earbuds, the Band 10 fitness tracker, and the MatePad Pro 13.2 tablet with a matte OLED display. While the Mate XT's innovative design and features may generate significant buzz, its high price point and limited availability may limit its appeal to a wider audience.

As the mobile market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how the Mate XT fares in terms of sales and adoption. Will its unique design and features be enough to justify its hefty price tag, or will consumers opt for more affordable alternatives? Only time will tell.