The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate is not just a phone. It's a technological feat that has sparked conversation worldwide. From the moment it was announced, it gained so much buzz that it’s outshining even major smartphone releases like the iPhone. After weeks of waiting, I finally got my hands on this incredible dual-fold, triple-screen device, and it certainly didn’t disappoint. Here’s everything you need to know about the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Unboxing and First Look.
Anticipation and Global Buzz
When you create something that promises to revolutionize the way people use smartphones, you can expect some excitement. That was absolutely the case with the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate. Even during the iPhone launch, people were more intrigued by what Huawei had in store. It's no surprise considering Huawei announced that they would make only a limited number of units, pricing it at Rs 2.5 Lakhs (approx $3366 USD). Yet, in less than 24 hours, they secured 1 Million pre-orders, and that’s only where the frenzy began. As of today, the phone has reached 7 Million bookings. With that kind of demand, Huawei has no choice but to take this phone global.
Unveiling the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design
Opening the box of the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate is an event in itself. It's a large package, indicating right away that this is no ordinary phone. The design of the phone is unlike anything else—Huawei calls it a “tri-fold,” though it technically features two folds with three screen sections. Honestly, just holding this phone left me speechless. It's thin, unbelievably thin—3.6mm, which is a big leap forward compared to something like the Pixel Fold, which is around 5.3mm. Once folded, the Mate XT Ultimate doesn’t just look futuristic; it is the future of smartphones.
Unboxing Experience
Inside the box, Huawei packs quite a few accessories. First up is an 88W car charger with dual ports: USB Type-A and Type-C. That’s a nice touch if you’re always on the go. A pair of TWS earbuds also come included at no extra cost. Honestly, these earbuds are a pleasant bonus, though the fit might not be perfect for everyone, especially if your ears are on the bigger side (more on that later). There’s also the typical set of items, including a SIM card tool, earbud tips for the TWS, and of course, the phone case, which we’ll talk about in a bit.
One useful detail is the inclusion of two different chargers: a USB-C to USB-C cable and a Type-A to Type-C cable, so you’re covered no matter what type of charger you’re using.
Design and Build
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the design and engineering behind this phone. The dual-fold system may seem a bit complex when written down, but it’s surprisingly intuitive once you handle it. You fold it a few times—like a piece of paper—but in a way that transforms this device from a smartphone to a mini-tablet. Considering the Mate XT Ultimate weighs 308.7g, it’s heavy, but when you realize you're essentially holding a tablet in your hand, it starts to feel more appropriate. For comparison, devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and OnePlus Open weigh less, but they don't offer the same triple-screen experience.
Though it's not quite pocket-friendly, that’s to be expected when you’re using a 10.2-inch display. Whether you're reading a book, watching a movie, or browsing the web, this phone doubles as a full tablet but folds up to something more manageable.
Display Features
The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate isn't just a phone—it’s a multimedia experience. Unfolding it reveals three different screen sizes to suit your needs. The front display measures 6.4 inches, with a Full-HD resolution (FHD) and a 90Hz refresh rate—a little less than the 120Hz other flagship screens offer but still good enough for most tasks.
Open the phone once, and you get a 7.9-inch 2K display, great for quick browsing or watching videos. Open it fully, and you've got yourself a 10.2-inch 3K display. Watching this phone seamlessly adjust between these sizes feels magical. The thin bezels make each display feel more expansive, further enhancing the immersive experience. The only drawback: the folding mechanism is still a bit stiff out of the box, and you need to tilt it just right to open it.
Performance and Software
Under the hood, the Kirin 9010 chipset powers the Mate XT Ultimate, an in-house SoC developed by Huawei. This chipset is a bit old by today's standards and ranks similarly to the Dimensity 8200 in performance, with an AnTuTu score hitting around one million points. For context, that puts its performance just below modern Snapdragon-powered flagships, though it’s still plenty fast for most uses.
However, here’s where things get tricky for international users. Huawei’s phones don’t support Google services properly outside China. You’ll need to jump through hoops, like workarounds and sandboxes, to use apps like Gmail, YouTube, or even Google Maps. For gamers, Genshin Impact ran well, but BGMI (Battlegrounds Mobile India) faced issues. It crashed after a while, and given the reliance on Chinese services, optimization for global markets isn’t quite there yet.
On the software side, the phone ships with HarmonyOS, Huawei’s home-grown operating system. While Huawei’s operating system is quite smooth and lets you use features like split-screen or floating windows, the Mate XT could've taken better advantage of its huge screen real estate by supporting more multitasking apps simultaneously.
Battery and Charging
Battery life is a concern when you’re dealing with such large screens. Thankfully, Huawei equipped the Mate XT Ultimate with a 5600mAh battery, giving it ample juice to last through the day. Fast charging is also covered: you get 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. So even if you’re pushing the phone to its limits with gaming or media consumption, you won’t be waiting long to top it back up.
Camera Specifications
Huawei isn't slacking off when it comes to cameras either. On the back, it sports a triple camera setup, including a 50MP main camera accompanied by 12MP ultra-wide and 12MP telephoto sensors. On the big screen, there’s also an 8MP front camera. In typical Huawei fashion, the camera system captures good quality images, and the output is impressive.
However, one thing to watch out for: over time, the screen may warp slightly if not handled carefully, and if it breaks, a screen replacement could cost upwards of Rs 90,000. That's nearly as expensive as a whole new device, and something to consider before you get too excited about using it daily.
Use Cases and Practicality
Let’s talk about real-world practicality. Thanks to its 10.2-inch display, this phone easily replaces a tablet for most tasks. Whether you're working on documents, watching a video, or even giving presentations, the form factor adjusts depending on your needs, making it incredibly versatile. However, it’s still one of the heaviest phones around, and with no IP rating, you’ll want to be careful when using it in less-than-perfect conditions.
Huawei also suggests using the included case to protect it, though you'll need to accept that the display is always exposed because of how the phone folds up—meaning it’s prone to scratches without a proper screen protector. Fortunately, the case also works as a stand, so you can prop it up for media viewing or productivity tasks.
Multimedia Experience
One place where the Mate XT Ultimate truly shines is multimedia consumption. You can watch 4K HDR content on YouTube, and the speakers provide rich, immersive audio. However, it doesn’t support Netflix in its highest settings due to L3 DRM certification, which could be a dealbreaker for those who want to binge-watch their favorite shows in UHD. Hopefully, a global release would fix that.
Final Thoughts on Innovation
Huawei has shaken things up with the Mate XT Ultimate. It's more than just a phone; it's a bold statement about what the future of smartphones could look like. The triple-screen, dual-fold system is an engineering marvel that has set a new bar for innovation. It signals to other companies that they need to step up their game. While the performance might not be top-tier and software limitations could deter international buyers, there’s no doubt that this phone represents progress.
Looking ahead, brands can’t keep offering minor upgrades year after year. The Mate XT Ultimate proves that phones as we know them can be reshaped—quite literally—for the better. So, if you’re someone who loves to own cutting-edge tech and doesn't mind a few quirks, the Mate XT Ultimate could be the perfect device for you.