Latest news with #MateXT
The Verge
17-05-2025
- The Verge
Huawei's first trifold is a great phone that you shouldn't buy
Let's get one thing out of the way immediately: you shouldn't buy Huawei's trifold phone, the Mate XT. And that's alright, because you probably couldn't if you wanted to — while it's no longer exclusive to China, it's only on sale in a handful of countries, and not in the US or Europe. Besides, I can reel off a list of major problems with the Mate XT: at almost $4,000 it's far too expensive, it doesn't have native support for Google apps (though you can get around that more easily than you might think), it's limited to 4G, and there are some pretty obvious reasons to worry about its durability. Any one of those individually would be a good reason to steer clear of buying the Mate XT. Taken together, they're insurmountable. But this isn't a phone you're meant to buy, at least not outside China. It's a phone you're meant to gawk at on the internet, to marvel at Huawei's technological prowess, to ooh and ahh about its many and varied folds. This is Huawei showing off, proving to the world that it's still got it. And in fairness, it has. As I sit and write this — more than six months after Huawei first released the Mate XT in China — it's still the only one of its kind. Rumor has it that Samsung has a trifold ready to show off this year, but it hasn't yet. And by the time it does, odds are Huawei will have spent a full year as the only player in the game. That might ring alarm bells in your head. This must be undercooked tech, you think, rushed out the door to beat everyone else to market. But the most surprising thing about the Mate XT is that it only occasionally feels first-gen. There's a hint of it in the multitasking, which refuses to allow you to fully open three apps at a time, pinning each to one of the three screen segments. Or when the fully open screen often doesn't quite go entirely flat, which is more annoying than any crease will ever be. And you notice it when you open the phone, or close it, and the app you're using seems to briefly reboot itself, losing your spot in a long article or (once, infuriatingly) discarding a Letterboxd review that was almost entirely finished. I've learned not to change the configuration while doing something, just to be safe. But for the most part, these just don't really matter. After several weeks using the Mate XT as my main phone, my primary impression is that it delivers on its promise, effectively offering three different devices in one. Fully closed, this is simply a regular phone with a 6.4-inch display. At 12.8mm thick, it has a little heft to it, but not unduly so — it's less than a millimeter thicker than Samsung's Z Fold 6. It's solid, and weighty, and even the cameras are decent. It's as good a phone in this form as Samsung's foldable, so long as you can live with sideloading the Play Store. When I'm reading a long article or trying to keep up in the editorial Slack channels, I open the phone up to a 7.9-inch, squarish display that's a pretty close match for what other foldables offer. For me, this is the least useful setup of the three, a reminder that current book-style foldables offer something I don't really want most of the time, extra screen space in all the wrong places. But that's what the Mate XT's full screen is for. Flipping one more section nets me a full 10.2-inch display, making this a thin, lightweight tablet I can fold up and fit in my pocket. It's wider than it is tall, a close match for the aspect ratios in most streaming apps, ideal for watching videos and playing games, tripling the screen real estate for wide-screen entertainment. I haven't traveled much in the time I've been working on this review, but this is a phone crying out for rail commutes and long-haul flights, a big-screen Balatro machine that fits in your pocket, not your backpack. Nine times out of ten, I use the Mate XT like a regular ol' phone, and that extra screen space is probably wasted on me. But I don't travel all that much, or make a habit of gaming on my phone; I wouldn't make the most of this outside a handful of plane rides a year. Maybe you wouldn't either, but I imagine anyone who already gets regular use out of both a phone and a tablet is feeling a little pull of temptation to merge them into one. The main thing people have asked me about the Mate XT, once they get over the foldiness of it all, is whether the battery sucks. In my experience, it absolutely doesn't. The 5,600mAh capacity proves more than capable of lasting a full day (and then some), but I'll refer you back to the previous paragraph — I'm not spending all day with the phone fully open. 5,600mAh is a decent battery for a phone, but a small one for a tablet, so if that's your main use case, then you should expect to feel a bit more of a pinch. The second thing people ask is how likely it is to break. And compared to a regular phone, the answer is pretty likely! There's a whole extra failure point in the second hinge, and no IP rating, so you can't trust it to survive either water or dust. I'm more worried that one part of the soft, flexible screen is always exposed to the outside world. It's going to get nicks, scratches, and dents, and there's nothing you can do about it. My review unit already has a couple, and I've been babying the thing. I'd say you shouldn't buy this unless you can afford to replace it, but again: you probably shouldn't buy it at all. Maybe you should buy the next one. Or the one after that. Or one a few generations down the line. Or just the first one that isn't made by Huawei, because fantastic as the company's hardware can be, I'm still not convinced it's worth giving up proper Google support. But while the Mate XT may be the first trifold, I'm confident it won't be the last. And this hardware, with Google and 5G, for two-thirds the price, and a generation or two of durability improvements? You should buy that phone. Photography by Dominic Preston / The Verge
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Yahoo
New Samsung tri-fold leak gives us another hint about how big the 'G Fold' phone might be
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Another Samsung tri-fold leak has emerged The main screen size is said to be 9.9 inches It seems the phone will be launching this year Samsung has confirmed that it's working on a tri-fold foldable phone, and while we don't have too many details about it yet, the latest leak around the handset gives us some more information about the screen size. This tip comes from well-known leaker Digital Chat Station (via Notebookcheck), who says that we're looking at a main screen size of around 9.9 inches. That's a little smaller than the 10.2-inch display sported by the Huawei Mate XT tri-fold. It also lines up rather neatly with previous rumors around this Samsung device: those rumors have predicted a main screen size of 9.96 inches and an outer screen size of 6.49 inches, which also indicates a key difference from the Huawei Mate XT. Whereas the three panels of the Mate XT fold back on each other, leaving a third of the screen visible when it's closed, the Samsung tri-fold is expected to fold inwards – so all of the main display gets covered up when it's shut, and a second display is needed. This same leak suggests that the Samsung tri-fold will be launching this year. It may show up sometime in July, which is when the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 are expected to be unveiled. Other whispers we've heard around this Samsung tri-fold are that it'll offer 2,600 nits of brightness on its screens, which is a very decent figure and matches up with what's already offered by the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6. There's also been talk that the tri-fold might end up being called the Samsung Galaxy G Fold. That's by no means official yet, but that moniker would fit in neatly with the other foldable phones that Samsung already manufactures. It's going to be interesting to see how Samsung prices this phone. Obviously, it's going to have to cost a lot because of the tech, but we're hoping that it's not prohibitively expensive – and that it goes on sale worldwide. Why this tri-fold concept phone is my new favorite thing 5 key rumored features of the Galaxy tri-fold Samsung may have solved the tri-fold naming problem
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Hindustan Times
Samsung might launch its first tri-fold smartphone soon: Here's what to expect
Samsung is reportedly preparing to unveil its first tri-fold smartphone, a new addition to the company's foldable device lineup. Earlier this year, the company confirmed that it was working on a foldable device with a tri-fold display, although it did not confirm any details regarding a launch timeline or specifications. While official details remain scarce, a recent leak from a well-known tipster has provided some insight into the device's display size, design and key features. According to tipster Digital Chat Station, the upcoming device, likely to be named the Galaxy G Fold, will sport a 9.9-inch display when fully unfolded. This size is slightly smaller than Huawei's Mate XT, which offers a 10.2-inch panel, the first tri-fold smartphone launched globally. However, this new model may have some advantages, including a dual inner-folding mechanism that could enhance the durability of the main display by protecting it from accidental drops and wear. This contrasts with the Mate XT's outward folding design, which exposes the screen when folded. Also read: Oppo K13 Turbo tipped to launch soon, likely to feature these specs One key aspect also under discussion is the phone's charging capabilities. Leaks suggest that it will support charging speeds between 23W and 24W, which is relatively slow compared to the fast-charging features offered by many premium smartphones, some of which now support speeds up to 100W or 120W and even 200W. Also read: LG sets final deadline: Update your old smartphone before servers shut down forever on this date… The pricing for the Galaxy G Fold is expected to be high, similar to the Mate XT's launch price of around $2,800 (approximately Rs. 2,38,345). Given Samsung's history with premium foldables, the Galaxy G Fold could be one of the most expensive smartphones on the market when it launches. Also read: How to use Semantic Search on Windows Copilot+ PCs Though the exact launch timeline remains uncertain, reports suggest that Samsung might target a release window in early 2026, possibly pushing back from previous estimates of late 2025. The device could initially debut in select markets like China and South Korea, with a broader global release following depending on initial acceptance. This strategy would differ from Samsung's usual global launch approach for foldable devices, which typically reaches many countries right after the unveiling. Samsung is expected to reveal more details about the Galaxy G Fold at its upcoming Unpacked event, alongside other devices that are also expected to be launched, such as the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, and the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.
India Today
28-04-2025
- India Today
Samsung tri fold phone aka G Fold display details tipped
Samsung's long-rumoured tri-fold smartphone, often referred to as the Galaxy G Fold in the rumour mill, has been in the news for quite some time. After launching several generations of traditional foldables, Samsung is now expected to finally introduce a tri-fold device, possibly sometime later this year. The latest leak reveals new details about its display size. According to Digital Chat Station, Samsung's tri-fold display could measure around 9.9 inches when fully unfolded. This would make it slightly smaller than Huawei's Mate XT, which offers a 10.2-inch display. advertisementWhile fans are eagerly waiting for an official announcement, there is still a lot that remains unknown about the Galaxy G Fold. Some leaks suggest that the phone may not be launched globally, at least in the beginning. Samsung might first introduce it in selected markets like China and South Korea, before deciding if it will expand to other regions. This would be different from its usual launch strategy for foldable phones, which are typically available in many countries soon after launch. The tri-fold design is expected to use a dual inner-folding mechanism, allowing the device to fold inward on both sides. This could offer better protection for the main display when compared to Huawei's outward-folding important detail that recently surfaced is about the device's charging speed. Reports suggest that the Galaxy G Fold might support only around 23W to 24W charging speeds, which is quite slow compared to other premium phones today. Many smartphones now offer much faster charging speeds, even up to 100W or 120W. Samsung has always been cautious when it comes to fast charging, and it looks like the trend will continue with the Galaxy G Fold. advertisement In terms of size and weight, Samsung's Galaxy G Fold is expected to be similar to Huawei's Mate XT, although it might be slightly thicker. The dimensions are rumoured to be 9.96 inches when unfolded, with a height of about 6.54 inches. The device is also expected to support the S Pen, as some patent filings have shown a possible slot for the stylus. Pricing will likely be on the higher side. Huawei's Mate XT launched at nearly $2,800 (around Rs 2.4 lakh at the time), and Samsung's G Fold could be priced similarly, making it one of the most expensive smartphones though Samsung has not officially confirmed anything yet, many expect the company to at least tease the Galaxy G Fold at its Unpacked event in July, alongside the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Z Flip 7.
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Yahoo
Samsung is gearing up to launch a more affordable foldable phone later this year
Foldable phones have been around since 2018, but we're about to head into a new era of foldables that should appeal to many: the budget folding phone. Samsung reportedly plans to release a Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE phone later this year, the first foldable in its cost-conscious FE range. We had initially believed Samsung would announce the phone at a Galaxy Unpacked event in the summer, but South Korean publication TheBell writes that this will now happen a little later in the year. It will arrive in the 'fourth quarter' of the year according to the report, alongside a 'tri-fold' phone, a design already seen in Huawei's Mate XT. As with many brand-new design styles, you can expect Samsung's tri-fold Galaxy to cost a fortune. But an FE-series foldable could potentially open up this subgenre of phones to a new audience. FE stands for Fan Edition and is a family used by Samsung to bring phones and tablets with some higher-end features out at a relatively affordable price. Samsung reportedly had plans for an FE edition of the Galaxy Z Flip 6 FE last year, but it was cancelled after the manufacturer could not make the phone thin enough on its production budget, according to TheElec. Some likely cuts to the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE, to bring down the cost, include a lower-spec camera, less powerful processor and thicker casing. Renders of the phone leaked in March suggest the phone would be 7.4mm thick when unfolded, just a little thicker than the 6.9mm Galaxy Z Flip 6. It's also expected to have the same screen dimensions as today's model, with a 6.7-inch inner screen and a little 3.4-inch outer one. The most important question remains unanswered, though. How much will it cost? Samsung's current Galaxy Z Flip 7 launched at £1049 for the base model, but can now be found online for less than £800. Judging by Samsung's standard release schedule, we can expect a new Galaxy Watch and fresh editions of the standard Galaxy Flip and Fold lines in the summer. Last year, the big mid-year launch landed on July 10. Samsung is also set to release an XR mixed reality headset in partnership with Google this year, which may well feature at the proposed Summer event. Or the Q4 Unpacked event at which we may get to meet the Galaxy Z Flip 7 FE.
