In a world where smartphone innovation often feels incremental, Huawei dares to push boundaries with the introduction of the Huawei Mate XT. As a next-generation foldable flagship, the Mate XT represents the pinnacle of Huawei’s engineering, combining elegance, innovation, and power. With its dual-form factor, futuristic display, elite performance, and camera system that rivals professional gear, the Huawei Mate XT is not just a phone—it’s a statement. This article provides an in-depth, 2500+ word review covering everything you need to know about the Huawei Mate XT, from its design philosophy to its user experience and market impact.
Huawei Mate XT: Launch and Availability
The Mate XT made headlines globally with its official launch in early 2025, after months of speculation and leaks. The device is initially launched in select Asian and European markets, where Huawei continues to hold strong influence despite geopolitical hurdles in the West. The company aims to roll out the device to additional regions, especially those where premium users demand cutting-edge innovation and are open to exploring foldables as everyday drivers.
Pre-orders for the Mate XT began shortly after its announcement, with shipments and retail availability following two weeks later. Huawei offers a premium unboxing experience, complete with protective cases, a high-watt charger, and pre-installed screen protection.
Huawei Mate XT: Design and Build Quality
Huawei has always been a leader in design, and the Mate XT takes that legacy further with a sophisticated and futuristic aesthetic. It features a foldable outward display, meaning the screen wraps around the front and back when folded, a hallmark of Huawei’s unique foldable philosophy. This design eliminates the need for a separate external display and provides a seamless, fluid user experience.
The chassis is constructed from aircraft-grade aluminum and features a robust hinge mechanism developed using Huawei’s proprietary Falcon Wing design. It delivers a smooth, resistance-free folding action that feels premium and durable. The back panel—when folded—exudes a futuristic metallic sheen, available in colors like Titanium Silver, Obsidian Black, and Emerald Green.
Despite the complex mechanics, the phone remains lightweight for a foldable, tipping the scales at around 245 grams. With an IPX8 water resistance rating, the Mate XT is built to survive splashes and even short water submersions.
Huawei Mate XT Display: An Expansive Visual Playground
The main attraction of the Huawei Mate XT is its 8-inch OLED foldable display, which seamlessly folds down to a 6.6-inch external screen. The panel delivers a stunning 2480 x 2200 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, and 1,200 nits of peak brightness, ensuring immersive content consumption whether you’re reading, watching videos, or gaming.
Huawei’s new X-Flex Ultra Vision Display technology reduces crease visibility while boosting panel strength. This allows users to comfortably watch HDR10+ content and experience a full cinematic feel on the go. The refresh rate adjusts dynamically based on the application in use, helping conserve battery without compromising visual quality.
Huawei Mate XT Performance and Hardware
Under the hood, the Mate XT is powered by the Kirin 9010 5G SoC, Huawei’s latest high-end chipset built on a 5nm process node. Despite the lack of access to Qualcomm chips, Huawei’s in-house processor delivers top-tier performance rivaling Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 and Apple’s A17 Bionic.
With up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM and 1TB of UFS 4.0 storage, multitasking is a breeze, and storage constraints are a thing of the past. The Mate XT handles resource-intensive apps, high-resolution gaming, and AI-based computational tasks effortlessly. Benchmarks place it among the top-performing Android smartphones released this year.
Huawei Mate XT Camera: A Pocket-Sized DSLR Experience
Huawei continues to lead the smartphone camera race with the Mate XT’s triple-camera setup co-engineered with Leica. The device features:
- 50MP Ultra Vision Main Camera (f/1.8, OIS)
- 40MP Ultra-Wide Cine Camera
- 12MP Periscope Telephoto Camera with 5x Optical Zoom
On the front, when folded, the screen itself functions as a viewfinder, allowing for high-quality selfies using the main camera system. AI-enhanced processing ensures stunning clarity, color reproduction, and depth.
Night photography, long-exposure shots, and 4K@60fps video recording are executed with professional precision. Huawei’s XD Fusion Engine further refines image details, low-light performance, and HDR contrast.
Huawei Mate XT Battery Life and Charging
The Mate XT houses a 5000mAh battery, quite an achievement considering the foldable form factor. Battery optimization through AI-based adaptive power management ensures extended usage even during intense workflows.
Charging is handled by 88W Huawei SuperCharge which can top up the battery from 0 to 100% in just over 35 minutes. The device also supports 50W wireless fast charging and 10W reverse charging, making it a true multitasker.
Huawei Mate XT Software: HarmonyOS 4.0 Experience
Mate XT runs on HarmonyOS 4.0, offering a clean, intuitive interface with seamless multitasking, large-screen optimizations, and an array of smart features. The OS provides smooth drag-and-drop gestures, parallel multitasking, and cross-device file sharing for a desktop-like experience.
The App Gallery, while still limited compared to Google Play, has grown substantially. Most mainstream apps are now available or have reliable alternatives. Moreover, third-party stores and sideloading options ensure flexibility for tech-savvy users.
Connectivity and Extras
The Mate XT features dual 5G SIM slots, Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, and USB-C 3.2. It supports Huawei Share, Multi-Screen Collaboration, and EMUI Cast, allowing you to extend your phone’s screen to tablets, laptops, or even smart TVs with ease.
Huawei has also integrated enhanced security features, including a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, face unlock, and secure app vault for privacy.
Gaming and Multimedia Experience
The large, vibrant display and top-tier internals make the Mate XT a gamer’s paradise. It handles popular titles like Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile, and COD Mobile on max settings without noticeable lag or heating. Huawei’s GPU Turbo X ensures consistent frame rates and thermal efficiency.
Stereo speakers, tuned for spatial clarity, provide rich, immersive sound. Paired with Dolby Atmos support and high-resolution Bluetooth audio codecs, the Mate XT becomes a full-fledged multimedia hub.
Comparison with Competitors
| Feature | Huawei Mate XT | Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 | Oppo Find N3 Fold | Xiaomi Mix Fold 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Display Size | 8.0” Foldable OLED | 7.6” Foldable AMOLED | 7.82” Foldable AMOLED | 8.03” OLED |
| Processor | Kirin 9010 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 | Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Main Camera | 50MP + 40MP + 12MP | 50MP + 12MP + 10MP | 50MP + 48MP + 32MP | 50MP + 50MP + 10MP |
| Battery Capacity | 5000mAh | 4400mAh | 4805mAh | 4800mAh |
| Fast Charging | 88W Wired, 50W Wireless | 25W Wired, 15W Wireless | 67W Wired, 50W Wireless | 67W Wired |
| OS | HarmonyOS 4.0 | Android 13, One UI | Android 13, ColorOS | Android 13, MIUI Fold |
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Futuristic foldable design with a large, durable display
- Class-leading performance with Kirin 9010 chipset
- Excellent battery life and super-fast charging
- Flagship-level camera system with Leica optics
- Rich HarmonyOS experience with foldable optimization
Cons:
- Limited app availability due to lack of Google Play
- Premium price point
- Foldable displays still more fragile than regular ones
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: Is the Mate XT water-resistant?
Yes, it has an IPX8 rating, meaning it can survive splashes and shallow water submersion.
Q2: Can Google apps be used on the Mate XT?
Google apps aren’t natively supported, but alternatives and workarounds are available via APKs or third-party app stores.
Q3: Does it support wireless charging?
Yes, it supports 50W wireless fast charging and reverse wireless charging.
Q4: Is the crease visible on the screen?
Huawei has significantly minimized the crease visibility using its X-Flex display, making it barely noticeable during normal use.
Q5: What’s the price of the Mate XT?
Prices start at around ₹1,69,999 (~$1999), depending on the storage variant and region.
Final Verdict
The Huawei Mate XT is a remarkable piece of engineering that solidifies Huawei’s dominance in the foldable space. With its premium build, incredible camera system, flagship-grade performance, and futuristic folding design, it offers one of the most complete smartphone experiences available today. While it does come at a premium and with software trade-offs due to its lack of Google services, tech enthusiasts and productivity users will find it to be an unbeatable powerhouse. For those ready to embrace the foldable future, the Huawei Mate XT is a bold and beautiful place to start.
