Huawei pushes its triple-fold strategy into late 2024
Huawei looks set to double down on foldables with a beefed-up successor to its three-fold phone: the Mate XT 2. According to robust leaks from sources close to China’s supply chain, the company plans to debut the device in October, aligning the reveal with the Mate 90 series refresh.
Launching the Mate XT 2 alongside Huawei’s traditional flagship line isn’t accidental. The move signals that tri-fold devices are no longer niche experiments but a genuine productivity alternative for users who want maximum screen real estate in a pocketable device.
The timing also suggests mass production is well under way. Huawei appears intent on using the year-end product cycle to showcase its engineering lead on flexible formats versus Western and Korean rivals.
Powered by the Kirin 9050 Pro with heavy on-device AI
At the heart of the Mate XT 2 is expected to be the Kirin 9050 Pro. Beyond raw performance, the chipset’s primary selling point is deep local AI integration.
For power users who treat their phone as a work tool, that translates into smarter multitasking. On a large, foldable screen, AI will adapt the interface as you fold and unfold the device, optimize power draw, and rearrange apps automatically without manual intervention.
Big battery and a tougher hinge
Space constraints are one of the biggest challenges for a tri-fold design. Huawei appears to have addressed that with a much larger battery: leaks point to a jump from 5,600 mAh in the prior model to above 6,000 mAh in the Mate XT 2.
That capacity increase is notable given the device’s relatively slim profile when open. Camera performance is also expected to match the Mate X7 series, so you won’t be trading imaging quality for folding functionality.
Color options in the leaks include Mystic Black, Auspicious Red, Crimson Purple, and Bright White.
The other headline upgrade is the hinge. Huawei reportedly reinforced the hinge with steel to improve daily durability and significantly reduce the crease across the display. If those improvements hold up, this could be the smoothest triple-fold screen we’ve seen so far.
What this means for day-to-day use
Taken together, these details shift the narrative from style curiosity to real-world utility. A device that fits in your pocket but unfolds to nearly a 10-inch tablet with a battery that lasts a full day of heavy use alters how you consume media and work on the go.
With a high-end camera and an AI-optimized processor, Huawei appears determined to remove the usual trade-offs of choosing a foldable: you no longer have to sacrifice battery life or imaging to get a novel form factor.
The Mate XT 2 looks like Huawei’s bid to deliver the best aspects of a phone, tablet, and laptop replacement in a single object, reinforcing a future where flexible devices become mainstream.
