Huawei launches $2,500 Mate XTs trifold to widen foldable lead

Shenzhen, China — Huawei introduced its second-generation trifold smartphone, the Mate XTs, on 4 September 2025. The device starts at 17,999 yuan (approximately $2,520) and tops out at 21,999 yuan for the highest-memory option, positioning it among the most expensive handsets on the market.

Second-generation trifold targets productivity

The Mate XTs retains the three-segment folding design first seen in last year’s Mate XT, using two hinges that allow the phone to open into a tablet-style display or fold into a more compact form. Huawei equips the model with HarmonyOS 5.1, the latest release of its in-house operating system. The company highlights “PC-grade” multitasking: users can stack, resize and move multiple windows, mirroring desktop workflows on the larger unfolded screen.

Hardware specifications include a 5,600 mAh battery, one of the higher-capacity units available in current smartphones, and four color choices. To lower ownership costs, Huawei is offering at least 50 percent off screen replacements and two complimentary on-site service appointments.

Foldable dominance underpins wider comeback

Market research shows the company leading China’s foldable segment with a 75 percent share, according to International Data Corporation. In the broader Chinese smartphone market, Huawei’s share climbed to 18 percent in the second quarter of 2025, up from 15 percent a year earlier, data from Counterpoint Research indicate.

The first-generation Mate XT accounted for 470,000 units shipped from its 2024 launch through June 2025, generating more than $1.3 billion in revenue. Analysts describe that performance as notable given the device’s premium price, suggesting sustained demand for novel form factors within the high-end segment.

Huawei’s smartphone business encountered significant pressure in 2020 when U.S. sanctions restricted access to key software and advanced semiconductors. In response, the company accelerated development of HarmonyOS and arranged domestic production of less-advanced chips to maintain its hardware roadmap. The Mate XTs is the latest flagship intended to demonstrate that Huawei can still introduce hardware innovations despite those constraints.

Global expansion remains tentative

The Mate XTs debuts in the Chinese market with limited information about broader availability. Huawei released the original Mate XT in China first and later offered it in select overseas markets, a pattern the company may follow again. Outside China, Huawei continues to face shrinking market share and regulatory headwinds, particularly in regions where access to Google Mobile Services is restricted.

Francisco Jeronimo, vice-president of devices at IDC, said the new model should help Huawei “sustain momentum” gained since late 2023, provided the company can balance pricing with production scale. Jeronimo noted that high price points are less of a barrier in China, where early adopters show interest in cutting-edge form factors.

Pricing and configurations

The entry-level Mate XTs with standard memory costs the equivalent of $2,520. Higher tiers reach roughly $3,075. Huawei did not disclose exact RAM or storage figures during the announcement, but the company stated that each configuration includes support services aimed at lowering repair costs common to foldable devices.

By combining premium pricing, domestic chip supply and proprietary software, Huawei seeks to reinforce its position at the top of China’s foldable market while signaling its return to high-end innovation globally.

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Image credit: Huawei