Huawei announces Mate XT2, world's first tri-fold smartphone with privacy display
Huawei unveiled Mate XT2, the world's first tri-fold phone with a built-in privacy display, on Sept. 7; sales start Sept. 12 at about $2,980.
Huawei's latest foldable uses a new hinge that folds its three panels inward. Engadget reported that the phone measures 6.5 inches when folded and expands to a 10.2-inch display with 3K resolution when fully opened. Unlike Huawei's ultrawide Pura X, the Mate XT2 does not have a 16:10 aspect ratio and runs HarmonyOS.
Powering the phone is Huawei's Kirin 9050 Pro chip, which the company says offers 42 percent better performance than the Mate XT. It also packs four cameras: a 50-megapixel main camera, a 40-megapixel ultra-wide camera, a 50-megapixel periscope camera with 3.5x optical zoom, and an 8-megapixel selfie camera on the interior screen.
Pricing starts at 19,999 yuan (about $2,980) for a 16GB model, according to Engadget. A version with 1TB of storage and the privacy display feature costs at least 24,999 yuan (about $3,725), while a collector's edition with 2TB storage starts at 29,999 yuan (roughly $4,470). The publication notes that Huawei is unlikely to sell the Mate XT2 in the U.S., where the company remains a national security risk.
Meanwhile, TechCrunch reported that Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone at a Sept. 9 event, more than five years after Samsung launched its first foldable. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the device is said to have a premium feel, fit into a pocket, and open into a 7.8-inch iPad-like display with a 5.5-inch cover screen. It is expected to cost more than $2,000.
According to TechCrunch, the foldable iPhone reportedly omits a telephoto camera, instead using a dual-lens rear system with main and ultra-wide lenses. It is expected to support MagSafe but drop Face ID for a side-mounted Touch ID button. The handset would run iOS and support side-by-side multitasking, and Apple has supposedly created a display where the crease is not easily visible.
TechCrunch also mentioned possible new iPhone 18 models, HomePod refresh with Siri AI, and AirPods with built-in cameras that act as "eyes" for Siri. Those products have not been confirmed by Apple.