Huawei appears to be pushing the boundaries of foldable smartphone innovation once again. After debuting the world’s first tri-fold smartphone, the Huawei Mate XT (our review), last year, the company is reportedly preparing its successor. According to recent leaks, this new device could launch later this year, featuring upgraded internals, including the powerful Kirin 9020 chipset.
Successor to the groundbreaking tri-fold Mate XT
The Mate XT, unveiled on September 10 last year, took the industry by storm as the first commercially available tri-fold smartphone. It showcased Huawei’s ability to overcome significant challenges in design, engineering, and manufacturing despite the hurdles posed by US trade sanctions. Now, the company seems ready to follow up this achievement with a second-generation Mate XT, as reported by tipster Fixed Focus Digital on Weibo.
The new model is expected to retain its tri-fold form factor while improving its performance and functionality. The highlight of this upcoming device is its chipset upgrade to the Kirin 9020, which promises improved multi-core performance thanks to a 12-core cluster with hyperthreading.
While the Kirin 9020 powers Huawei’s latest Mate 70 series, its development is constrained by the lack of advanced EUV lithography machinery. As a result, Huawei relies on SMIC’s DUV equipment, limiting the chipset to a 7nm process. Although this hampers the Mate XT successor’s performance potential, Huawei has demonstrated remarkable resilience in navigating these restrictions.
The Mate XT’s groundbreaking design, which transforms from a compact 6.4-inch handset into a spacious 10.2-inch tablet, is unlikely to see drastic changes. Achieving this near-perfect folding mechanism took years of development, and Huawei will likely refine rather than reinvent the design in this year’s model.
What else to expect?
While specific details about the Mate XT successor remain scarce, there are speculations about notable enhancements. The display might see durability improvements to address one of the most critical aspects of foldable devices. Additionally, Huawei could introduce a larger battery to support the new hardware and extended functionality.
As the pioneer of tri-fold smartphones, Huawei has set a high standard for this emerging segment. The Mate XT’s successor could further solidify Huawei’s position as a leader in foldable technology, even as competitors work to catch up.
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