Huawei has officially begun shipping its groundbreaking tri-fold smartphone, the Mate XT Ultimate, to customers in China. For tech enthusiasts outside of Huawei’s home market, there’s exciting news on the horizon. Sources have confirmed that the Mate XT Ultimate is slated for a global launch in the first quarter of 2025.
The device’s pricing in China provides a glimpse into its premium positioning. With a starting price of $2,800, the Mate XT Ultimate already ranks among the most expensive consumer electronics. However, international pricing could be even steeper. When accounting for typical price adjustments between Chinese and global markets, the cost could potentially exceed $3,000 or €3,000 for buyers outside China.
While this price point may raise eyebrows, it’s important to contextualize it within the realm of cutting-edge technology. The Mate XT Ultimate represents first-generation hardware in the tri-fold smartphone category, a factor that often commands a premium. Despite the high cost, many in the tech community are praising Huawei for its innovative hardware achievements with this device.
Keep in mind that even if the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate becomes available in the global market, it will have the same software limitations as other Huawei phones. There will be no Google apps or services available on the foldable device and it will run on Huawei’s custom HarmonyOS skin on top of AOSP (Android Open Source Project).
