Foldable phones have become one of the hottest frontiers in mobile tech, and 2025 is shaping up to be the year that tri-folding designs finally step into the spotlight. While Samsung’s much-anticipated tri-fold is still waiting in the wings — and won’t be unveiled at next week’s Galaxy event — Huawei has decided it won’t let the competition steal all the thunder. The company has just confirmed that its next-generation tri-fold smartphone, the Huawei Mate XTs, will make its official debut on September 4th in China.
First Look at the Huawei Mate XTs
Huawei gave us a sneak peek through a fresh teaser posted on social media, which also opened pre-order registrations for customers in its home market. The short clip confirms that Huawei isn’t reinventing the wheel this time around — the Mate XTs retains the signature design language of its predecessor: a sturdy ridged frame, an octagonal camera housing, and that ambitious map-style folding mechanism that allows the phone to transform between tablet and compact form factors.
What is new is the finish. The teaser highlights a striking white-and-gold colorway that gives the Mate XTs a more premium and refined look. According to reliable leaker Digital Chat Station, buyers can also expect at least one more fresh shade — purple — although we haven’t seen it officially yet.
Stylus Support Steps Into the Spotlight
One of the more surprising developments is stylus support. In a separate teaser video, Huawei strongly hinted that the Mate XTs will be compatible with a stylus, potentially giving users a new way to interact with the massive unfolded display. This move is especially noteworthy given Samsung’s controversial decision to drop S Pen support on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, which drew criticism from fans of productivity-focused foldables. If Huawei can deliver smooth, low-latency stylus performance, it could become one of the Mate XTs’ strongest selling points.
Upgraded Specs Under the Hood
The changes aren’t just skin-deep. Under the hood, leaks point to a switch from last year’s silicon to a new Kirin 9020-series processor. This chipset is rumored to bring satellite connectivity, a feature that’s becoming increasingly important for safety and reliability in areas with poor cellular coverage. Improved efficiency and performance are also on the cards, though Huawei hasn’t revealed official numbers just yet.
The Bigger Picture: Huawei vs. Samsung
With the Mate XTs arriving in early September, Huawei looks poised to once again beat Samsung to the punch in the tri-fold race. While Samsung has confirmed that its own tri-foldable — possibly branded the Galaxy Z Trifold — is due before the end of the year, Huawei clearly wants the bragging rights of being first to market with a second-generation model.
For now, Huawei fans in China are the first in line, with global availability still unconfirmed. But given the growing competition in the foldable market — and the buzz surrounding tri-fold designs — it’s only a matter of time before we see these devices rolling out internationally.
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