When it comes to pushing the boundaries of smartphone technology, Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate is leading the charge, but with a price tag that reflects its cutting-edge features. This foldable smartphone has drawn attention not only for its impressive specs but also for the astonishing cost of repairs, particularly for its unique, triple-fold screen.
A Foldable Marvel with a Hefty Price
Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate is the latest innovation in foldable technology. Featuring a triple-fold design, it transforms from a compact 6.4-inch smartphone into a 10.2-inch tablet when fully unfolded. With OLED displays in each configuration, it offers users a versatile experience—whether for everyday tasks or large-screen functionality for media and productivity.
Its sleek design is also noteworthy. Fully extended, the Mate XT Ultimate is only 3.6 mm thick, which is roughly half the thickness of an iPhone 16. Even folded, it maintains a relatively slim profile at just 12.8 mm. Powered by Huawei’s Kirin 9010 chipset and featuring a 50 MP main camera, 16 GB of RAM, and a hefty 5,600 mAh battery, this phone is a powerhouse in every sense.
However, this technological marvel comes at a steep price. At 19,999 yuan in China (about $2,800), the Mate XT Ultimate is one of the most expensive smartphones on the market, positioning itself as a premium device for a niche audience.
Sky-High Screen Repair Costs
As impressive as the phone is, breaking its unique triple-fold screen can be a financial nightmare. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing to replace the screen, prepare to pay an eye-watering $1,134 (around 1,016 euros). To put that into perspective, the cost of repairing the Mate XT Ultimate’s screen is higher than the entire price of an iPhone 16 Pro in China.
Given the intricate design and materials required for a foldable screen of this caliber, the cost makes sense—though it certainly gives potential buyers something to think about. It’s worth noting that the phone isn’t even widely available yet, with only a handful of units in circulation outside China, mainly as a showcase of Huawei’s technological prowess.
A Showpiece of Innovation
While the Mate XT Ultimate may not be available to the masses yet, it serves as a statement piece for Huawei. As the first smartphone with a triple-fold design, it demonstrates the company’s ability to innovate in a market where foldable devices are still evolving. Whether competitors will follow suit remains to be seen, but Huawei has certainly set a high bar with this ultra-premium device.
For now, the Mate XT Ultimate is more of a technological showcase than a mainstream consumer product. The high price tag—both for purchase and potential repairs—makes it a luxury device designed to turn heads. But as foldable technology continues to mature, we might see some of these features trickle down to more accessible devices in the future.
The Bottom Line
Huawei’s Mate XT Ultimate is a bold step forward in foldable phone design, offering groundbreaking features with a price to match. However, the astronomical cost of repairs, particularly for the screen, may give even tech enthusiasts pause. Whether this device will gain broader traction remains to be seen, but for now, it stands as a testament to how far smartphone technology has come—and how far it still has to go.