Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Review

1. Introduction, Specifications, and Unboxing

Introduction

Huawei has been a pioneer in foldable smartphones, constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation. With the Mate XT Ultimate, Huawei has redefined what a foldable device can be, delivering an unparalleled experience. Unlike the Mate X6, which is a traditional foldable smartphone, the Mate XT Ultimate takes things further by offering a foldable tablet experience. This device boasts an impressive 10.2-inch LTPO OLED screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and 10-bit color depth.

Table of Contents

The Mate XT Ultimate’s unique trifold design allows it to be folded in multiple ways, offering versatility for different use cases. It is powered by the Kirin 9010 chipset, comes with 16GB of RAM, and is available in storage options up to 1TB. Huawei’s expertise in mobile photography is well represented here, featuring a 50MP primary camera, a 12MP periscope telephoto lens, and a 12MP ultra-wide sensor. It also includes a large 5,600mAh battery with 66W wired and 50W wireless charging support.

The Mate XT Ultimate runs on HarmonyOS 4.2 in China and EMUI 14.2 globally. While the lack of Google Mobile Services (GMS) is a drawback, users can install alternatives such as GBox or microG to access their favorite apps.

Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Specifications at a Glance:

Body: 156.7×219.0x4.8mm, 298g; ultra-thin glass, vegan leather back, metal frame.
Display: 10.2-inch Trifold LTPO OLED, 90Hz, 2232x3184px resolution, 12.84:9 aspect ratio, 381ppi.
Cover Display: 6.4 inches, 1008×2232 pixels; Dual Display: 7.9 inches, 2048×2232 pixels.
Chipset: Kirin 9010 (7 nm) – Octa-core, Maleoon 910 GPU.
Memory: 256GB/16GB RAM, 512GB/16GB RAM, 1TB/16GB RAM.
OS/Software: HarmonyOS 4.2 (China), EMUI 14.2 (Global).
Rear Camera: 50MP (variable aperture) + 12MP (periscope telephoto, 5.5x zoom) + 12MP (ultra-wide, PDAF).
Front Camera: 8MP (wide).
Battery: 5,600mAh, 66W wired, 50W wireless, 7.5W reverse wireless, 5W reverse wired.
Connectivity: 5G (China only), Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2, NFC, Infrared port.
Miscellaneous: Side-mounted fingerprint reader, stereo speakers, BDS satellite calling (China only).

Unboxing the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate

The Mate XT Ultimate arrives in a premium packaging that includes:

The device itself
USB-C charging cable
Aramid Fiber Case with a built-in rotating stand
Some markets also receive a 66W power adapter

The bundled case is a useful addition but slightly inconvenient due to the flap covering part of the folded screen.

2. Design, Build Quality, and Handling

The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate is an engineering marvel. Its trifold design is unique in the industry, allowing the device to transform from a standard smartphone to a full-fledged tablet. When unfolded, it measures just 3.6mm in thickness, making it one of the thinnest foldables available. The build quality is premium, featuring a stainless steel hinge mechanism and a vegan leather back available in red and black.

The camera module is meticulously crafted using 80 layers of stainless steel, giving it a striking, star-shaped pattern. The phone maintains an ergonomic feel despite its size, and its ultra-thin profile ensures portability. However, the lack of any water resistance rating is a notable drawback.

3. Display Quality

The standout feature of the Mate XT Ultimate is its 10.2-inch LTPO OLED display, which supports HDR10 and HDR Vivid. The screen offers:

Dynamic Refresh Rate: Up to 90Hz.
Brightness: 568 nits (manual), 944 nits (auto).
Aspect Ratio: 16:11, making it perfect for media consumption.
Three Screen Sizes: 6.4-inch (folded), 7.9-inch (partially unfolded), and 10.2-inch (fully unfolded).

While the screen is vivid and immersive, the crease visibility at the folding points is noticeable. Additionally, it lacks Widevine L1 DRM, meaning Netflix and other streaming services are limited to lower resolutions.

4. Battery Life and Charging

The 5,600mAh battery is split into three sections, keeping the device ultra-thin. However, the battery life is mediocre, scoring 7:48 hours of active use in testing. When using the cover screen alone, battery life improves to 11:56 hours.

Charging speeds:

66W wired charging: 0 to 45% in 15 minutes, full charge in 60 minutes.
50W wireless charging.
7.5W reverse wireless charging.

For faster charging, Huawei recommends charging the device in an unfolded state to prevent overheating.

5. Camera Performance

Huawei’s camera setup on the Mate XT Ultimate is impressive for a foldable:

50MP main camera with variable aperture (f/1.4-f/4.0)
12MP periscope telephoto with 5.5x optical zoom
12MP ultra-wide with autofocus
8MP front camera

Photo Quality:

Daylight Shots: Excellent detail, good contrast, and color accuracy.
Telephoto Camera: Solid performance with good zoom clarity.
Ultrawide Camera: Great dynamic range and minimal distortion.
Night Mode: Improves shadow details but introduces some noise.
Selfies: Good detail, but best results are obtained using the main camera in half-folded mode.

Video Quality:

4K@60fps recording on all rear cameras.
No 8K or 120fps slow-motion support.
Video quality is decent but lacks flagship-level stabilization.

6. Performance and Software

The Kirin 9010 chipset is mid-range in performance, especially compared to Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 competitors.

Benchmark Scores: ~873,240 on AnTuTu 10.
Gaming Performance: Mediocre; struggles with high-end titles.
AI Features: Includes Smart Remove, AI Noise Cancellation, and Multi-Tasking Enhancements.

Software:

Global Variant: EMUI 14.2 (based on Android 12, but lacks GMS support).
China Variant: HarmonyOS 4.2.
App Alternatives: GBox enables Google apps, but limitations exist.

7. Audio and Multimedia

Stereo speakers are present but lack loudness.
No 3.5mm jack.
HDR support is limited due to DRM restrictions.

8. Final Verdict

Pros:

✅ Stunning trifold display. ✅ Premium build quality. ✅ Fast wired and wireless charging. ✅ Impressive photography capabilities. ✅ Advanced multitasking features.

Cons:

❌ No water resistance. ❌ Mediocre battery life. ❌ Quiet speakers. ❌ Limited Google app support. ❌ Expensive (€3,500).

9. Conclusion

The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate is a remarkable device, redefining foldable technology with its trifold screen and ultra-thin build. However, its high price, mid-range chipset, lack of Google services, and average battery life make it a niche product. If you want the most innovative foldable tablet, this is your only choice. However, for better performance, longevity, and value, other foldables like the Galaxy Z Fold6, Oppo Find N5, or Honor Magic V3 are better options.