Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Huawei Mate XT: One Is the Most Versatile Phone I’ve Ever Used

Huawei launched the world’s first “trifold” telephone, the Mate XT Ultimate, final yr and launched it exterior of China in February 2025. Regardless of solely truly folding in two locations, the telephone was referred to as a trifold as a result of its 10.2-inch show divides into three sections.

I have been utilizing it on and off since February and I favored the Mate XT a lot that it made me skeptical concerning the Galaxy Z TriFold‘s design when Samsung first showcased it on the APEC CEO Summit in October. However after attempting Samsung’s first trifold for myself, throughout a short hands-on check at a Samsung retailer in Dubai, I modified my thoughts.

As foldable telephone gross sales are anticipated to rise 30% yr over yr in 2026, based on analysts at IDC, it is vital for each Samsung and Huawei to search out their very own hook for purchasers. Every of those foldable telephones has their place out there and provides a unique enchantment. One is a pill that folds right into a telephone, whereas the opposite is a three-in-one and essentially the most versatile smartphone I’ve ever used. Considered one of them has “Z TriFold” in its title however the different truly folds in a “Z” form.

This is how the newly-launched Samsung trifold telephone compares to the Huawei Mate XT Final — the telephone that pioneered this class.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Huawei Mate XT design

Each the Galaxy Z TriFold and Mate XT have massive screens that divide into three panels (therefore the title) and have two hinges to attach them. And but, they’re vastly totally different.

The Huawei trifold telephone has a single display that folds in a Z form to permit for 3 totally different varieties. You should use it as a telephone (totally folded), a mini-tablet (half-open), in addition to a wide-screen pill (totally opened). I’ve principally used the Mate XT both in mini-tablet mode (one fold) or totally unfolded. And I discovered myself utilizing it in telephone mode (totally closed) solely once I made calls.

Compared, the Galaxy Z TriFold folds in a U form as each panels fold inwards. You’ll be able to solely use it totally folded as a telephone or totally opened as a wide-screen pill, with out the added skill to make use of it as a mini pill.

Samsung’s Z Trifold makes use of two different-sized hinges and three panels of various thickness, permitting the gadget’s flaps to fold on high of each other. The left hinge is just like the one on the Fold 7 and relatively tighter than the fitting hinge (the broader one), which springs open after you push it to a sure angle. On the again of the telephone is a second show that occupies the “center” part to make use of when the telephone is totally closed.

When totally folded, its lowermost panel has a protruding edge, giving it a strong lip to seize onto whereas unfolding. It is a good addition to the flat-sided design, which does not depart a lot house between panels. I discovered it simpler to unfold than its sibling, the flat-sided Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The Huawei Mate XT has curved sides and a single display, however due to that Z form, it provides you 3 ways to make use of it. The proper hinge unfolds just like the Galaxy Z TriFold — you pull it out — however you needn’t unfold the opposite aspect. With only one panel unfolded, it turns into a usable mini-tablet.

You’ll be able to unfold the third part, in the back of the left panel, to open it totally and use it as a wide-screen pill. As a result of it makes use of a single versatile display, a part of the mushy folding show is at all times uncovered to the weather when the gadget is folded shut in telephone mode. Up to now, I have not seen any scratches on the show however it’s undoubtedly much less protected than Samsung’s interior display. Nevertheless, Huawei bundles a case with an prolonged lip to guard the always-exposed proper aspect of the display.

Each of those trifold telephones have minimal display creases however Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold feels higher once I run my finger over the folding components. Whereas Huawei’s creases are deeper, they do not trouble me in day-to-day use. The creases on each telephones are seen underneath direct synthetic mild and at an excessive angle.

The Huawei Mate XT is slimmer than the Galaxy Z TriFold. It is simply 3.6mm thick at its thinnest half when totally unfolded and 12.8mm when folded. Compared, the Samsung telephone is 3.9mm thick at its thinnest half and goes as much as 12.9mm when totally unfolded. At 309 grams, the Z TriFold can be barely heavier than the 298g Mate XT.

The Huawei trifold telephone feels extra premium than the Galaxy Z TriFold — in all probability due to its fake leather-based again, curved sides and gold accents. Samsung’s foldable has a carbon-fiber end, which feels sturdy however not as premium.

The Mate XT has an IPX8 score, whereas the Galaxy Z TriFold is rated IP48 for mud and water resistance. The “4” in IP48 means it is protected towards mud particles measuring over 1mm however not towards on a regular basis mud and pocket lint. Neither of those telephones is really dust-proof, however each are rated for water resistance, similar to a normal smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Huawei Mate XT shows

The Galaxy Z TriFold has two screens: a Galaxy Z Fold 7-like 6.5-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz variable refresh fee and a 422ppi pixel density. It unfolds to a 10-inch tablet-sized display with a 120Hz dynamic refresh fee with a decrease 269ppi pixel density.

The Huawei Mate XT has a single 10.2-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh fee and 382ppi pixel density. It has a decrease refresh fee however the next decision and slimmer bezels. You should use it as a 6.4-inch telephone, a 7.9-inch mini-tablet or a ten.2-inch widescreen pill which makes it a extra versatile design than Samsung’s trifold telephone. The Mate XT’s show when folded down into “cowl display” has a wider side ratio with slimmer bezels than the TriFold’s cowl show. 

I have not watched movies on the Galaxy Z TriFold, however I assume the expertise could be higher on the Huawei for the reason that predominant display has a wider side ratio (when totally unfolded). It has much less letterboxing (thick borders on high and backside) than the Galaxy Z TriFold, which offers a barely narrower side ratio when totally unfolded. Nevertheless, it could possibly be higher for multitasking, particularly when working three apps aspect by aspect, however I am going to want extra time with the Samsung telephone to come back to a conclusion.

Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Huawei Mate XT efficiency and battery

The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, the identical processor that powers its different 2025 flagship smartphones together with the OnePlus 15. The chip is tuned for effectivity and I anticipate it to deal with multitasking on a standalone DeX with ease. The TriFold additionally comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage.

In distinction, the Huawei Mate XT runs on an in-house Kirin 9010 chip and is paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage. It runs EMUI 14.2 working system on world variants, which does not have preinstalled Google apps. Regardless of the ban on US corporations working with Huawei — together with Google, the corporate behind Android — there are workarounds for putting in the Play Retailer. You will not encounter these sorts of hurdles on the Galaxy Z Trifold.

The Samsung trifold telephone runs on One UI 8, primarily based on Android 16. You get quick animations, clean multitasking, a mess of customization choices and a greater general expertise. The Galaxy Z TriFold may even get seven years of OS and safety updates.

Each telephones pack a 5,600-mAh battery however it stays to be seen how they fare towards one another. I have not pushed the Mate XT to its limits and it delivers a whole day of use on a single cost. Once I must high up the battery, I exploit the bundled 66-watt charger or use wi-fi charging at as much as 55 watts. The Galaxy Z TriFold helps 45-watt quick charging and Qi wi-fi charging.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs. Huawei Mate XT cameras

Each telephones have three rear cameras which are similar to these discovered within the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Galaxy Z TriFold has:

• a 200-megapixel predominant digital camera with optical picture stabilization (OIS) and a f/1.7 aperture
• a 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera with a 120-degree subject of view
• a 10-megapixel 3x optical zoom telephoto digital camera with OIS and help for 30x digital zoom
• two 10-megapixel front-facing cameras — one inside the quilt show and the opposite contained in the folding display 

Compared, the Huawei Mate XT has:

• a 50-megapixel predominant digital camera with OIS and a variable aperture (f/1.4 – f/4.0)
• a 12-megapixel 5.5x optical zoom telephoto digital camera with OIS
• a 12-megapixel ultrawide digital camera with a 120-degree subject of view
• a 8-megapixel selfie shooter

Based mostly on my expertise with the Fold 7, you may anticipate vibrant colours, good dynamic vary and balanced processing in low-light photographs on the Samsung trifold telephone. Pictures from the Huawei are inclined to have an over-processed look and it would not do properly with sure pores and skin tones. However the Mate XT captures higher portraits than my Fold 7. I am going to be capable of check the images chops from each telephones as soon as I’ve the Galaxy Z TriFold.

This is how the 2 foldable telephones specs evaluate: