After spending a full day with the Huawei Mate XT, the world’s first trifold smartphone, the excitement remains palpable! Priced at nearly $4,000, this innovative device turns heads with its unique design.

Previously, I had brief encounters with the Mate XT, but now I’m ready for a deep dive. Over the next week, I’ll be integrating my daily life with this device, navigating its triple-screen features—starting with my thoughts after just one day.

Three Modes of Operation: It's a Phone, a Tablet, and More!

The Mate XT offers three distinct ways to use it: as a standard 6.4-inch smartphone, as a compact 7.9-inch square device, or fully unfolded into a generous 10.2-inch tablet. The flexibility is impressive, but adapting to the unique folding mechanism takes a bit of practice.

The Pleasure (and Challenge) of Folding It Open

Initially, the process feels awkward, as each segment folds differently. I spent hours mastering the technique, anxiously worried about damaging the phone. However, once I got the hang of it, opening the device became a satisfying experience—albeit one that requires both hands!

A Sturdy Build Clashes with Surface Vulnerability

The segments attach magnetically when closed, giving a sense of durability, but I wouldn’t risk sitting on it! One challenge is that part of the screen remains exposed, making scratches and smudges inevitable.

Comparative Thickness: Thicker than a Phone, Thinner than a Tablet

True to its innovative nature, the Mate XT is bulkier than most smartphones yet lighter than typical tablets. Huawei’s clever design has created a tapered body, making it easier to handle than you might expect.

Navigating Software Limitations: No Google, No Problem?

Let’s address the big elephant in the room: the Mate XT lacks official support for Google Mobile Services. This means no Play Store or Google apps right out of the box. However, sideloading these apps is doable, albeit a tedious process.

The Mixed Bag of App Support and Future Challenges

Using tools like Aurora Store, I successfully ran most essential apps—except Google Wallet, which leaves me missing NFC payments. The uncertainty looms over how long this workaround will last with Huawei’s potential software shifts towards HarmonyOS Next, which might altogether ditch Android support.

Performance and Multitasking: A Double-Edged Sword

The display size is fantastic for media consumption, but not all apps efficiently utilize the full screen. Multitasking could also be better—only two apps can share the screen at once, with a third required to awkwardly float over others.

After 24 hours, I can confidently say that the Mate XT is a remarkable feat of engineering. But whether it’s truly worth the steep price tag is something I’ll be eager to explore over the coming week.