Huawei has officially announced the name of its tri-fold smartphone as “Mate XT”.

The revelation came via a teaser video on Chinese social media platform Weibo. The device has been rumoured since February this year and is expected to be unveiled at a launch event in China on September 10, 2024.

The timing is considered strategic, coming the day after Apple’s iPhone 16 event, and is a move intended to divert attention from Apple’s announcement.

As the first commercially available device to feature a tri-fold design, the Mate XT is expected to make a big first impression on the smartphone industry. The tri-fold smartphone is said to reveal a 10-inch display when fully unfolded, giving users a larger screen for multitasking.

The teaser video indicates that the device will be associated with Huawei’s Ultimate Design brand, suggesting premium build and features, and is rumoured to be priced at around $4,000.

GSM Arena reports that Huawei’s Consumer Business Group CEO Richard Yu has already been spotted holding a Mate XT prototype. While specific details regarding the device’s full capabilities are still being kept secret, the teaser video also hints at advanced video recording capabilities, including continuous zoom.

Other mobile phone brands such as Xiaomi and Oppo are reportedly developing their own tri-fold devices, but the September 10 launch could allow Huawei to establish itself as the market leader in the field. However, the global availability of the Mate XT remains uncertain due to ongoing geopolitical tensions. The US banned the sale and import of new telecommunications equipment by Huawei in 2022 for security reasons. In the UK, there is a government permanent order requiring all carriers to remove Huawei technology from the UK’s public 5G networks by the end of 2027.

With just days until the launch date, many eyes will be on Huawei and its Mate XT to see if the phone will deliver on its promise and set a new standard for the future of foldable smartphones.