Galaxy Z TriFold and Huawei Mate XT: One of them is the most versatile phone I’ve ever used

Huawei introduced the world’s first “tri-fold” phone Mate XT Ultimatelast year and was launched outside China in February 2025. Despite actually folding in only two places, the phone has been called a trifold because its 10.2-inch screen is divided into three sections.

I’ve been using it on and off since February and liked the Mate XT so much that it turned me on Skeptical around Galaxy Z Tri-FoldDesigned when Samsung debuted Shown This was at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) CEO Summit in October. But after trying out Samsung’s first tri-fold device for myself, during a short hands-on test at a Samsung store in Dubai, I changed my mind. The TriFold first went on sale late last year internationally, and now it is Available now in the US for $2,900.

Foldable phone sales are expected to rise by 30% year-on-year in 2026, according to Analysts at IDCIt is important that both Samsung and Huawei find their own line of attraction for customers. Each of these foldable phones has its place in the market and offers a different appeal. One is a tablet that folds into a phone, while the other is a three-in-one smartphone and is the most versatile smartphone I’ve ever used. One is labeled “Z TriFold” but the other actually folds into a “Z” shape.

Here’s how Samsung’s newly launched tri-fold phone compares to the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate – the phone that was a pioneer in the category.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold design vs. Huawei Mate XT design

The Galaxy Z TriFold and Mate XT both have large displays divided into three panels (hence the name) and have two hinges to connect them. However, they are vastly different.

The Huawei tri-fold phone has a single screen that folds into a Z-shape to allow for three different shapes. You can use it as a phone (fully folded), a small tablet (half-opened), as well as a widescreen tablet (fully opened). I used the Mate XT mostly in either mini tablet mode (single fold) or fully unfolded. I found myself using it in phone mode (fully off) only when making calls.

In comparison, the Galaxy Z TriFold folds into a U-shape where both panels fold inward. You can just use it fully folded as a phone or fully unfolded as a widescreen tablet, without the additional ability to use it as a mini tablet.

Samsung’s Z Trifold uses two different-sized hinges and three different-thickness panels, allowing the device’s panels to fold on top of each other. The left hinge is like the one on Fold 7 It is relatively tighter than the right (wider) hinge, which opens after pushing it to a certain angle. On the back of the phone is a second screen that occupies the “middle” section for use when the phone is fully closed.

When fully folded, the bottom panel has a raised edge, giving it a solid edge to grip while unfolded. It’s a great addition to a flat design that doesn’t leave much space between panels. I found it easier to open than its flat-sided sibling, the Galaxy Z Fold 7.

The Huawei Mate XT has curved sides and a single screen, but because of the Z shape, it gives you three ways to use it. The right hinge opens like the Galaxy Z TriFold—you can pull it out—but you don’t need to open the other side. With just one panel open, it becomes a usable mini tablet.

You can open the third section, at the back of the left panel, to open it completely and use it as a widescreen tablet. Because it uses a single flexible display, part of the soft foldable display is always exposed to the elements when the device is folded and closed in phone mode. So far, I haven’t noticed any scratches on the screen but it’s definitely less protective than the Samsung’s internal screen. However, Huawei bundles a case with an extended lip to protect the always exposed right side of the screen.

Both tri-fold phones have minimal screen creases, but Samsung’s Galaxy Z TriFold looks better when I run my finger over the foldable parts. Although the Huawei’s wrinkles are deeper, they don’t bother me in daily use. The wrinkles on both phones appear under direct artificial light and at an extreme angle.

The Huawei Mate XT is thinner than the Galaxy Z TriFold. It is only 3.6mm thick at its thinnest part when fully unfolded and 12.8mm when folded. In comparison, the Samsung phone is 3.9mm thick at its thinnest and 12.9mm when fully unfolded. At 309g, the Z TriFold is also slightly heavier than the 298g Mate XT.

The Huawei trifold looks more premium than the Galaxy Z TriFold – perhaps because of its faux-leather back, curved sides, and gold accents. The Samsung foldable phone has a carbon fiber finish, which feels durable but isn’t premium.

The Mate XT has an IPX8 rating, while the Galaxy Z TriFold has an IP48 dust and water resistance rating. The “4” in IP48 means it is protected against dust particles larger than 1mm but not against everyday dust and pocket lint. Neither of these phones are truly dust-resistant, but both are rated for water resistance, just like a standard smartphone.

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold and Huawei Mate XT displays

The Galaxy Z TriFold has two displays: a 6.5-inch AMOLED display similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 with a 120Hz variable refresh rate and 422ppi density. It opens to a 10-inch tablet-sized display with a 120Hz dynamic refresh rate with a lower density of 269ppi.

The Huawei Mate XT has a single 10.2-inch OLED display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 382ppi density. It has a lower refresh rate but higher resolution and thinner bezels. You can use it as a 6.4-inch phone, a 7.9-inch mini tablet, or a 10.2-inch widescreen tablet, making it a more versatile design than Samsung’s tri-fold. When folded down into a ‘cover screen’, the Mate XT’s display has a wider aspect ratio with slimmer bezels than the TriFold Cover Display.

I haven’t seen videos on the Galaxy Z TriFold, but I assume the experience will be better on the Huawei phone since the main screen has a wider aspect ratio (when fully opened). It has fewer bezels (thick borders at the top and bottom) than the Galaxy Z TriFold, which offers a slightly narrower aspect ratio when fully opened. However, it might be better for multitasking, especially when running three apps side by side, but I’d need more time with the Samsung phone to come to a conclusion.

Galaxy Z TriFold and Huawei Mate XT performance and battery

The Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold has the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite for Galaxy chip, the same processor that powers its other flagship 2025 smartphones including the OnePlus 15. The chip is tuned for efficiency and I expect it to handle multitasking on standalone DeX with ease. The TriFold also comes with 16GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage.

In contrast, the Huawei Mate XT runs on the in-house Kirin 9010 chipset and is paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB or 1TB of storage. It runs EMUI 14.2 on the global versions, which does not have Google apps pre-installed. Despite the ban on US companies working with Huawei – including Google, the company behind Android – there are workarounds for installing the Play Store. You won’t encounter these types of obstacles on the Galaxy Z Trifold.

The Samsung tri-fold phone runs on One UI 8, based on Android 16. You get fast animations, smooth multitasking, tons of customization options, and a better overall experience. The Galaxy Z TriFold will also get seven years of operating system and security updates.

Both phones have a 5,600 mAh battery, but it remains to be seen how they will compete with each other. I didn’t push the Mate XT to its limits and it provided a full day of use on a single charge. When I need to charge the battery, I use the included 66W charger or use up to 55W wireless charging. The Galaxy Z TriFold supports 45W fast charging and Qi wireless charging.

Comparison between Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold cameras and Huawei Mate XT cameras

Both phones have three rear cameras similar to the ones on the Galaxy Z Fold 7. The Galaxy Z TriFold has:

• 200-megapixel main camera with optical image stabilization (OIS) and f/1.7 lens aperture
• 12MP ultra-wide camera with 120-degree field of view
• 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom with OIS and 30x digital zoom support
• Two 10-megapixel front cameras – one inside the cover screen and the other inside the foldable screen

In comparison, the Huawei Mate XT has:

• 50MP main camera with OIS and variable aperture (f/1.4 – f/4.0)
• 12MP telephoto camera with 5.5x optical zoom with OIS
• 12MP ultra-wide camera with 120-degree field of view
• 8-megapixel selfie camera

Based on my experience with the Fold 7, you can expect vibrant colors, good dynamic range, and balanced processing in low-light photos on the Samsung trifold. Huawei’s photos tend to have an over-processed look and don’t work well with certain skin tones. But the Mate XT takes better photos than the Fold 7. I’ll be able to test the photography skills from both phones once I get the Galaxy Z TriFold.

Here’s how the specifications of the two foldable phones compare:

Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold vs Huawei Mate XT Ultimate specifications

	Samsung Galaxy Z Tri-Fold	Huawei Mate XT Ultimate
Covering screen size, technology, resolution and refresh rate	6.5 inches AMOLED, 2520 x 1080 pixels, 1-120 Hz refresh rate	no one
Internal display size, technology, resolution, refresh rate	10.0 AMOLED, 2160 x 1584 pixels, 1-120 Hz refresh rate	10.2-inch AMOLED screen, 3,184 x 2,232 pixels resolution, 90 Hz refresh rate
Pixel density	Cover: 422 dpi; Internal screen: 269 ppi	382 dpi
Dimensions (inches)	Open: 6.27 x 8.43 x 0.15 inches (leftmost panel) / 0.17 inches (center panel) / 0.16 inches (rightmost panel with side button); Closed: 6.27 x 2.95 x 0.50 inches	Open: 6.17×8.62×0.14-0.19 inches; Half open: 6.17×8.62×0.19-0.29 inches; Closed: 6.17 x 2.89 x 0.50 inches
Dimensions(mm)	Open: 159.2 x 214.1 x 3.9mm (leftmost panel) / 4.2mm (center panel) / 4.0mm (rightmost panel with side button) Closed: 159.2 x 75.0 x 12.9mm	Open: 156.7x219x3.6-4.75mm; Half open: 156.7x219x4.75-7.45mm; Closed: 156.7 x 73.5 x 12.8 mm
Weight (grams, ounces)	309 grams (10.9 ounces)	298 grams (10.51 ounces)
Mobile software	Android 16 with One UI 8 interface	Harmony OS 4.2 / EMUI 14.2
Cameras	200 MP (main), 12 MP (ultra-wide), 10 MP (telephoto), 10 MP (cover screen, selfie)	50 MP (main), 12 MP (ultrawide), 12 MP (periscope telephoto), 8 MP (front)
Indoor screen camera	10 megapixel	10 megapixel
Capture video	8 k	4K
Processor	Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor for Galaxy phone	Kirin 9010
RAM/Storage	16GB + 512GB, 1TB	16GB + 512GB, 1TB
Expandable storage	no	no
battery	5,600 mAh	5,600 mAh
Fingerprint sensor	Yes	Yes
conductor	USB C	USB C
Headphone jack	no	no
IP rating for dust and water resistance	IP48	no one
Special features	45W wired charging speed, Qi wireless charging, Galaxy AI, NFC, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 5.4	66W wired charging speed, 50W wireless charging, NFC, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.2