The trifold Huawei Mate XT 2 has a 10.2″ display, a thickness of 3.5 mm, and it can measure EKG directly from the frame

Huawei, at the unveiling of HarmonyOS 7, introduced the second generation of its triple-folding phone, Mate XT 2 Ultimate Design. It’s still just as bizarre a piece of tech as the first generation, but this time with two features you won’t typically find in phones: hardware protection against shoulder surfing and EKG measurement directly from the frame.

In unfolded form, it measures 10,2 inches and is 3,5 millimeters thick

The internal display folds twice and, in the unfolded state, measures 10.2 inches with 3K resolution—so more than some tablets. The outer panel has 6.5 inches, a resolution of 2442 × 1140, and a peak brightness of 6 500 nits. Both are LTPO AMOLED.

The numbers around the thickness sound unbelievable: the unfolded phone is 3.5 mm thick, folded it’s 12.3 mm, and it weighs 299 grams. So folded it’s roughly the size of a typical smartphone, just noticeably heavier. Web Notebookcheck notes that the 120 Hz refresh rate on the main display is only available in the top configuration; the other versions run at 90 Hz.

Lingdun: A display your neighbor can’t peek at

The most interesting new feature is the Lingdun display. Huawei calls it the first hardware privacy protection system built directly into the foldable panel. It works using independent double pixels. With a double tap on the outer display or by pressing a button, the viewing angles are immediately narrowed—so you can see the screen, but the person next to you can’t.

Some flagship Samsung models have a similar feature, but with Huawei it works across the entire display surface, not just parts of it. A practical alternative is that the side panels of the trifold display can be raised upwards, physically blocking the view from the side.

EKG directly from the phone, plus durability that foldables don’t usually have

The second special feature is EKG measurement. The phone’s metal frame serves as electrodes, and in China Huawei received certification for this function as a Class II medical device. For a smartphone, it’s still a rarity—things like this are usually the domain of smartwatches.

Mate XT 2 is also the first triple-folding phone with IP58 and IP59 rated protection, so it won’t be harmed by dust, sand, or water. The outer glass is basalt-based, and according to Huawei it can handle 30 times more drops and 16 times more scratches than its predecessor. The inner display has a multilayer structure with double the resistance to impacts. Three colors are available: black, white, and purple.

Kirin 9050 Pro, HarmonyOS 7 and three apps side by side

A new Kirin 9050 Pro handles performance. Huawei claims a 42% improvement over the Mate XTs model—specifically, 24% in single-core and 52% in multi-core testing. The Ma Liang graphics handle real-time ray tracing, and the Balong modem added satellite messaging. The battery is 5 600 mAh and supports 66 W charging via cable or 50 W wirelessly.

The camera is ruled by a 50 MP RYYB sensor with a variable aperture from f/1.49 to f/4.0, complemented by a 50 MP periscope with 3.5× optical zoom and a 40 MP ultra-wide-angle lens. The phone is also the first to ship with HarmonyOS 7, which on the triple display can show three apps side by side or a computer-style desktop.

How much does it cost and will we see it here?

In China, the Mate XT 2 goes on sale September 13. The base version with 16 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage costs 19,999 yuan (about $2,980), while the top configuration with 2 TB and a stylus will set you back 29,999 yuan.

For us, there’s one other thing that matters more: Huawei hasn’t yet confirmed whether the phone will also be available outside China. If it does, then in Europe, based on past experience, it will be significantly more expensive than in its home market. And it still holds that Huawei phones here work without Google services, which is the main obstacle for most Slovak users. So, for now, this triple-folding phone remains more of a showcase of what’s possible than a device you’d normally have in your hand here.

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