Tri-folding Phones: A Flex of Muscle or Real Need? Industry Thoughts Sparked by Huawei MateXT

Tri-folding Phones: A Flex of Muscle or Real Need? Industry Thoughts Sparked by Huawei MateXTIn a live stream with Ma Dong, CEO of Mi Wei Media, Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's Consumer Business Group, shared details of the development process for the Huawei MateXT tri-folding phone. He stated that tri-folding phones can cater to the efficiency needs of high-end user groups and explained that Huawei has been facing more complex user demand challenges since shifting from B2B to B2C operations

Tri-folding Phones: A Flex of Muscle or Real Need? Industry Thoughts Sparked by Huawei MateXT

In a live stream with Ma Dong, CEO of Mi Wei Media, Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei's Consumer Business Group, shared details of the development process for the Huawei MateXT tri-folding phone. He stated that tri-folding phones can cater to the efficiency needs of high-end user groups and explained that Huawei has been facing more complex user demand challenges since shifting from B2B to B2C operations. The Huawei MateXT stands out with its impressive design, boasting a full-screen 10.2-inch tri-screen state, a thin end at just 3.6mm, and a thicker end at only 4.75mm. It excels over traditional dual-folding screen phones in scenarios such as video viewing, mobile office work, and stock market monitoring.

However, whether tri-folding phones truly have market demand or are simply a "muscle flex" by phone manufacturers has become a hot topic in the industry. Zhao Ming, CEO of Honor, frankly admitted that currently, the usage time ratio for dual-folding phones is around 20%. For Honor, developing a tri-folding phone wouldn't pose a technical challenge, but there is a lack of real-world need. Liu Bo, President of OPPO China, echoed similar sentiments, stating that OPPO had early research plans for a tri-folding phone but has not yet seen compelling consumer demand, hence the decision to hold back on releasing a tri-folding product.

Market analysts believe that while tri-folding phones have achieved technological maturity, their high price and limited application scenarios remain significant barriers to their widespread adoption. Currently, Huawei is the sole company offering a tri-folding phone product, with other major phone manufacturers adopting a wait-and-see approach.

On the one hand, tri-folding phones undoubtedly offer greater screen space, providing superior advantages in multitasking and entertainment experiences. For instance, the Huawei MateXT unfolds to a 10.2-inch tri-screen state, enabling users to simultaneously browse websites, edit documents, and watch videos, enhancing work efficiency. On the other hand, the size and weight of tri-folding phones have become drawbacks users find difficult to accept. The more complex folding structure of tri-folding phones leads to heavier and thicker devices compared to traditional dual-folding phones, resulting in an unideal carrying and usage experience.

Furthermore, the high price of tri-folding phones is another key factor hindering their widespread adoption. Currently, the Huawei MateXT carries a hefty price tag of 16,999 yuan, significantly higher than dual-folding phones, not to mention ordinary smartphones. For most consumers, the price-to-performance ratio of tri-folding phones is not attractive enough, making it difficult to justify their high price.

Despite the challenges currently faced by tri-folding phones, their technological breakthroughs remain noteworthy. As technology continues to advance, the cost of tri-folding phones is expected to decrease, while the folding structure is likely to become lighter and thinner, leading to improved user experience. In the future, with the widespread adoption of 5G technology, tri-folding phones may play a more significant role in areas such as gaming, AR/VR, providing users with a richer experience.

Overall, tri-folding phones are still in an exploratory phase, and their market prospects require further observation. Whether tri-folding phones can achieve a true market breakthrough in the future depends on whether they can successfully address challenges related to price, application scenarios, and provide a more compelling user experience.