OPINION : Apple unveil the Apple Intelligence - powered iPhone 16 range this workweek to much fanfare , but I do n’t think it was the most interesting launch in the creation of smartphones this week .
No , for that , we call for to turn to the often - shunned Huawei and its novel tri - foldable . Yep , the world ’s first tri - foldable smartphone is here , and it looks like something straight out of a Sci - fi movie .
Do n’t get me incorrect , I ’m not attempt to disparage theiPhone 16launch . I was quite impressed by this year ’s offering , specially when it comes to theiPhone 16 Proand iPhone 16 Pro Max .
These sound offer quite a illustrious year - on - twelvemonth upgrade even withoutApple intelligence agency , sporting larger 6.3- and 6.9 - inch screens respectively and some of the slimmest bezel I ’ve watch on a sound yet .
They ’re not just bigger either ; they sport a new high - ray 48MP ultrawide sensor with autofocus that allows it to double up as a fairly competent macro lens system , and the iPhone 16 Pro finally perplex the boosted 12MP 5x telephotograph genus Lens that was antecedently exclusive to theiPhone 15 Pro Max .
Then there ’s power , of which the iPhone 16 Pro models have absolutely oodles . Last yr ’s A17 Pro chipset already had a healthy tip on the Android competition , and I wait that gap to broaden with the A18 Pro considering the usual central processing unit , GPU and NPU extrusion .
I ’m also quietly shake about the idea ofCamera Control , the new release on the side of the iPhone 16 collection that not only double up up as a physical camera shutter but , due to its tactile sensation - sensitive nature , can switch between camera modality and stage setting with just a swipe .
But , as snazzy as the iPhone 16 collection might be , it still offer the same core smartphone experience we ’ve had for years at this point .
The same ca n’t be said for the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate , however . The tri - foldaway was , in a rather emblematic move no dubiety , unveiled just hours after the iPhone 16 on Monday in China after week of teaser – and it looks absolutely incredible .
In fact , it closely mirror the innovation of the tri - fold tablet we saw in the first season of Westworld in 2016 , and that ’s a Sci - fi television series that has a rather fanciful take on technical school and artificial tidings . The fact that we ’re seeing something that was considered Sci - fi fodder just a few years ago entirely fellate my brain .
Like the fictional Westworld tablet , the Mate XT Ultimate play an reverse dual - hinge innovation that fold in a Z configuration allowing it to be used in several forms .
The covering fire OLED screen measures 6.4 inches when in full folded , allowing for manipulation as a traditional phone . That can be extended to a whopping 10.2 inches ( 2232 x 2184 ) when completely unfolded , and there ’s even a in-between terra firma 7.9 - inch configuration akin to book - style foldables by only unfurl one part of the tri - fold system .
This essentially means you have a smartphone , book - manner foldaway and what equates to a full - size , 16:9 - esque tablet screen , all in one – fairly slender – gadget .
Elsewhere , the foldable offers either 256 GB , 512 GB or 1 TB of storage count on the variant you opt for , alongside the top - end Kirin 9010 and 16 GB of RAM , as well as a triple rear camera arrangement incorporate of 50MP main , 12MP ultrawide and 12MP periscope lenses .
Despite its slender property , there ’s also a 5600mAh shelling unadulterated with 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging .
Now , there are some caveats to this telling hardware ; not only is it a China sole , and will in all probability remain that elbow room afford Huawei ’s complicated history in the Western market – but it ’s also very expensive .
The entry - level model , complete with 256 GB of storage , get in at 19,999 yuan – around £ 2,146./$2,818 – with the top - end 1 TB model tipping the scale at 23,999 yuan , or £ 2,576/$3,382 . And that ’s without take elements like import tax into motion .
That ’s not only comfortably more expensive than any other multitude - produced smartphone on the market , but even the likes of the14 - inch MacBook Pro .
I wo n’t be buying one , then , but it ’s still an absolute marvel of engineering that gets me truly excited about the next few yr in the smartphone market , and it outshine the iPhone 16 announcement this week .
