World's first tri-fold smartphone steals spotlight from Apple and leaves everybody with same concern

The world’s first tri-fold smartphone has been unveiled, stealing the spotlight from Apple’s introduction of the new iPhone 16.

This week saw Apple make a lot of exciting new announcements from details on iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence to brand new products including the latest iPhone model and the Apple Watch Series 10.

However, it looks like it’s had the spotlight ripped away from them after Huawei made their own unveiling of a new smartphone.

The Huawei Mate XT is set to rival the iPhone 16 (VCG/VCG via Getty Images)

The Huawei Mate XT is the thinnest and largest foldable phone, folding out twice vertically to give the user a screen that measures 10.2 inches diagonally.

The device is equipped with AI-enabled translation, messaging and photo editing features.

The tech company’s consumer group chairman, Richard Yu, said: “It’s a piece of work that everyone has thought of but never managed to create. I have always had a dream to put our tablet in my pocket, and we did it.”

The phone will set customers back a whopping $2,800 and will be available from September 20, the same day that the iPhone 16 hits the shelves.

However, despite the buzz around the one-of-a-kind phone, there’s one detail that has left a lot of people sharing the same concern.

It’s left many worried that if they buy the phone, they’ll accidentally fold it the wrong way, potentially breaking the expensive device.

It's the world's first tri-fold smartphone (CFOTO/Future Publishing via Getty Images)

With many taking to Reddit, one user wrote: “I’d probably try and fold it back the wrong way and snap the screen” and a second added: “I can’t wait to see drunk people folding it wrong.”

Another person said: “As someone who has trouble folding a board game mat properly, I would probably snap this sucker the wrong way within the first week, for sure.”

A fourth wrote: “I can see myself forgetting which way the s*** folds back and just destroying it instantly.”

And a fifth added: “All fun and games until you gently try to fold it the wrong way and it bursts into flames.”

However, not everyone shared such bleak thoughts about the device.

Others were excited about the prospect of having a tablet-sized phone available in their pocket.

One user said: “Interesting. I can see myself in the am hours at mcdonalds enjoying breakfast, take out the phone then bam! Switch that bad boy to home theater mode.”

And another joked: “The children yearn to unfurl a phone like an old timey map when lost in the woods.”