Huawei’s 10-inch tri-folding phone confirms Satya Nadella was wrong for killing Windows Phone AND Surface Duo

Huawei's 10-inch tri-folding phone confirms Satya Nadella was wrong for killing Windows Phone AND Surface Duo

As a tech enthusiast with a decade-long love affair with Windows Mobile and a soft spot for innovative gadgetry, I can’t help but feel a pang of nostalgia and a twinge of disappointment upon hearing about Huawei’s tri-fold smartphone. The sheer versatility and screen real estate that this device offers is nothing short of breathtaking, and if it were running Windows, it would have been the stuff of dreams.


Huawei has finally revealed its much-anticipated smartphone with a tri-fold design. This innovative device boasts two flexible hinges spanning a 10-inch screen that can be compacted to a mere 6.4 inches, making it conveniently pocketable. When folded, the screen adopts a Z-shaped bend, dividing into three sections, offering various positions and purposes.

Absolutely, the phone design offers three different viewing modes. The first mode, similar to most smartphones, uses a 6.4-inch front panel. The second posture features two panels, approximately 7.9 inches combined, akin to today’s standard foldable phones. Lastly, the unique selling point is the third mode that utilizes all three panels for a total of 10.2 inches of screen space, which is unusually spacious yet pocket-friendly.

Despite my affection for its design, if this gadget didn’t come at the price of $2800 and were available globally, it would still be exclusive to China and run on Huawei’s HarmonyOS (as you might have guessed). Regardless of whether it ran stock Android, I believe a more suitable operating system for such a device is Windows.

A screen size of 10.2 inches is sufficient for running Windows smoothly. I find the 10.5-inch display on the Surface Go 4 ideal for portable Windows usage. If only this device could fold up to fit in my pocket and function as a phone, that would be an ultimate convenience!

Huawei's 10-inch tri-folding phone confirms Satya Nadella was wrong for killing Windows Phone AND Surface Duo

Indeed, realizing this dream seems impossible given Microsoft’s current approach to mobile platforms, as they have effectively closed off viable avenues for its development. While Windows 11 can function on a 10-inch device, it struggles to adapt efficiently to smaller screens. On an 8-inch device, the experience is challenging, and at 6 inches, it becomes nearly unusable due to its lack of scalability.

Instead of having a mobile app platform, Microsoft discontinued UWP (Universal Windows Platform). As a result, app developers are currently being guided towards creating traditional Win32 applications that can make use of contemporary UI frameworks like WinUI 3.

Looking back approximately 8 years, Windows 10 Mobile would have been an ideal fit for a device such as the Huawei Mate XT. Its sleek, native mobile interface and platform, combined with Continuum, would harmonize seamlessly across the three modes of the Huawei Mate XT. This would allow you to switch between a full-fledged Windows desktop experience when desired or a user-friendly, touch-optimized Windows mobile UI when not needed.

Microsoft’s operating system for mobile phones, Windows Phone, appeared to be leading the market ahead of its time. They were developing a platform that could effectively cater to devices with various configurations. In fact, they introduced CShell, an innovative user interface designed to adapt dynamically based on screen size and device shape.

One potential way to rephrase the given text could be: Many apps designed for Android foldable devices aren’t optimized for larger screens yet, which can make them less user-friendly compared to their mobile counterparts. While Android performs well in the mobile market, adapting tablet apps is a whole new challenge. This issue is gradually being addressed, but it still needs some work before it meets the expectations of users like me and Google.

If Windows Phone and Universal Windows Platform (UWP) had gained traction, we might be residing in a world today with most Windows applications boasting touch-optimized mobile interfaces and smartly adaptive desktop versions. I believe foldable phones could have been a lifesaver for the Windows Phone platform, given its readiness for this emerging category of devices.

Unfortunately, Satya Nadella decided to discontinue Windows Phone prematurely and cease its support, just as foldable phones were making their debut. Even Microsoft’s Surface Duo, released with Android years later, struggled under current leadership. If given more time, it could have evolved into a device similar to the Mate XT, potentially running a dual system of Android and Windows for an optimal blend of both operating systems.

In the realm of mobile devices and wearables, continuous advancements are being made; however, these developments hold no relevance for Microsoft due to its discontinuation of Windows Phone. This strategic move may prove detrimental for the company as the technological landscape increasingly shifts towards mobile and wearable technologies.

Currently, I find it hard to imagine any collapsible gadget that wouldn’t make me think, “If only this could run Windows!” upon seeing it.

Oh well.

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2024-09-10 18:39