In a bold move to solidify its position in the global smartphone market, China’s Huawei Technologies launched the world’s first tri-fold smartphone, the Mate XT, on Tuesday. Priced at $2,800, the device was revealed just hours after Apple’s debut of the iPhone 16, as Huawei seeks to maintain its lead in China’s fiercely competitive smartphone market.
Huawei Mate XT: A New Era for Foldable Phones
During the launch event held in Shenzhen, Huawei introduced the Mate XT, a phone that folds three ways, mimicking the design of an accordion. The Mate XT features a 10.2-inch screen when fully unfolded and is touted as the world’s slimmest foldable phone, with a width of just 3.6mm. It comes with a detachable keyboard that conveniently fits in the user’s pocket.
The Mate XT starts at 19,999 yuan ($2,800) for the 256GB version, with higher memory variants priced at 21,999 yuan and 23,999 yuan. It is available in red and black, adding to the device’s premium appeal. With over 4 million pre-orders, Huawei has already generated significant interest in the device, despite no deposit being required for reservations.
Innovation Through AI Integration
One of the key selling points of the Mate XT is its integration with artificial intelligence (AI). The phone is powered by Huawei’s in-house Kirin chips and features an AI assistant that can perform functions such as text summarization, translation, and image editing. The AI capabilities aim to enhance user experience, making tasks like photo editing more seamless by automatically trimming unwanted elements from images.
Huawei’s executive director Richard Yu emphasized the company’s innovation during the launch, stating, “Today we bring you a product that everyone can think of but could not make. Our team has been working hard for five years and has never given up. Today we will once again rewrite the history of the industry and lead a new era of folding devices.”
A Strong Challenge to Apple’s New iPhone
The timing of the Mate XT’s launch is seen as a direct challenge to Apple, which unveiled its iPhone 16 just hours earlier. While the iPhone 16 features AI capabilities, Huawei’s aggressive AI integration has drawn significant attention. Chinese consumers, in particular, have been critical of the iPhone 16’s lack of advanced AI features, with many taking to social media platforms like Weibo to express their disappointment.
“What’s the point of buying it if you can’t use AI?” one user wrote, reflecting the growing demand for AI-enhanced devices in China. Apple’s shares fell 1.15% in pre-market trading following the criticism.
Navigating U.S. Sanctions and Market Growth
Huawei’s resurgence in the high-end smartphone market has been remarkable, especially given the U.S. sanctions that cut off its access to key chip suppliers. Last year, Huawei launched the Mate 60 Pro, which used domestically produced chips, signaling the company’s ability to innovate despite external pressures.
Huawei’s success in the foldable smartphone market has been particularly noteworthy. The company overtook Samsung this year as the world’s largest vendor of foldable phones, accounting for 27.5% of the global market in the second quarter of 2024, according to research firm IDC. This share rises to 42% in China, where Huawei leads ahead of rivals Vivo and Honor.
Despite its innovative design and features, analysts predict the Mate XT will serve more as a symbol of Huawei’s technological prowess rather than a major sales driver. “Production constraints and the high price point mean the new phone will likely not have a huge impact in terms of shipments,” said Will Wong, senior researcher at IDC. However, he noted that the device reinforces Huawei’s position as a tech leader, particularly as it continues to challenge Apple in both market share and innovation.
The Future of Foldable Phones
The global foldable smartphone market has experienced significant growth, expanding by 57% year-on-year in the second quarter of 2024. However, foldable devices still account for just 1.3% of the total smartphone market, with 292.2 million smartphones shipped globally in the second quarter. Huawei’s Mate XT, with its innovative design and advanced AI capabilities, could help push the foldable phone market further into the mainstream, particularly as more consumers and manufacturers embrace the technology.
As Huawei continues to navigate geopolitical challenges and consumer demands, the Mate XT represents its latest effort to redefine the smartphone industry, solidifying its role as a key player on the global stage.
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