Huawei Unveils Mate XT Trifold Phone Hours After iPhone 16 Debut

Chinese smartphone company Huawei said launched its Mate XT, world’s first  trifold smartphone, pegging the price at an least equivalent of $2,800.

The launch has been widely perceived as a response to Apple’s launch of its iPhone 16 just hours ealier.

Huawei began pre-orders on Saturday and is set to begin in-store sales on September 20, the same day Apple’s new iPhone 16 series is due to launch in stores, including in China.

On Monday, Apple announced its iPhone 16 Pro Max will start at $1,199, and the iPhone 16 at $799. Pre-orders are set to begin Friday, and in-store sales on Sept. 20.

While the iPhone brand is undoubtedly incredible with its features, Huawei has just introduced a first-of-its- kind feature, giving the world of smartphone users a trifold gadget to set a pace.

Huawei’s Mate XT also comes with artificial intelligence features, such as text translation and cloud-based content generation, according to Tuesday’s presentation.

“We have spent five years striving for this,” said Richard Yu, Huawei’s executive director and chairman of the board of directors of the consumer business group.

The Mate XT comes in red and black, in three storage options with prices ranging from 19,999 yuan to 23,999 yuan ($2,809 to $3,371). The device is 3.6 millimeters thick when unfolded, with a 10.2-inch screen.

The phone can display content on a single, double or triple screen. Its battery is 1.9 millimeters thick. The Mate XT also works with a foldable keyboard.

Data on Huawei’s official website indicated that more than 3.5 million people had pre-ordered Huawei’s trifold Mate XT smartphone as of midday Tuesday. The number of pre-orders rose above 4 million after the launch event.

Huawei on a comeback mission

Apple also announced a new A18 chip for its fresh phones that use highly advanced 3-nanometer technology. The company claimed the chip makes the iPhone 16 significantly faster than the iPhone 12.

Huawei did not mention any chip developments during the Mate XT launch.

The Chinese company has sought to make a comeback in the smartphone industry, which was hard hit after the U.S. slapped sanctions on the company in 2019. The U.S. in October 2022 imposed broader restrictions on American sales of advanced chips to Chinese businesses.

But in late August 2023, the Chinese telecommunications giant quietly released its Mate 60 Pro, which analysis by TechInsights showed had a chip manufactured using a 7-nanometer process by Chinese chipmaker SMIC.

Yu on Tuesday noted how the company did not give up despite four rounds of sanctions.

Huawei kicked off Tuesday’s launch event by discussing Mate XT details and price. That contrasted with its product launch last year that didn’t reveal any details about its Mate 60 Pro phone or reported advanced chip breakthrough during a high-profile launch event.

The news that Huawei achieved such advanced technology helped bolster its sales in China, despite lackluster consumer spending overall.