Analysis: Huawei’s $2,800 Foldable Phone Raises Bar in China’s Handset Market

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Huawei Consumer Business Group Chairman Yu Chengdong introduces the Mate XT on Sept. 10. Photo: Huawei

Huawei Technology Co. Ltd.’s new premium trifold smartphone is set to raise the bar for technological advancement and price tag among Chinese handset-makers, analysts said.

The Mate XT, which folds like a “Z” and is targeted at business professionals, starts at 19,999 yuan ($2,809) and goes up to 23,999 yuan. The device runs on Huawei’s in-house Harmony OS and features artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities.

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Huawei's new Mate XT trifold smartphone, priced between 19,999 yuan ($2,809) and 23,999 yuan, features a 10.2-inch double-hinged screen and runs on Harmony OS with AI capabilities.
Over 5 million reservations have been made for the Mate XT, set to go on sale on Sept. 20, indicating strong demand.
Huawei has maintained over a third of China's foldable phone market since 2020 and has reportedly increased Q2 shipments by 41% year-on-year to 10.6 million units.

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Who’s Who

Huawei Technology Co. Ltd.: Huawei Technology Co. Ltd. introduced the Mate XT, a premium trifold smartphone targeting business professionals with a starting price of 19,999 yuan ($2,809). Featuring a 10.2-inch screen and Harmony OS, it received strong interest with over 5 million reservations. The device showcases Huawei's innovation in foldable tech, consolidating its market leadership, despite high pricing. Huawei's recent smartphone shipments in China increased by 41%, and it is now among the top five suppliers in the Chinese mainland market.

Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. unveiled the Galaxy Fold, its first 5G foldable phone, in early 2019. This launch was months before Huawei introduced its initial 5G foldable phone, the Mate X, in November 2019.

Apple Inc.: Apple Inc. recently unveiled its AI-powered iPhone 16. Despite this launch, Apple has been squeezed out of the top five in the Chinese mainland’s smartphone market by domestic competitors like Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, Honor, and Vivo. The latest iPhones have struggled to generate enthusiasm among consumers.

Xiaomi Corp.: Xiaomi Corp. is mentioned as a domestic peer to Huawei, competing in the Chinese mainland’s smartphone market. Alongside Oppo, Honor, and Vivo, Xiaomi helped push Apple out of the top five in market share for the April-June period.

Oppo Co. Ltd.: The article mentions Oppo Co. Ltd. as one of Huawei's domestic peers in the Chinese mainland smartphone market. Along with Xiaomi, Honor, and Vivo, Oppo contributed to squeezing Apple out of the top five in the April-June period. Although not elaborated in detail, Oppo is highlighted as a significant competitor in the market alongside other leading Chinese manufacturers.

Honor Device Co. Ltd.: Honor Device Co. Ltd. is listed alongside Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo as a domestic peer in China's smartphone market. Collectively, these companies pushed Apple out of the top five in the Chinese mainland's smartphone market during the April-June period.

Vivo Mobile Communications Co. Ltd.: The article mentions Vivo Mobile Communications Co. Ltd. as one of Huawei's domestic peers, alongside Xiaomi, Oppo, and Honor. These companies helped push Apple out of the top five in the Chinese mainland's smartphone market during the April-June period.

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