BEIJING — Huawei, the Chinese smartphone giant, announced on Tuesday that its new trifold smartphone, the Mate XT, will be priced starting at over $2,800.
Pre-orders for the Mate XT began on Saturday, with in-store sales scheduled to commence on September 20th, the same day Apple’s new iPhone 16 series will hit stores worldwide, including in China.
Apple revealed on Monday that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will start at $1,199, while the base iPhone 16 will be priced at $799. Pre-orders are set to begin on Friday, with availability in stores also on September 20th.
Apple’s first set of AI-driven features will be available next month through a free software update, accessible to users of the iPhone 16, as well as iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models.
Huawei’s Mate XT is also equipped with AI features, including text translation and cloud-based content generation, as highlighted during Tuesday’s presentation. Richard Yu, Huawei’s Executive Director and Chairman of the Consumer Business Group, remarked, “We have spent five years striving for this,” according to a CNBC translation of his Mandarin-language comments.
The Mate XT will be available in red and black, with three storage options, ranging from 19,999 yuan to 23,999 yuan ($2,809 to $3,371). The device boasts a thickness of 3.6 millimeters when unfolded and features a 10.2-inch display.
This innovative smartphone can operate in single, double, or triple-screen mode and includes a foldable keyboard. As of midday Tuesday, more than 3.5 million people had pre-ordered the Mate XT, with that number surpassing 4 million by the end of the launch event.
Making a Comeback
Apple also introduced a new A18 chip, utilizing cutting-edge 3-nanometer technology, which they claim makes the iPhone 16 significantly faster than the iPhone 12.
Huawei, however, did not discuss any new chip developments during the Mate XT launch. The company is still in the process of recovering from the severe impact on its smartphone business following U.S. sanctions imposed in 2019. The U.S. further tightened restrictions in October 2022, limiting the sale of advanced chips to Chinese firms.
Nevertheless, in August 2023, Huawei discreetly released the Mate 60 Pro, which, according to TechInsights, featured a chip produced using a 7-nanometer process by Chinese chipmaker SMIC.
During the launch, Yu emphasized the company’s perseverance despite facing four rounds of sanctions.
Tuesday’s event was focused on the Mate XT’s specifications and pricing, in contrast to last year’s high-profile launch, which did not disclose details about the Mate 60 Pro or its advanced chip breakthrough.
The revelation of Huawei’s advanced technology has bolstered its sales in China, despite overall sluggish consumer spending. In the second quarter of this year, Apple dropped out of the top five smartphone vendors in China, according to Canalys. This marked the first time that all five top spots were held by domestic brands.
Huawei ranked fourth, with 10.6 million smartphones shipped, while Apple shipped 10 million units in the first quarter.
Huawei and its Chinese competitors continue to dominate the folding and flip phone markets, while Apple has yet to enter these categories.
Author: shadjavist
Humble gentleman who never believes in impossibility
