Huawei Technologies has launched its new Mate XT, a $2,800 tri-foldable smartphone, aiming to strengthen its lead in China’s massive smartphone market and rival Apple’s recently unveiled iPhone 16. Revealed at an event in Shenzhen, the Mate XT features a 10.2-inch screen that folds three ways and claims to be the world’s thinnest foldable phone at just 3.6mm wide.
Huawei boasts over 3.6 million pre-orders for the device, which is set to hit the market on September 20, the same day as Apple’s latest iPhone. The Mate XT’s starting price is $2,800 for the 256GB model, with options for higher memory at increased prices.
Huawei’s executive director Richard Yu, speaking at the launch, emphasized the company’s commitment to innovation, highlighting the five years of development behind the phone. He said, “We dare to make extraordinary breakthroughs,” and declared the Mate XT as a device that could reshape the future of foldable technology.
Meanwhile, Apple is facing criticism from Chinese consumers for the iPhone 16’s limited AI capabilities, which won’t fully support Chinese languages until next year. As competition between the two tech giants heats up, Huawei’s latest release underlines its resilience despite U.S. sanctions and growing challenges to Apple’s dominance in China.