Huawei Challenges Apple with Innovative Tri-Fold Smartphone

Huawei beats Apple: 3 million pre-orders for triple foldable phone

The impressive number of advance orders positions Huawei as a major competitor to Apple. Chinese technology company Huawei has received more than 3 million pre-orders for its triple-foldable smartphone, the company announced Monday on its website. This increase in pre-orders coincides with the upcoming unveiling of 's new iPhone 16 series. Huawei's Mate XT, a Z-shaped tri-folding phone, is scheduled for a launch event on Tuesday, as announced via its WeChat social media account. Customers who pre-order will receive purchase details on the day of the event instead of making an initial payment. Developments and Market Analysis Huawei's impressive number of pre-orders highlights the company's resilience to sanctions and positions Huawei as a key competitor to . has recently adjusted its pricing strategy to maintain its market dominance. Huawei's launch event takes place shortly after 's event, where the company is expected to unveil its latest iPhones with a focus on integrating artificial intelligence into its flagships. Data from consulting firm IDC shows that Huawei was the largest vendor of foldable phones in in the second quarter, with a 42 percent market share. If you want access to all articles, enjoy our promo temporarily and subscribe here!

Huawei takes on Apple in China with $2,800 tri-fold phone

A $2,800 smartphone from Huawei with a 10-inch folding screen has achieved nearly 5mn pre-orders during its launch week, as the Chinese technology giant takes on Apple in its home market with increasingly sophisticated devices. The Shenzhen-based group debuted the Mate XT on Tuesday at an event held hours after its US rival unveiled the iPhone 16. Huawei's handset is the first commercially available smartphone with a display that folds out into three segments. Richard Yu, Huawei executive director, said the company had been "struggling for five years" to bring the tri-fold model into production. "We have overcome the technological constraints of the screen and hinge, resolved issues with its reliability and turned science fiction into a reality," he said. Apple highlighted the new iPhone's artificial intelligence capabilities, but its Apple Intelligence service is not available on the Chinese mainland, reducing its appeal to consumers. Revenues for the iPhone fell 10 per cent year on year in the first three months of 2024, with competitive pressures in China seen as largely to blame. Both companies' phones are due to hit the shelves on September 20, but while the basic iPhone 16 will retail at Rmb5,999 ($843), the Mate XT will cost almost $2,000 more in a basic configuration at Rmb19,999. Nevertheless, Huawei's website showed 4.9mn reservations on Wednesday morning for models including the top-priced Rmb23,999 version of the pricey handset. That would equate to more than $13bn in sales, save for the fact that customers could cancel and analysts doubt Huawei's ability to produce that many phones. The Mate XT is the group's latest high-end offering as the company recovers from US sanctions imposed in 2019 that cut it off from the most advanced imported semiconductors. The group was forced to temporarily suspend production of its 5G phones and spin off its Honor smartphone brand. Last year, Huawei surprised the industry with the release of its Mate 60 flagship smartphone with a sophisticated homegrown chip, the Kirin 9000S, in a breakthrough that helped the company reduce its reliance on foreign technology. Huawei did not specify which chipset was powering its new phone, but smartphone analyst Lori Chang from Isaiah Research said "our channels indicate that Huawei's tri-fold may be using Kirin 9010 5G processor", a successor to the 9000S. Analysts said Huawei still faced production challenges because its partner, Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corporation, was less efficient at manufacturing chips due to its reliance on outdated equipment as a result of the US chip export restrictions. Customers have complained about long wait times and low stocks in stores. To add to production challenges, Huawei has to mass produce the tri-fold screen, which Yu acknowledged was "very difficult". Martin Yang, executive director at brokerage Oppenheimer & Co, estimated that "only a fraction of the 4mn-plus reservations will end up in actual shipment". "This is not a mass-market smartphone due to its price and weight . . . and I expect tri-fold supply to be very limited due to manufacturing difficulty," he said. At 298 grammes, the Mate XT is more than a third heavier than the iPhone 15 Pro Max. Andy Tsay, professor of information systems and analytics at the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, said the Mate XT was "not really a direct competitor" to Apple's iPhone 16, noting that its large size when unfolded made it unwieldy to use with one hand. He said it was too early to judge whether the phone was a success from the pre-order volume, noting that the rate of product return and resale value was a truer test of "staying power". But he added: "There is no denying that this phone adds to Huawei's momentum and positions the company as a scrappy innovator with swagger." Huawei has also been experimenting with new features across its smartphone line to appeal to Chinese consumers, including a camera function that allows users to identify if they have evenly applied their sunscreen. The company has revitalised its smartphone business through the release of its foldable phones, stealing market share from early-mover Samsung. According to Counterpoint Research, the global foldable smartphone market grew by 49 per cent in the first quarter, led by a surge in shipments from Huawei and other Chinese brands. In that period, Huawei displaced Samsung as the biggest vendor globally for the first time, leading the race with its Mate X5 phone. Experts said Huawei had tapped into the so-called guochao, or "national trend", movement in which companies incorporate nationalistic branding to celebrate Chinese culture. "If a Chinese brand can become a means to lift morale and express pride in one's nation, culture and distinct aesthetic sensibilities, Huawei is smart to lean into this," said Tsay.

Apple rival Huawei turns science fiction into reality with launch of...

China's Huawei Technologies on Tuesday unveiled a $2,800 tri-foldable phone as it seeks to extend its lead in the world's biggest smartphone market and steal the spotlight from Apple hours after it debuted a new iPhone. The Chinese tech giant showed off its new Mate XT, which users can fold three ways like an accordion screen door, during a launch ceremony in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen. The device has already received more than 4 million pre-orders, for which no deposit is required, according to the company's website. The entire global market for foldable phones was around 4 million units in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC. "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," Huawei executive director Richard Yu said at the launch. "Today we will once again rewrite the history of the industry, turn science fiction into reality, and lead a new era of folding devices." The new phone boasts an AI assistant with text summary, translation and editing functions, as well as AI-boosted image editing functions such as trimming unwanted parts of photos, Yu said. AI functions are supported by Huawei's in-house Kylin chips, he added. The much-anticipated launch comes just hours after Apple unveiled its latest model -- the AI-boosted iPhone 16 -- with both smartphones due to go on sale on Sept. 20. The Mate XT comes in red and black and has a 10.2 inch display screen. At 3.6mm wide, the company said it was the world's slimmest foldable phone and has a keyboard attachment that fits in your pocket. Prices start at 19,999 yuan ($2,800) for 256 gigabytes, with versions with higher memory available for 21,999 yuan and 23,999 yuan. The launch, which follows a series of successful smartphone debuts, underscores Huawei's ability to navigate US sanctions and solidifies its position against Apple in China, where some consumers criticized the new iPhone 16 for its lack of AI features in the country. Apple has yet to announce an AI partner in China to power the 16s and Apple Intelligence, the company's AI software, will only be available in Chinese languages next year. "What's the point of buying it if you can't use AI?" wrote one user on Weibo, China's X-like platform. Another commented: "Without AI as the biggest selling point, it should be half price." Apple's shares fell less than 1% on Tuesday. While Apple for years enjoyed strong demand in China, where new iPhone launches once sparked a frenzy, its sales have dwindled and the company's ranking in the world's second-largest economy has now dropped from third to sixth place. Huawei made a comeback to the high-end smartphone segment last year with the release of a device powered by a domestically-made chip, defying US sanctions that have cut off its access to the global chipset supply chain. The launch of the Mate 60 Pro surprised analysts and US officials. Huawei already has two-way foldable phones in its lineup, and its strong sales in China helped it overtake Samsung Electronics this year as the biggest vendor of such phones globally. But with a price tag that starts at $2,800 -- more than twice the starting price of the comparable iPhone 16 Pro Max -- and limited production, the tri-fold phone is likely to become more of a symbol of Huawei's tech prowess than a major sales driver, analysts said. "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 consultancy IDC. "But it's telling the consumers that it's still the tech leader and the potential challenge it brings to Apple may be far beyond just market share." The foldable smartphone market grew 57% year-on-year in the second quarter with 3.9 million units shipped, largely as Chinese smartphone makers pushed into overseas markets, according to IDC. That remains just 1.3% of the wider smartphone market, with 292.2 million smartphones shipped in the second quarter, IDC said. Huawei ranked as the world's biggest foldable smartphone seller in the second quarter with a 27.5% market share, ahead of South Korea's Samsung, with 16.4%, according to IDC. That share rises to 42% in China's home market, ahead of Vivo and former Huawei unit Honor, which it spun off under pressure from US sanctions in 2020.

Huawei debuts tri-fold smartphone hours after Apple's new iPhone

STORY: Huawei looked to upstage Apple on Tuesday (September 10). The Chinese tech giant unveiled a $2,800 tri-foldable phone just hours after its U.S. rival debuted its new iPhone. Huawei showed off its new Mate XT which users can fold three ways like an accordion screen door. The company said they've already received more than 4 million pre-orders for the device. Huawei Executive Director, Richard Yu. "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." Yu said the new phone has an AI assistant with text summary, translation and editing functions. The phone's launch drew crowds to this Huawei store in Beijing. The new smartphone highlights Huawei's ability to navigate U.S. sanctions and solidifies its position against Apple in China. The Mate XT was unveiled hours after Apple released its latest model - the iPhone 16. The handset will use AI features called Apple Intelligence to improve the company's voice assistant Siri as well as enhance the camera. Though Apple has yet to announce an AI partner in China to power the 16s and Apple Intelligence will only be available in Chinese languages next year. Both smartphones are due to go on sale on September 20, with the Mate XT more than double the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Some analysts argue the tri-fold phone is likely to become more of a symbol of Huawei's tech prowess than a major sales driver due to the high price tag.

Huawei steals spotlight from Apple with triple-folding phone

Chinese tech giant Huawei on Tuesday unveiled Huawei Mate XT, the world's first triple-folding phone at more than three times the price of the newest iPhone, hours after its US competitor lifted the curtain on its own new handset built for AI. The Huawei Mate XT was officially launched in a keynote presentation by Huawei executive Richard Yu at the firm's headquarters in the southern city of Shenzhen. Originally designed as a premium phone for a niche audience, more than three million people registered interest in buying the Mate XT ahead of its launch. The gadget officially goes on sale on September 20, with prices beginning at an eye-watering $2,800 -- over three times more than the new iPhone 16. Advertised in a sleek red and gold design, the phone can transform into a 10.2 inch (26 centimetre) tablet and weighs 298 grams (10.5 ounces). "This is the world's first triple-folding phone," Yu said at the keynote. "We have put in a huge amount of effort into solving the problems regarding mass production and product reliability," he added. Huawei Mate XT's release comes a day after Apple announced its iPhone 16, built for generative artificial intelligence as it seeks to boost sales and keep up in the technology race. One observer said the launch of Huawei's trifold phone was unlikely to make a big dent in Apple's sales in the premium phone sector given its price and the California giant's hold in China. "Its impact on Apple's market share is likely to be very limited" given Apple's popularity in the country, said Ethan Qi, associate director at research firm Counterpoint. But another added that it would boost the company's "technological leadership". "It will fortify its position as a leader in the foldable phone sector among consumers," Toby Zhu, senior analyst at Canalys, told AFP. He also said the high price may not necessarily deter the target consumer group as "the purchasing power of China's most affluent consumers has increased despite the less favourable general economic climate". Huawei was once the country's largest domestic smartphone maker, before it became embroiled in a tech war between Washington and Beijing. It is now China's fourth-largest smartphone maker, shipping 10.6 million units in the last quarter, according to a recent report by research firm Canalys. US sanctions cut off its access to American technology and crippled its smartphone business -- but it made a surprise comeback last year with smartphones powered by domestically made chips. It is also the biggest seller of foldable phones in China, with more than half of the domestic market share in the first half of 2024.

Huawei debuts its trifold smartphone hours after Apple's iPhone 16 unveiling

As it races Apple in the Chinese smartphone market, Huawei debuted its new smartphone hours after the iPhone maker unveiled its latest model. Huawei launched its 10.2-inch, trifold Mate XT smartphone on Tuesday in Shenzhen, China, hours after Apple introduced the iPhone 16. "Today we bring you a product that everyone can think of but could not make," Richard Yu, Huawei executive director, said at the launch, according to Reuters. "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, turn science fiction into reality, and lead a new era of folding devices." The Mate XT starts at 19,999 yuan, or $2,800, and has around 4.5 million pre-orders, according to the Chinese smartphone-maker. Pre-orders started on September 7, and do not require a deposit. Yu said the new smartphone, which uses the company's Kylin chip, features an AI-powered assistant for text summarization, translation, and editing, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, Apple unveiled the new iPhone 16 series, as well as upgrades to its Apple Watches and AirPods, on Monday. The iPhone maker demonstrated its new AI features, dubbed Apple Intelligence, which will power native apps such as Safari and Notes, as well as Apple's voice assistant, Siri. The AI features will be rolled out in phases, with early features being made available through a software update in beta in October for iPhone 15 Pro models and newer. The update will be available on iOS 18, iPad OS 18, and macOS Sequoia. Since releasing its Mate 60 Pro smartphone series last August, Huawei has outpaced Apple in the Chinese market. In April, the company reported a rise in profit for the fourth consecutive quarter, also showing resilience against U.S. sanctions. Meanwhile, Apple's iPhone sales fell 19% over the same period -- its worst performance in China since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Apple's share of China's smartphone market also fell year-over-year in the first quarter of 2024 from 19.7% to 15.7%. The company has had to cut prices on some iPhone models in the Chinese market as competition grows with Huawei and other homegrown smartphone-makers.

China's Huawei unveils triple-folding phone

BEIJING (AFP) - Chinese tech giant Huawei on Tuesday unveiled the world's first triple-folding phone at more than three times the price of the newest iPhone, hours after its United States competitor lifted the curtain on its own new handset built for artificial intelligence (AI). The Mate XT was officially launched in a keynote presentation by Huawei executive Richard Yu at the firm's headquarters in the southern city of Shenzhen. Originally designed as a premium phone for a niche audience, more than three million people registered interest in buying the Mate XT ahead of its launch. The gadget officially goes on sale on September 20, with prices beginning at an eye-watering USD2,800 - over three times more than the new iPhone 16. Advertised in a sleek red and gold design, the phone can transform into a 26-centimetre tablet and weighs 298 grammes. "This is the world's first triple-folding phone," Yu said at the keynote. "We have put in a huge amount of effort into solving the problems regarding mass production and product reliability," he added. Its release comes a day after Apple announced its iPhone 16, built for generative AI as it seeks to boost sales and keep up in the technology race. One observer said the launch of Huawei's trifold phone was unlikely to make a big dent in Apple's sales in the premium phone sector given its price and the California giant's hold in China. "Its impact on Apple's market share is likely to be very limited" given Apple's popularity in the country, said associate director at research firm Counterpoint Ethan Qi. But another added that it would boost the company's "technological leadership". "It will fortify its position as a leader in the foldable phone sector among consumers," senior analyst at Canalys Toby Zhu told AFP. He also said the high price may not necessarily deter the target consumer group as "the purchasing power of China's most affluent consumers has increased despite the less favourable general economic climate". Huawei was once the country's largest domestic smartphone maker, before it became embroiled in a tech war between Washington and Beijing. It is now China's fourth-largest smartphone maker, shipping 10.6 million units in the last quarter, according to a recent report by research firm Canalys. It is also the biggest seller of foldable phones in China, with more than half of the domestic market share in the first half of 2024.

China's Huawei unveils triple-folding phone with hefty price tag

BEIJING (AFP) - Chinese tech giant Huawei on Tuesday unveiled the world's first triple-folding phone at more than three times the price of the newest iPhone, hours after its US competitor lifted the curtain on its own new handset built for AI. The Mate XT was officially launched in a keynote presentation by Huawei executive Richard Yu at the firm's headquarters in the southern city of Shenzhen. Originally designed as a premium phone for a niche audience, more than three million people registered interest in buying the Mate XT ahead of its launch. The gadget officially goes on sale on September 20, with prices beginning at an eye-watering USD2,800 - over three times more than the new iPhone 16. Advertised in a sleek red and gold design, the phone can transform into a 10.2 inch (26 centimetre) tablet and weighs 298 grammes. "This is the world's first triple-folding phone," Yu said at the keynote. "We have put in a huge amount of effort into solving the problems regarding mass production and product reliability," he added. Its release comes a day after Apple announced its iPhone 16, built for generative artificial intelligence as it seeks to boost sales and keep up in the technology race. Taking on Apple? One observer said the launch of Huawei's trifold phone was unlikely to make a big dent in Apple's sales in the premium phone sector given its price and the California giant's hold in China. "Its impact on Apple's market share is likely to be very limited" given Apple's popularity in the country, said Ethan Qi, associate director at research firm Counterpoint. But another added that it would boost the company's "technological leadership". "It will fortify its position as a leader in the foldable phone sector among consumers," Toby Zhu, senior analyst at Canalys, told AFP. He also said the high price may not necessarily deter the target consumer group as "the purchasing power of China's most affluent consumers has increased despite the less favourable general economic climate". Huawei was once the country's largest domestic smartphone maker, before it became embroiled in a tech war between Washington and Beijing. It is now China's fourth-largest smartphone maker, shipping 10.6 million units in the last quarter, according to a recent report by research firm Canalys. US sanctions cut off its access to American technology and crippled its smartphone business - but it made a surprise comeback last year with smartphones powered by domestically made chips. It is also the biggest seller of foldable phones in China, with more than half of the domestic market share in the first half of 2024.

iPhone 16 Launch In China Faces Big Trouble Because Of This Tri-Fold Smartphone - News18

Huawei is showing other foldable brands what innovation really looks like and Apple would be concerned about the new launch in one of its biggest market. While Apple was flaunting its new AI-powered iPhone 16 series devices in California, the company was facing major trouble in China, one of its biggest iPhone markets. Huawei introduced its tri-fold smartphone in the region on Tuesday, which is nothing like we have seen from the traditional global giants so far. Apple hasn't even entered the foldable battle yet, and China, the biggest foldable market, is slowly going away from the Cupertino-based giant. The Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Edition takes a smartphone, foldable and triples up into a 10-inch tablet, what's not to like? Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Edition tri-fold device is priced at CNY 19,999 (Rs 2.35 lakh approx) for the 16GB and 256GB base model, going up to CNY 23,999 (Rs 2.83 lakh approx) for the highest 1TB model. Huawei is going to follow Apple's shadow by starting its sale for this device from September 20 onwards. When you unfold the Mate XT Ultimate Edition, it turns into a 7.9-inch foldable and double unfolding gets you a 10.2-inch LTPO OLED panel. The device weighs 298 grams and its standard thickness is 12.8mm which isn't the lightest. Huawei is most likely using its in-house 5G chipset to power the device that will bring a host of AI features built in its labs. We do know that the phone comes with ample power thanks to 16GB RAM and up to 1TB storage. For imaging, the Mate XT Ultimate Edition carries a 50MP primary sensor with OIS and variable aperture. It also has a 12MP ultrawide lens, and a 12MP telephoto periscope lens with OIS. The phone packs a 5600mAh battery which supports 66W wired and 50W wireless charging speeds.

iPhone 16 launch: Why Huawei's new phone can be a 'big problem' for Apple in its biggest market - Times of India

Apple may be staring at a problem in China, its biggest smartphone market. And it is called Huawei's new foldable smartphone: Huawei Mate XT. Chinese tech giant Huawei has unveiled its latest smartphone, a tri-fold smartphone called the Mate XT, priced at $2,800. The phone is set to hit the market on September 20, same day as Apple's new iPhone 16 series. As both companies compete for market share in China, Huawei's Mate XT presents a formidable challenge to Apple's iPhone 16 series.With its innovative trifold design and advanced features, Huawei is aiming to capture a significant portion of the high-end smartphone market. Huawei Mate XT boasts advanced artificial intelligence features, including text translation and cloud-based content generation. Huawei Mate XT is the first mainstream phone to come with trifold design. The smartphone sports a 10.2-inch screen and a foldable keyboard. Meanwhile, Apple has announced its iPhone 16 series, including the Pro Max model starting at $1,199. The new iPhones will feature the A18 chip, which promises significant performance improvements. Adding to Apple's China woes Despite facing U.S. sanctions, Huawei has continued to push the boundaries of smartphone technology. The company's recent release of the Mate 60 Pro, featuring a 7-nanometer chip, has garnered significant attention and boosted sales in China. Huawei is already giving a tough fight to Apple in China. For the first time ever, Apple was edged out of the top five smartphone vendors' list in China in the second quarter, as competition from domestic brands such as Huawei intensifies, according to a Canalys report. According to the report, Apple's market share in China shrank to 14% in the second quarter, from 15% in the first quarter and 16% in the same period a year ago. The iPhone maker, which was the third-largest smartphone vendor in the second quarter last year, dropped to the sixth spot with about 9.7 million in shipments, according to CNBC calculations. The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.

Huawei's tri-foldable phone stirs Chinese pride but $2,800 price tag panned

A video that purports to show Apple store employees in China going to a Huawei store to watch the Huawei product launch also became the No. 2 trending item on Weibo for 13 hours, garnering 91 million views and more than 6,600 comments Huawei's new tri-foldable smartphone has ignited nationalistic pride in China with social media abuzz with what supporters see as its ability to out-innovate Apple despite US sanctions - even if many are balking at the phone's $2,800 price tag. The Chinese technology giant unveiled its Mate XT, the industry's first tri-foldable phone, on Tuesday just hours after Apple introduced its artificial intelligence-enhanced iPhone 16 lineup. Click here to connect with us on WhatsApp Both the Mate XT and iPhone 16 will go on sale on Sept. 20, though the Mate XT is expected to be available only in China. "Apple hasn't fallen, but Huawei has truly risen again," commented one user on Weibo, China's equivalent to X. Another wrote: "Times are changing. US sanctions have been in vain." A video that purports to show Apple store employees in China going to a Huawei store to watch the Huawei product launch also became the No. 2 trending item on Weibo for 13 hours, garnering 91 million views and more than 6,600 comments. More From This Section Bid for 7-Eleven owner shows Japan's governance gains: Suntory CEO Niinami Who won the debate? Harris vs Trump in a fiery presidential showdown Harris presses more forceful case against Trump than Biden did on issues Sri Lanka's presidential election: No female contender amongst 38 nominees Britain's Rightmove rejects $7.3 bn takeover offer from Murdoch's REA Group The launch of the Mate XT follows Huawei's re-emergence in the 5G premium smartphone market last year with its Mate 60 series and this year with its high-end Pura series phones that have domestically produced semiconductors. All have been celebrated in China as a triumph over US sanctions that have, since 2019, prevented the company from accessing advanced US chips and other technology. Washington sees Huawei as a national security risk - a charge that the company denies. US sanctions have since broadened out to encompass export bans on highly advanced US chips to all Chinese firms with Washington seeking to impede advances in technology for China's military. Huawei fans also noted that Apple has yet to announce an AI partner in China to power its iPhone 16 product range and Apple Intelligence, the company's AI software, will only be available in Chinese next year. Nationalistic pride notwithstanding, the Mate XT's starting price of 19,999 yuan was widely criticised as beyond the reach of ordinary consumers and insensitive at a time of sluggish economic growth when ordinary citizens are struggling with financial insecurity. Versions with more sophisticated features such as larger memory will cost as much as 23,999 yuan ($3,300). A Weibo poll on the Mate XT showed that only 966 of some 9,200 respondents said they planned to buy it. More than 4,700 said they were put off by the price while another 3,500 said they were not considering purchasing it at the moment. "No matter how much I like the product, the price tag just sounds crazy to me," said a person surnamed Xu at a Beijing Huawei store, describing himself as a Huawei loyalist. "Maybe Huawei isn't really targeting people like me," he added. Also Read China's Huawei debuts tri-fold design smartphone in Mate line: Take a look Huawei unveils tri-fold smartphone, raising competition with Apple in China Apple's AI gap in new iPhones hits China users as Huawei threat looms Huawei racks up 3 mn pre-orders for tri-fold phone before iPhone 16 reveal Nokia mobile networks assets said to draw Samsung's preliminary interest

Huawei's tri-foldable phone stirs Chinese pride but $2,800 price tag panned

BEIJING (Reuters) - Huawei's new tri-foldable smartphone has ignited nationalistic pride in China with social media abuzz with what supporters see as its ability to out-innovate Apple despite U.S. sanctions - even if many are balking at the phone's $2,800 price tag. The Chinese technology giant unveiled its Mate XT, the industry's first tri-foldable phone, on Tuesday just hours after Apple introduced its artificial intelligence-enhanced iPhone 16 lineup. Both the Mate XT and iPhone 16 will go on sale on Sept. 20, though the Mate XT is expected to be available only in China. "Apple hasn't fallen, but Huawei has truly risen again," commented one user on Weibo, China's equivalent to X. Another wrote: "Times are changing. U.S. sanctions have been in vain." A video that purports to show Apple store employees in China going to a Huawei store to watch the Huawei product launch also became the No. 2 trending item on Weibo for 13 hours, garnering 91 million views and more than 6,600 comments. The launch of the Mate XT follows Huawei's re-emergence in the 5G premium smartphone market last year with its Mate 60 series and this year with its high-end Pura series phones that have domestically produced semiconductors. All have been celebrated in China as a triumph over U.S. sanctions that have, since 2019, prevented the company from accessing advanced U.S. chips and other technology. Washington sees Huawei as a national security risk - a charge that the company denies. U.S. sanctions have since broadened out to encompass export bans on highly advanced U.S. chips to all Chinese firms with Washington seeking to impede advances in technology for China's military. Huawei fans also noted that Apple has yet to announce an AI partner in China to power its iPhone 16 product range and Apple Intelligence, the company's AI software, will only be available in Chinese next year. Nationalistic pride notwithstanding, the Mate XT's starting price of 19,999 yuan was widely criticised as beyond the reach of ordinary consumers and insensitive at a time of sluggish economic growth when ordinary citizens are struggling with financial insecurity. Versions with more sophisticated features such as larger memory will cost as much as 23,999 yuan ($3,300). A Weibo poll on the Mate XT showed that only 966 of some 9,200 respondents said they planned to buy it. More than 4,700 said they were put off by the price while another 3,500 said they were not considering purchasing it at the moment. "No matter how much I like the product, the price tag just sounds crazy to me," said a person surnamed Xu at a Beijing Huawei store, describing himself as a Huawei loyalist. "Maybe Huawei isn't really targeting people like me," he added. (Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Edwina Gibbs)

Huawei's tri-foldable smartphone Mate XT stirs Chinese pride but $2,800 price tag panned

Huawei's new tri-foldable smartphone has ignited nationalistic pride in China with social media abuzz with what supporters see as its ability to out-innovate Apple despite U.S. sanctions - even if many are balking at the phone's $2,800 price tag. The Chinese technology giant unveiled its Mate XT, the industry's first tri-foldable phone, on Tuesday just hours after Apple introduced its artificial intelligence-enhanced iPhone 16 lineup. Both the Mate XT and iPhone 16 will go on sale on Sept. 20, though the Mate XT is expected to be available only in China. "Apple hasn't fallen, but Huawei has truly risen again," commented one user on Weibo, China's equivalent to X. Another wrote: "Times are changing. U.S. sanctions have been in vain." A video that purports to show Apple store employees in China going to a Huawei store to watch the Huawei product launch also became the No. 2 trending item on Weibo for 13 hours, garnering 91 million views and more than 6,600 comments. The launch of the Mate XT follows Huawei's re-emergence in the 5G premium smartphone market last year with its Mate 60 series and this year with its high-end Pura series phones that have domestically produced semiconductors. All have been celebrated in China as a triumph over U.S. sanctions that have, since 2019, prevented the company from accessing advanced U.S. chips and other technology. Washington sees Huawei as a national security risk - a charge that the company denies. U.S. sanctions have since broadened out to encompass export bans on highly advanced U.S. chips to all Chinese firms with Washington seeking to impede advances in technology for China's military. Huawei fans also noted that Apple has yet to announce an AI partner in China to power its iPhone 16 product range and Apple Intelligence, the company's AI software, will only be available in Chinese next year. Nationalistic pride notwithstanding, the Mate XT's starting price of 19,999 yuan was widely criticised as beyond the reach of ordinary consumers and insensitive at a time of sluggish economic growth when ordinary citizens are struggling with financial insecurity. Versions with more sophisticated features such as larger memory will cost as much as 23,999 yuan ($3,300). A Weibo poll on the Mate XT showed that only 966 of some 9,200 respondents said they planned to buy it. More than 4,700 said they were put off by the price while another 3,500 said they were not considering purchasing it at the moment. "No matter how much I like the product, the price tag just sounds crazy to me," said a person surnamed Xu at a Beijing Huawei store, describing himself as a Huawei loyalist. "Maybe Huawei isn't really targeting people like me," he added.

Apple's China rival Huawei just upstaged the iPhone 16 launch

This story is available exclusively to Business Insider subscribers. Become an Insider and start reading now. Have an account? Log in. To make its challenge even clearer, Huawei is putting the Mate XT on sale in stores on September 20 -- the same day the iPhone 16 will be available in China. It has already tallied close to 3 million pre-orders, which does not require a deposit. It shows how confident Huawei is in taking on Apple in the smartphone game as the Silicon Valley firm faces a tricky period in its most important international market. For some time now, Apple has anxiously been watching iPhone sales tumble in China. Data from research firm Counterpoint, for instance, shows that iPhone sales dropped 19.1% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2024 and a further 5.7% in the second quarter. It seems that Huawei has gained a lot of that lost market share. The Chinese smartphone maker saw a huge 69.7% jump in sales in the first three months of the year and another 44.5% jump in the next three months. Jamie MacEwan, senior research analyst at Enders Analysis, told Business Insider that despite the "eye-catching" Mate XT targeting a "fairly small niche at the very top of the price range," it's a sign of "the return in force of Huawei." The company has faced years of setbacks following US export controls that limited its access to key components. However, it stunned the tech world in August 2023 by releasing the Mate 60 Pro, a smartphone with an advanced chipset sourced from Chinese chip firm SMIC. "The next flagship Mate refresh will have a bigger market impact," MacEwan added. Apple, for its part, will be betting on its new suite of generative AI features -- dubbed Apple Intelligence -- to trigger an upgrade cycle among consumers raring to try out the technology. Gene Munster, managing partner at Deepwater Asset Management, thinks "AI will change everything including iPhone growth rates for the next couple of years." Apple did its best to make the case for that during its "Glowtime" event on Monday, with Apple Intelligence receiving notable airtime. Whether AI will drive an upgrade cycle or not remains to be seen. What seems to be a big risk for Apple in the face of Huawei's threat, however, is that its buzzy new AI features won't get a China rollout until 2025. For this reason, Richard Windsor -- an equity research analyst and founder of research firm Radio Free Mobile -- thinks that the Huawei Mate XT will "probably sell very well," especially due to the long wait for Chinese consumers to get their hands on Apple Intelligence. "Apple's number one selling point for 2024 is not relevant in the market where this battle will be fought," Windsor told Business Insider. "Apple is on the back foot in China and, I suspect, likely to remain there." Apple does seem willing to experiment with the iPhone's form factor. A report from The Information in February said Apple was building two prototypes of horizontal folding "clamshell" phones, though we don't expect them to enter mass production until at least 2026. But in the meantime, iPhones without AI could prove to be a tougher sell in China in the face of stiff competition. "What will be difficult for Apple in China is countering Huawei's momentum and convincing loyal Apple users to upgrade while China's economy is still struggling with lower growth," MacEwan said.

Huawei's tri-foldable phone stirs Chinese pride but $2,800 price tag panned

Both the Mate XT and iPhone 16 will go on sale on Sept. 20, though the Mate XT is expected to be available only in China. "Apple hasn't fallen, but Huawei has truly risen again," commented one user on Weibo, China's equivalent to X. Another wrote: "Times are changing. U.S. sanctions have been in vain." A video that purports to show Apple store employees in China going to a Huawei store to watch the Huawei product launch also became the No. 2 trending item on Weibo for 13 hours, garnering 91 million views and more than 6,600 comments. The launch of the Mate XT follows Huawei's re-emergence in the 5G premium smartphone market last year with its Mate 60 series and this year with its high-end Pura series phones that have domestically produced semiconductors. All have been celebrated in China as a triumph over U.S. sanctions that have, since 2019, prevented the company from accessing advanced U.S. chips and other technology. Washington sees Huawei as a national security risk - a charge that the company denies. U.S. sanctions have since broadened out to encompass export bans on highly advanced U.S. chips to all Chinese firms with Washington seeking to impede advances in technology for China's military. Huawei fans also noted that Apple has yet to announce an AI partner in China to power its iPhone 16 product range and Apple Intelligence, the company's AI software, will only be available in Chinese next year. Nationalistic pride notwithstanding, the Mate XT's starting price of 19,999 yuan was widely criticised as beyond the reach of ordinary consumers and insensitive at a time of sluggish economic growth when ordinary citizens are struggling with financial insecurity. Versions with more sophisticated features such as larger memory will cost as much as 23,999 yuan ($3,300). A Weibo poll on the Mate XT showed that only 966 of some 9,200 respondents said they planned to buy it. More than 4,700 said they were put off by the price while another 3,500 said they were not considering purchasing it at the moment. "No matter how much I like the product, the price tag just sounds crazy to me," said a person surnamed Xu at a Beijing Huawei store, describing himself as a Huawei loyalist. "Maybe Huawei isn't really targeting people like me," he added. (Reporting by Beijing newsroom; Editing by Anne Marie Roantree and Edwina Gibbs)