Huawei Unveils $2,800 Tri-Foldable Phone, Stirring Chinese Pride but Raising Eyebrows Over Price

Huawei has once again captured the attention of the tech world by unveiling the Mate XT, the industry’s first tri-foldable phone, on Tuesday. The announcement came just hours after Apple introduced its iPhone 16 lineup, which is enhanced with artificial intelligence. Both the Mate XT and the iPhone 16 are set to go on sale on September 20, though the Mate XT will be available only in China.

The release of the Mate XT has sparked a wave of national pride in China, with many celebrating it as a significant achievement for Huawei in the face of ongoing U.S. sanctions. One user on Weibo, China’s equivalent to X, commented, “Apple hasn’t fallen, but Huawei has truly risen again.” Another user echoed this sentiment, saying, “Times are changing. U.S. sanctions have been in vain.”

A video that purportedly shows Apple store employees in China visiting a Huawei store to watch the Mate XT product launch has gone viral on Weibo, becoming the second most trending topic for 13 hours. The video garnered 91 million views and over 6,600 comments, reflecting the high level of interest in Huawei’s latest innovation.

Huawei’s Mate XT is seen as a continuation of the company’s resurgence in the premium smartphone market, following the success of its Mate 60 series last year and its high-end Pura series phones this year. These models have been celebrated in China as a triumph over U.S. sanctions, which have restricted Huawei’s access to advanced U.S. chips and other technology since 2019. Washington has labeled Huawei a national security risk, a charge the company denies. The sanctions have since expanded to include export bans on highly advanced U.S. chips to all Chinese firms, as the U.S. seeks to curb China’s technological advancements, particularly for its military.

However, despite the national pride associated with the Mate XT, its starting price of 19,999 yuan (approximately $2,800) has drawn widespread criticism. Many believe the price is too high for ordinary consumers, especially during a time of economic uncertainty in China. Versions of the Mate XT with more advanced features, such as larger memory, will cost as much as 23,999 yuan ($3,300).

A Weibo poll on the Mate XT revealed that out of approximately 9,200 respondents, only 966 said they planned to purchase the device. More than 4,700 respondents indicated that they were deterred by the high price, while another 3,500 said they were not considering buying it at the moment.

“No matter how much I like the product, the price tag just sounds crazy to me,” said a man named Xu, who described himself as a Huawei loyalist during a visit to a Huawei store in Beijing. “Maybe Huawei isn’t really targeting people like me,” he added, expressing disappointment over the phone’s high cost.

While the Mate XT has generated significant buzz and patriotic pride in China, the steep price may limit its appeal among the general public. As Huawei continues to navigate the challenges posed by U.S. sanctions, it remains to be seen how the Mate XT will perform in the competitive smartphone market.