Huawei's latest smartphone has already racked up over three million pre-orders. HUAWEI
Huawei’s latest smartphone has sparked considerable excitement, with over three million pre-orders pouring in even before its official release. The Chinese tech giant is gearing up to unveil this new device on Tuesday, just hours after Apple reveals its latest iPhone 16.
Huawei, based in Shenzhen, has been making waves in the tech world, especially amid the ongoing rivalry between Washington and Beijing. The company has experienced a remarkable resurgence, thanks to successful models like the Mate 60 Pro and Mate X5. Despite facing U.S. sanctions, Huawei reported substantial increases in revenue and profit in August.
The latest model, the Mate XT tri-fold smartphone, began taking pre-orders on Saturday, signaling continued success for Huawei. Richard Yu, the chairman of Huawei’s consumer business, hinted at the upcoming launch on social media. He shared a partial image of the tri-fold phone and teased, “It’s an epoch-making product that others have only dreamed of but couldn’t achieve. After five years of dedication and investment, we’re making science fiction a reality. Stay tuned for Huawei’s masterpiece!”
Huawei’s product launch comes at a critical time, as Apple unveils the iPhone 16, which features generative artificial intelligence (AI) designed to enhance user experience. This new feature aims to encourage customers to upgrade their devices.
Amber Liu, a research manager at Canalys, noted that Huawei’s quick comeback poses a direct challenge to Apple, especially in China, which is Apple’s second-largest market. Chinese smartphone manufacturers have recently dominated the top five spots in domestic sales, pushing Apple to sixth place for the first time.
“The timing of Huawei and Apple’s product launches signals the beginning of a new competitive wave in the Chinese premium market,” Liu said. She highlighted that key competitive areas will include high-end products, software capabilities, and AI features.
Apple’s iPhone 16 will use generative AI to allow users to create text and images with natural-language prompts, but it is unclear whether the Mate XT will feature similar AI technology.
The Mate XT is rumoured to feature a double-folding structure and a large display, potentially over 10 inches in size. Jene Park, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, believes this could lead to significant changes in the display size of foldable phones, which typically range from seven to eight inches.
The success of Huawei’s launch will partly hinge on the phone’s price, which has not yet been disclosed. Analysts expect it to be priced high due to the expensive manufacturing process and its premium nature.
Huawei’s flagship smartphone sales surged by 72% in the first five months of 2024 compared to the previous year, reflecting the company’s determination to reclaim its top position despite U.S. restrictions. The U.S. government has long alleged that Huawei poses a national security risk, leading to restrictions that barred companies like Google from providing Huawei devices with Android OS. Despite these setbacks, Huawei has managed to bounce back and explore new ventures, including an electric sedan and AI technologies. Nvidia recently recognized Huawei as a significant competitor in AI processor production.
