Huawei launches Mate XT trifold phone globally with a $3,660 starting price

Huawei is taking its trifold phone global just six months after its successful debut in China. On Tuesday, the company announced the international launch of the Mate XT, priced at 3,499 euros ($3,660), as part of its push to reclaim ground in overseas markets after years of U.S. sanctions.

Huawei hasn’t specified which countries will get the device, though local announcements are expected. However, CNBC reported that it found listings for the phone in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

The Mate XT, first released in China in September 2023, made waves as the world’s first trifold phone. Unlike traditional foldable phones that bend once, this device folds at two points, giving users the option to use one, two, or all three screens. Huawei introduced the phone with a video campaign just ahead of Apple’s iPhone 16 launch. The Mate XT drew over 2.7 million preorders within hours of its launch in China in September 2024.

Huawei was once the top smartphone brand globally, going head-to-head with Apple and Samsung. That momentum was halted in 2019 when U.S. sanctions blocked its access to advanced chips and Google’s Android system, causing its international market share to plummet. According to IDC, Huawei now holds just 0.3% of the global smartphone market outside of China, CNBC reported.

Domestically, the story is different. Huawei’s market share in China climbed from 12% in 2023 to 17% this year, driven by the surprise release of a phone with an advanced chip last year. The chip caught many off guard since U.S. sanctions were designed to curb China’s access to high-end semiconductor tech.

Now, Huawei is hoping to replicate that success abroad with premium devices like the Mate XT.

“I think what they [Huawei] believe that the trifold can be a unique value proposition and because it is very expensive, they aim to target wealthy individuals who are more keen on showing off they have the money versus having the best experience you can get,” said Francisco Jeronimo, VP of data and analytics at IDC. He added that even if they sell half a million units, that could bring in $1.5 billion in revenue.

But Huawei faces a big challenge: the absence of Google services. While most Android users can easily download popular apps through the Google Play Store, Huawei’s AppGallery lacks many of these familiar options, which could limit the phone’s appeal outside China.

Huawei’s challenges are also echoed by Neil Shah, partner at Counterpoint Research.

“Lack of Google still is a ‘gaping hole’ for mainstream international market especially those who will pay top dollar for a tri-fold hardware but which want to run Netflix or Google’s Play Store or the latest cutting edge GenAI Google Gemini features,” Shah told CNBC

Huawei Tri-Fold Phone Mate XT Specifications:

Huawei Tri-Fold Phone Mate XT

• Display: 10-inch inner screen, punch-hole camera, folds into three sections with two hinges
• Camera: Similar to the Huawei Mate 50 Pro
• Processor: Huawei’s 5G system-on-a-chip
• Availability: Prototype ready, with mass production expected in Q3 or Q4 2024, codenamed “Iceland,” likely part of Huawei’s Mate series
• Other Details: Features the latest AI technologies, aiming to offer a more affordable price compared to previous foldable phones, with a September 2024 launch confirmed by Huawei’s CEO

Despite the high price, Huawei stores are already seeing long queues of eager buyers.

In the second quarter, Apple dropped out of the top five smartphone vendors in China, according to Canalys. This marked the first time domestic brands filled all five spots. Huawei secured the fourth position with 10.6 million smartphones shipped. Apple had shipped 10 million phones in the first quarter. While Huawei and its Chinese competitors offer folding and flip phones, Apple has yet to enter these segments.