Chinese tech giant Huawei is set to unveil its latest innovation in the foldable smartphone market, potentially reshaping the landscape of mobile devices. The company's upcoming launch event on September 10 is expected to introduce the world's first triple-fold smartphone, the Mate XT, alongside a range of electric vehicles and other smart devices.
The anticipation for Huawei's new flagship device has reached a fever pitch, with pre-orders for the Mate XT surpassing 2 million units within 24 hours of its announcement. This unprecedented demand has even sparked a gray market, with some buyers offering premiums of up to CNY15,000 (US$2,070) above the yet-to-be-announced retail price.
Industry analysts predict the Mate XT could be priced above CNY20,000, making it potentially the most expensive smartphone in history. The device is rumored to feature a 10-inch display when fully unfolded, with a thickness of less than 5mm, promising to redefine mobile computing and entertainment experiences.
Huawei's bold move comes as the global foldable smartphone market experiences significant growth. According to TechInsights, shipments of foldable devices increased by 85% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2024, with Huawei leading the pack, followed by Samsung Electronics and Vivo.
The race for foldable supremacy has intensified, with Samsung focusing on rollable display technology, while Chinese competitors like Xiaomi are also developing triple-fold devices. Xiaomi is rumored to be preparing a prototype for unveiling at the Mobile World Congress in February 2025.
IDC data shows that China's foldable smartphone market maintained triple-digit growth in the second quarter of 2024, with shipments reaching 2.57 million units. Huawei dominated the sector with a 41.7% market share.
The launch of the Mate XT is not just a technological milestone for Huawei but also a strategic move to revitalize its smartphone business, which has faced challenges in recent years due to U.S. sanctions. By combining innovative smartphone design with its upcoming electric vehicle lineup, Huawei aims to create a synergistic ecosystem that could propel its recovery in the consumer electronics market.
The screen panel, hinges, and pivot mechanisms are some of the most essential and expensive components in the foldable smartphone supply chain, accounting for around 70% of the overall production cost.
As the development of tri-fold screen devices advances, manufacturers need to work together to address key challenges. These include improving the durability of the screen and hinges under repeated folding, reducing the thickness when folded, optimizing battery life, and ensuring software compatibility.
Reports suggest that Huawei has ramped up its supply orders from component manufacturers such as Jarllytec and Fositek to meet the demand. Additionally, it is rumored that BOE will supply the screen panels for Huawei's tri-fold smartphone.
With the official unveiling just days away, all eyes are on Huawei to see if the Mate XT can live up to its hype and usher in a new era of mobile computing. As the company prepares to take this leap, the broader implications for the smartphone industry and Huawei's own trajectory in the global tech landscape hang in the balance.
