The Unfazed Tech Giant: Huawei’s Defiant Unveiling of its Triple-Fold Phone on iPhone 16’s Launch Day

Huawei has announced an event on September 10th where the Chinese company intends to unveil the “Mate XT,” the world’s first tri-foldable smartphone. The timing of the event seems like a deliberate attempt to upstage Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 launch.

According to reports, the Huawei Mate XT’s screen size can reach approximately 10 inches when fully unfolded, akin to a tablet. Powered by Huawei’s proprietary HarmonyOS, the device supports advanced multitasking features such as three-screen interaction. It also offers a tablet-like writing experience when paired with a stylus, significantly enhancing productivity.

The tri-fold design of the Mate XT enables the device to be used in various modes: fully open for an immersive large-screen experience, fully folded like a regular smartphone, or partially folded to create a square-shaped display similar to current mainstream foldable phones.

Huawei’s CEO, Richard Yu, has described the device as the company’s most innovative and groundbreaking product, the result of five years of research and development. “This is a product that others may have imagined but couldn’t turn into reality. We’ve turned science fiction into reality. Stay tuned for Huawei’s masterpiece!”

The concept of a tri-foldable device is not new in recent years, but Huawei evidently believes they can bring such a device to market, despite analyst Ross Young of DSCC (Display Supply Chain Consultants) suggesting it will be the most expensive smartphone ever. Huawei’s Consumer and Automotive CEO, Richard Yu, referred to it as a “generational product.”

Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event will take place at midnight on September 10th (Vietnam time) and is expected to last about two hours. The iPhone 16 launch will be the highlight of this event. In contrast, Huawei’s event is scheduled for 1:30 PM on the same day—just about ten hours after Apple’s event concludes. In addition to the foldable phone, Huawei is also expected to announce a new smartwatch and an electric car on stage.

Huawei’s recent recovery has significantly challenged Apple’s position in the Chinese smartphone market. According to research firm Canalys, Apple’s standing in China has declined, with the company falling out of the top 5 smartphone providers by market share in Q2 2023.

In contrast, Huawei has witnessed significant growth during the same period. The company saw a 41% year-over-year increase in smartphone sales in China, marking the fastest growth rate among the top five domestic brands.

Apple is not expected to release a foldable iPhone until 2027, according to the Taiwanese research firm TrendForce. Instead, Apple is anticipated to launch a large-screen iPad or MacBook to initiate its entry into this product category.