Huawei's Mate XT tri-fold phone is in short supply despite its price being twice that of the iPhone 16 Pro Max

Huawei's Mate XT tri-fold phone attracts users' attention - Photo: REUTERS

On September 20, the latest smartphone lines from Apple and Huawei officially hit the shelves in China, with Huawei's Mate XT tri-fold phone priced at $2,800, double the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max - Apple's highest-end phone line.

However, analysts warn that Huawei's supply chain constraints could make the Mate XT difficult for many buyers to access.

Mate XT pre-orders have exceeded 6.5 million units, nearly double the roughly 3.9 million foldable smartphones shipped worldwide in the second quarter of this year, according to consultancy IDC. There is no pre-order requirement for the Mate XT.

The Mate XT is powered by the same Kirin 9010 5G processor as Huawei's Pura 70 smartphone launched in April, said Lori Chang, senior analyst at Isaiah Research.

Huawei's Mate XT tri-fold phone - Photo: GETTY IMAGES

According to Lori Chang, the production capacity of this processor is still a big problem for Huawei. In addition to the high production cost, the limited production capacity means that the company can only ship 500,000 units in the first phase. The main parts of the Mate XT including the panel, cover glass, and hinge are also facing similar problems.

Will Wong, a senior researcher at consulting firm IDC, said Huawei will face challenges in meeting the current volume of orders. However, this could also create a "scarcity" effect, which is beneficial for product marketing.

Meanwhile, Amber Liu, an analyst at research firm Canalys, said that sales of the Mate XT will likely not be as good as those of its predecessor, the Mate X5 foldable smartphone. However, the launch of the Mate XT marks a significant breakthrough and development.

Although both are foldable phones, the two lines differ in price, specifications, and the company's commitment to product value. The Mate X5 is still on sale for 11,500 yuan ($1,630). As of the second quarter of this year, Huawei has sold a total of 2.2 million Mate X5s.

At the Mate XT launch event this month, Huawei CEO Richard Yu said the product was a testament to turning “science fiction into reality.”

The inclusion of a domestically produced processor on the Mate XT shows that Huawei continues to consolidate its position as the leading smartphone manufacturer in China. Meanwhile, some Chinese consumers are unhappy with the lack of artificial intelligence (AI) features in Apple's iPhone 16 when distributed to this market of more than 1 billion people.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/dien-thoai-gap-ba-mate-xt-cua-huawei-khan-hang-du-gia-gap-doi-iphone-16-pro-max-20240920164613608.htm