Huawei's groundbreaking tri-fold smartphone has achieved remarkable market success despite its ultra-premium positioning. The Mate XT, which pioneered the tri-fold form factor in the mobile industry, represents a significant engineering achievement that consumers appear willing to pay a premium for, even as competitors prepare to enter this emerging segment.
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| Showcasing the innovative design of Huawei's tri-fold smartphone, the Mate XT, which is reshaping the mobile industry |
Sales Success Defies Premium Pricing
Huawei's Mate XT has reportedly crossed an impressive sales milestone of 400,000 units since its launch in September last year. This achievement is particularly noteworthy considering the device's luxury pricing, with models ranging from CNY 19,999 (approximately USD $2,720) for the base configuration to CNY 23,999 (USD $3,260) for the top-tier variant. When the device first launched, demand significantly outpaced supply, with third-party resellers reportedly listing the device for as much as CNY 50,000 (USD $6,800) – more than double the official retail price.
Product Configuration and Availability
The Mate XT is currently available in multiple configurations, though availability varies. The 16GB+512GB and 16GB+1TB models appear to be readily available at their respective price points, while the entry-level 16GB+256GB variant remains difficult to find. This scarcity could indicate either production constraints or strategic inventory management by Huawei, focusing on higher-margin configurations. The global version, which launched in February 2025, is exclusively available in the premium 16GB+1TB configuration, further emphasizing Huawei's positioning of this device as an ultra-premium offering.
Global Expansion
After its initial China launch, Huawei expanded the Mate XT's availability to international markets in February. The device is now available in several countries including Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. However, the global version faces additional challenges beyond its high price point, particularly the absence of Google services, which may limit its appeal in markets outside China where Google's ecosystem is deeply integrated into the Android experience.
Competitive Landscape
Huawei currently enjoys a first-mover advantage in the tri-fold smartphone category, but competition is on the horizon. Samsung is reportedly preparing to enter this space with its own triple-fold smartphone, internally designated as Q7M (model number SM-F968), expected to launch in October. Initial regulatory filings suggest Samsung may initially target China and South Korea, potentially using these markets to gauge demand before considering wider distribution. The entry of established competitors like Samsung will likely accelerate innovation in this emerging category while potentially putting pressure on pricing.
Market Implications
While 400,000 units would be considered modest for mainstream smartphones or even conventional foldables, it represents significant success for a first-generation device in an entirely new product category, especially at such premium price points. This suggests there is genuine consumer interest in pushing the boundaries of smartphone form factors, even when accompanied by substantial price premiums. As manufacturing processes mature and competition increases, we may see more accessible pricing in future iterations of tri-fold devices, potentially expanding their market reach beyond early adopters and tech enthusiasts.