A Huawei Mate XT smartphone was recently showcased in Hong Kong, marking a significant step for the company in rekindling its presence outside China.
On Tuesday, Huawei unveiled its trifold smartphone, the Mate XT, aiming to regain ground in international markets that have been challenging due to U.S. sanctions. The phone will launch with a price tag of 3,499 euros (around $3,660). Although specific countries for release haven’t been announced, Huawei is expected to provide updates soon.
The Mate XT created a buzz when it first appeared in China last year as the world’s first trifold phone. Unlike standard foldable phones, which bend once, the Mate XT can fold in two places. This setup allows it to display content across one, two, or three screens, enhancing user experience.
Huawei was once a leader in the smartphone market, competing fiercely with giants like Apple and Samsung. However, U.S. sanctions starting in 2019 severely restricted Huawei’s access to advanced chips and Google’s Android operating system. This led to a drastic drop in its market presence, leaving the company with just 0.3% of the smartphone market outside of China, according to International Data Corporation (IDC).
Despite these setbacks, Huawei has witnessed growth within China, with its market share increasing from 12% to 17% in 2024. This rebound started in late 2023 when Huawei released a smartphone featuring a surprisingly advanced chip, defying the expectations set by U.S. sanctions targeting China’s semiconductor access.
Huawei is now aiming to bring the same energy to international markets by focusing on high-end devices. However, industry experts suggest that the Mate XT will attract only a niche audience. Francisco Jeronimo from IDC pointed out that the phone’s high price likely targets wealthier customers looking for a status symbol rather than a top-performing device.
If Huawei manages to sell half a million Mate XTs, it could generate around $1.5 billion in revenue. However, success in international markets will hinge partially on the Mate XT’s operating system. Instead of the popular Google Android, the Mate XT uses an alternative that may limit access to widely-used apps like Netflix and others found in the Google Play Store.
The absence of Google support represents a major hurdle for Huawei. Neil Shah from Counterpoint Research emphasized that lacking access to Google’s ecosystem could deter mainstream buyers, especially those willing to invest significantly in a unique device but expecting all the conveniences of modern smartphones.
As Huawei takes this ambitious step forward, it will be interesting to see if the Mate XT can carve out a place in the competitive smartphone landscape once again.
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