Huawei Kicks Off Mate XT Ultimate Shipments: The First Tri-Fold Smartphone Hits the Market, But Walk-In Buyers Wait
Huawei has officially begun shipping its much-anticipated Mate XT Ultimate, marking a new milestone as the world’s first tri-fold smartphone. Excitement surrounding the innovative device has been building since its launch, and those who pre-ordered are starting to receive their handsets. However, the phone has not yet been made available for general sale, leaving walk-in customers disappointed as they eagerly wait for the chance to experience the revolutionary tri-fold technology firsthand.
The Tri-Fold Era Begins with the Mate XT Ultimate: Unprecedented Demand
Interest in the Mate XT Ultimate has been off the charts, with reports suggesting over 6.5 million registrations from eager customers. However, these registrations were non-binding, so actual sales figures are expected to be lower. Still, the level of demand is remarkable, especially when compared to the global foldable phone shipments, which reached 3.9 million units in Q2 of 2024 alone. While Huawei has dominated the attention of tech enthusiasts, Chinese customers hoping to purchase the phone in-store are still unable to do so due to limited stock and exclusive pre-orders.
Production Challenges and High Price Tag
Renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo offered insight into Huawei’s production ambitions for the Mate XT Ultimate. According to Kuo, Huawei initially planned to produce 500,000 units, but growing interest pushed the company to double its goal to 1 million units. Despite this optimistic target, the sheer complexity of manufacturing such a cutting-edge device may result in fewer units being available than anticipated.
The high-end Mate XT Ultimate comes with a price tag to match its groundbreaking technology. Starting at CNY 19,999 (around $2,800 or €2,500) for the 256GB model, it firmly positions itself in the luxury smartphone market. Powering the device is Huawei’s custom Kirin 9000S chipset, and it runs on HarmonyOS 4.2, entirely free from U.S. components and software. This marks a bold step for Huawei in its journey toward technological self-reliance and independence from Western technologies.
A Groundbreaking Design for the Future of Smartphones
The Mate XT Ultimate is expected to set significant precedents for smartphone design, particularly with its tri-fold display. Huawei’s innovation could potentially influence future foldable devices, pushing boundaries in both functionality and design. The success—or challenges—faced by the Mate XT Ultimate in the coming months will serve as a key indicator for the future of foldable technology.
As anticipation for the Mate XT Ultimate continues to grow, Huawei’s bold leap into tri-fold smartphones could reshape the competitive landscape and establish new benchmarks in the smartphone industry. For now, the spotlight remains on when Huawei will finally bring the device to open market sales and how it will handle the enormous demand.
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