Huawei and Apple launched their latest smartphones in China on Friday. However, many Huawei fans were left disappointed as the highly anticipated $2,800 Mate XT was not available for walk-in customers. This tri-foldable phone, priced at more than twice the cost of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, had limited availability for those who pre-ordered.
Disappointed Fans at Huawei Stores
At Huawei’s flagship store in Shenzhen, some fans expressed frustration after learning that only customers with confirmed pre-orders could purchase the Mate XT. A student named Ye, who waited overnight, was disappointed, saying, “They should have made it clear we can’t buy.”
A similar situation unfolded at Huawei’s store in Beijing, where access to the Mate XT was restricted to pre-order customers. Around 30 people were seen queuing at the store, while Apple’s Beijing shop had about 100 people waiting for the new iPhone.
Mixed Reactions to the Mate XT
Some who had the opportunity to test the Mate XT in Shenzhen were unimpressed. A customer surnamed Rui commented, “I wanted to see what the fuss is about, but it’s a bit big and not very practical.”
The phone’s limited availability comes amid concerns that supply chain issues could prevent many potential buyers from obtaining the device. Analysts also questioned the high price of the Mate XT, particularly during an economic slowdown.
Huawei’s Response and Market Impact
Despite these challenges, Huawei reported strong demand. Executive director Richard Yu stated that sales exceeded expectations and the phone sold out within seconds. Pre-orders for the Mate XT surpassed 6.5 million, nearly doubling the global foldable smartphone shipments in the second quarter of this year. However, the company has yet to disclose how many Mate XT units have been produced or how many customers received the device on launch day.
In Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei electronics market, some vendors were selling the most expensive version of the Mate XT at prices significantly higher than the retail value, with limited buyers due to the high costs.
Apple’s Position in China
Apple, once dominant in China, has seen its ranking drop from third to sixth in the Chinese smartphone market. While Apple’s new iPhone 16 Pro Max was released alongside Huawei’s Mate XT, its launch has been overshadowed by the lack of an AI partner in China. Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI software, will only be available in Chinese next year. Despite this, some Apple customers, like Shi, believe the absence of AI isn’t a significant issue yet.
Patriotic Support for Huawei
Huawei continues to receive strong patriotic support in China. Many Chinese consumers, like a business owner named Jiang, are eager to back Huawei despite its current technological and chip limitations. The launch of the Mate XT, which features a locally-made chipset, highlights the company’s resilience in overcoming US sanctions, although concerns about mass production remain.
(With Inputs from Reuters)
