SHENZHEN, China, Sept 20 (Askume) – Huawei and Apple’s latest smartphones went on sale in China on Friday, disappointing many fans of the Chinese companies as the much-anticipated handsets – priced more than double the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max – are not available to walk-in customers.
At a Huawei flagship store in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, some self-proclaimed Huawei “super fans” became angry when they were told that only those who pre-ordered could buy the new three-fold Mate XT.
“I have been here since 10pm last night because this tri-fold mobile phone first arrived. I am very happy to support my country,” said a college student surnamed Ye.
“But it’s very disappointing. They should have made it clear that we can’t buy it.”
It was a similar story at Huawei’s Wangfujing store in Beijing, where consumers were told that only those with confirmed pre-orders could buy the much-hyped phone. The phone folds on three sides like an accordion screen door.
A customer named Rui who came to Shenzhen to try out the Mate XT said: “I want to see what’s special about it, but it’s a bit big and not really practical.”
The disappointment came as some analysts warned that many Huawei Mate XT buyers could be left empty-handed due to supply chain disruptions, while others questioned the high cost of the phone amid an economic downturn.
Although Huawei’s executive chairman Yu Chengdong said at this month’s Mate XT launch event that the company had “turned science fiction into reality,” owning the phone remains a fantasy for many.
Pre-orders for the Mate XT 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 consulting firm IDC. “Pre-orders” do not require consumers to pay a deposit. Huawei has not said how many phones it has produced so far, nor how many customers will receive a Mate XT on launch day. Apple did not respond to a request for comment on Friday on the number of new iPhones available for sale in China.
A mobile phone seller at Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei electronics market said she was selling the most expensive version of the Mate XT, the one with the most memory, for 150,000 yuan ($21,290), while her store sold it for 23,999 yuan ($2,800).
Asked if he had sold it, he replied: “I’ve been asked, but it’s too expensive.”
Apple needs a Chinese AI partner
While Apple has had strong demand in China for years and the launch of new iPhones once caused a stir, sales have now fallen and the company’s quarterly ranking in the world’s second-largest economy has dropped from third to sixth.
Apple’s new smartphone launch in China has been lackluster as it has yet to announce an AI partner to power the 16s in China, and its AI software Apple Intelligence will only be available in Chinese next year.
Some Apple fans say the AI challenge isn’t a problem.
“Right now, the lack of artificial intelligence in the iPhone is not a big problem for me because it’s just a fluke,” said Shi, a customer who upgrades her iPhone every year.
When talking about Huawei’s new product, Xi said it is too expensive and “not suitable for ordinary customers.”
Huawei enjoys plenty of patriotic support in China, and fans have been impressed by how the company has overcome years of US export controls that initially hurt its smartphone business.
Analysts say the launch of the Mate XT highlights Huawei’s ability to tackle US sanctions, although the company’s mass production capabilities remain a key issue.
Lori Chang, senior analyst at Isaiah Research, said that based on recent investigations, key parts of the Huawei Mate XT, including the panel, cover glass and hinges, may have production problems.
(1 US dollar = 7.0460 yuan)
