Huawei Showed Off Its Foldable Phone, The Mate X, With Lots Of Confidence

Last Sunday, at MWC Barcelona, Huawei wowed its audiences when unveiling its foldable smartphone, the Mate X. Huawei CEO Richard Yu also announced its price tag, at $2,600.

Though we haven’t even mentioned the phone’s specs, its price has already lost one point to Samsung’s Galaxy Foldable which is priced at $1,980.

The Mate X appeared amid intensified scrutiny over Huawei for its equipment security and its relation to the Chinese government. Plus, just a couple months ago, its CEFO Meng Wanzhou was arrested in Canada for violating US regulation and currently awaiting extradition. The scandals have raising tensions between China and the US.

Bringing the foldable Mate X to MWC, Huawei also wants to prove that it’s more of an innovator than a spy supporter. At the world largest mobile show, Yu said:

Huawei CEO Richard Yu

Previously, the company president and founder Ren Zhangfei, denied any spying activity while claiming Meng’s arrest conceals political purposes.

Huawei CEO added that the company’s global consumer business was not affected by the accusations, “Our customers trust us,” said Yu.

The feeling of Mate X on hands

While the Galaxy Fold folds inward, Huawei’s Mate X folds outward to reveal a larger display, a CNET reported.

At the folded stage, the phone showcases a 6.6-inch screen on the front and a 6.38-inch display on the rear. When unfolded, the phone sports an 8-inch screen. When folding or unfolding the phone, you may feel a little stiff at the two sides. They are locked by a latch and to unfold the phone, you need to push a button on its pine.

According to Yu, the phone can survive up to 100,00 folds, which he said exceeds an average user’s rate. At the unfolded stage, the spine serves as an ergonomic grip that helps in holding the phone with one hand while taking a photo. Just don’t fold it back up it.

Creative Strategies analyst Carolina Milanesi said that the firm has made interesting choices for the design, making the Mate X not only look different, but also more eye-catching than the fold.

Since Wednesday launch of Samsung Galaxy Fold, MWC Barcelona has been all over the foldable. Even TCL, best known for TVs, unveiled its foldable phone, the Dragon Hinge.

Mate X and Galaxy Fold

During his speech at the press conference, Huawei’s CEO touted the phone’s 5G connection, something Galaxy Fold doesn’t have. As stated by the company, its Balong 5000 modem can reach a top speed twice as high as the X50, Qualcomm’s 5G modem.

Qualcomm refused to give comment on this claim.

Instead of a notch in the larger display, Huawei’s device offers a full screen. Instead, Huawei places its cameras on a thick rail on the right of the phone. The phone’s 8-inch display is also a bit larger than the Galaxy Fold’s.

Notably, Yu said Samsung move the launch date of its Galaxy Fold due to the Mate X. And while the Galaxy Fold will start shipping on April 26, the Mate X won’t be launched until the middle of the year.

Samsung was not available to reply to this comment.

Yu added that the phone won’t come to the US market due to political hurdles even though the carriers want to work with the company. In some other market, it will require a lot of proof to show that the Huawei Mate X is worth its price of $2,600.

While claiming Mate X’s capabilities justifies its price, Yu said the price will go down after at least two years so that it can join with its more mainstream devices.