Huawei and Apple launched their latest smartphones in China on Friday, but many enthusiasts of the Chinese brand expressed disappointment that the highly anticipated $2,800 Mate XT model—priced more than double the iPhone 16 Pro Max—was not available for immediate purchase.
At Huawei's flagship store in Shenzhen, several self-identified "super fans" were frustrated to learn that only customers with confirmed pre-orders could purchase the tri-foldable Mate XT.
"I arrived at 10 p.m. last night because I was eager to support our country with this groundbreaking tri-folding phone," shared a university student named Ye. "This is really disappointing. They should have clearly communicated that we couldn't make a purchase."
A similar situation unfolded at the Huawei Wangfujing store in Beijing, where access to the much-anticipated Mate XT, which features a unique three-way fold like an accordion, was limited to those with confirmed pre-orders.
Reuters observed approximately 30 individuals waiting outside the Huawei store in Beijing, with a comparable number in Shenzhen. In contrast, around 100 people were seen queuing outside one of Apple's flagship stores in Beijing.
Rui, who had the opportunity to test the Mate XT in Shenzhen, remarked, "I wanted to understand the hype, but it's quite large and not very practical."
Analysts had previously cautioned that supply chain issues might leave potential Mate XT buyers disappointed, and many questioned the phone's steep price in a sluggish economic climate.
While Huawei's executive director Richard Yu claimed at the Mate XT's launch earlier this month that the company had transformed "science fiction into reality," owning one remains an unattainable dream for many.
At Huawei's flagship store in Shanghai, Yu noted that sales exceeded expectations, although he did not provide specific figures. He mentioned that the phone sold out in "seconds" and that Huawei was actively working to increase production capacity.
Pre-orders for the Mate XT have exceeded 6.5 million units, nearly double the approximately 3.9 million foldable smartphones that were shipped globally in the second quarter of this year, as reported by consultancy IDC. Notably, "pre-ordering" does not necessitate a deposit from consumers. Huawei has not disclosed the number of units produced to date or how many customers will receive the Mate XT on its launch day.
Apple has not provided a response regarding the availability of new iPhones for sale in China as of Friday.
On the Xianyu platform, owned by Alibaba, there were about 4,760 listings for the new Huawei phone, encompassing both sales and pre-orders, by Friday afternoon. The average listing price on the platform was 50,000 yuan ($7,089).
In the Huaqiangbei electronics market in Shenzhen, a vendor reported selling the premium version of the Mate XT, featuring the highest memory capacity, for 150,000 yuan ($21,290), significantly higher than the retail price of 23,999 yuan. Additionally, she was offering the $2,800 model for over $4,000.
When asked about sales, she mentioned, "A few inquiries have been made, but the price is prohibitively high."
According to a source familiar with the situation, Huawei is considering launching the phone in international markets in the first quarter of next year.
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Despite previously enjoying robust demand in China, where new iPhone releases would generate significant excitement, Apple has seen a decline in sales, resulting in a drop in its quarterly ranking from third to sixth place in the world's second-largest economy.
The launch of Apple's new smartphone has been overshadowed by the absence of an announced AI partner in China to enhance the 16s, with Apple Intelligence, its AI software, set to be available in Chinese only next year.
Some Apple enthusiasts have expressed that the AI issue is not a pressing concern.
"The absence of AI in iPhones isn't a significant worry for me at this moment; it feels more like a novelty rather than a necessity," stated a customer named Shi, who upgrades his iPhone every year.
In discussing Huawei's latest product, Shi remarked that it is priced too high and is "not intended for average consumers."
Huawei has garnered considerable patriotic backing in China, with supporters expressing admiration for the company's resilience in overcoming years of U.S. export restrictions that initially hindered its smartphone operations.
"Chinese citizens should rally behind Huawei. Our Huawei devices currently fall short in technology and chip capabilities, but this disparity highlights the need for our support," stated Jiang, a 60-year-old entrepreneur from Beijing.
The introduction of the Mate XT, which analysts suggest features a domestically-produced chipset, highlights Huawei's capacity to adapt to U.S. sanctions, although concerns about the company's mass production capabilities persist.
Recent assessments indicate that critical components of the Huawei Mate XT, such as the display, protective glass, and hinges, may be experiencing production yield challenges, according to Lori Chang, a senior analyst at Isaiah Research.