Huawei’s highly anticipated Mate XT smartphone went on sale in China on Friday, but many eager fans were left disappointed.
The tri-foldable device, priced at a hefty $2,800, was only available to customers who had pre-ordered the device.
At Huawei’s flagship stores in Shenzhen and Beijing, dozens of customers, some of whom had camped out overnight,were turned away. “I’ve been here since 10 p.m. last night,” said a university student surnamed Ye.
“This is very disappointing. They should have made it clear we can’t buy.”
The limited availability of the Mate XT has been attributed to supply chain constraints. Analysts had warned that many potential buyers might be unable to purchase the device immediately.
Additionally, the phone’s high price tag has raised concerns amid a slowing economy.Despite the challenges, Huawei executive director Richard Yu remains optimistic.
He stated that pre-orders for the Mate XT have surpassed 6.5 million, far exceeding the estimated 3.9 million foldable smartphones shipped worldwide in the second quarter of this year. “Pre-ordering” does not require consumers to put down a deposit.
Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max also went on sale in China on Friday. While there was a significant queue outside one of Apple’s main stores in Beijing, the company did not provide details on the number of phones available.
Boluwatife Enome
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