Huawei MateXT Pre-Orders Surpass Apple iPhone 16: Can the Path to High-End for Chinese Smartphones Be Paved?

Huawei MateXT Pre-Orders Surpass Apple iPhone 16: Can the Path to High-End for Chinese Smartphones Be Paved?Since the launch of the Apple iPhone 16 series, online criticism has been relentless. Luo Yonghao, a prominent figure in the tech industry, bluntly stated that the iPhone 16 lacked innovation

Huawei MateXT Pre-Orders Surpass Apple iPhone 16: Can the Path to High-End for Chinese Smartphones Be Paved?

Since the launch of the Apple iPhone 16 series, online criticism has been relentless. Luo Yonghao, a prominent figure in the tech industry, bluntly stated that the iPhone 16 lacked innovation. However, to everyone's surprise, the iPhone 16 series has once again become a massive hit, selling out instantly during pre-orders. The overwhelming demand even led to the crash of Apple's official website. Official figures show that pre-orders for the iPhone 16 series have surpassed 1.87 million, and the number continues to climb. As a result, multiple versions of the iPhone 16 are already listed as out of stock.

Facing Apple's aggressive momentum, Huawei, the "national pride," is not backing down. Beyond launching the world's first tri-folding screen phone, the company strategically chose to coincide its official sales date with Apple's. On September 20th, both the iPhone 16 and Huawei's tri-folding phone will be available, prompting a key question: how do Huawei's pre-order figures compare to Apple's?

A Steep Gap in Pre-Orders Between Apple and Huawei

Since the passing of Steve Jobs, Apple's phone innovation has increasingly stagnated. It's been noticeable since the iPhone 6 series, with nearly every release drawing criticism for lacking novelty. The narrative of "Apple resting on its laurels" amplified across social media platforms, particularly in the Chinese market. Apple has also been accused of neglecting consumer needs in China. In the face of the strong rise of domestic brands like Huawei and Xiaomi, Apple, unable to consistently meet consumer expectations and demands, has seen its appeal dwindle in the Chinese market.

Take the newly released iPhone 16 series, for instance. Luo Yonghao mocked, "Is simply rotating the iPhone 13's two cameras 45 degrees enough for a new generation?" He went further, stating that if such a design were presented at his company, those responsible would be fired.

For Apple, releasing a new iPhone annually while trying to balance technological upgrades with aesthetic improvements is indeed a challenge. Rather than genuine innovation, it's more accurate to say that Apple has been "forced to play the hand they are dealt," pressured both by upper management and consumer expectations to deliver something new.

Perhaps Apple has reached its peak. Looking at the changes in the iPhone 14, 15, and 16 series, Apple seems to have run out of genuine innovation, resorting to tinkering with materials or pixel upgrades. The biggest innovation in the iPhone 16 series is the addition of a physical button to control the camera. Remember, Apple's initial success was driven by its near all-screen touch interface that replaced the physical keyboard.

Fast forward through the years, and Apple, in pursuit of so-called innovation, has taken a step back. This has resulted in only 1.87 million pre-orders for the iPhone 16 series on the official website.

In contrast, Huawei, our "national pride," has absolutely crushed Apple in pre-orders with its Huawei MateXT, the world's first tri-folding screen phone. As of September 17th, Huawei Mall's official figures revealed that the Huawei MateXT "Exceptional Master," priced at 19,999 yuan (approximately $2,700), had attracted a staggering 6.26 million pre-orders, significantly surpassing Apple's 1.87 million. This underscores that with technology and innovation, Chinese smartphones can carve out a high-end path, potentially surpassing Apple.

It's worth noting that the Huawei MateXT "Exceptional Master," in its top configuration, costs a hefty 23,999 yuan (approximately $3,200), a price tag exceeding many high-performance laptops. But Huawei's groundbreaking tri-folding screen phone offers exceptional value. The innovative tri-folding design unfolds to a massive 10.2-inch screen, larger than many tablets. Crucially, while implementing this revolutionary concept, the MateXT maintains an incredibly slim profile, just 3.6 millimeters thick when unfolded, making it the world's thinnest foldable phone. Furthermore, this phone boasts the Huawei "Tian Gong" hinge system, a globally pioneering technology that made mass production of the tri-folding phone possible.

Although the MateXT's pricing is relatively fair, the 19,999 yuan starting price has discouraged some loyal Huawei fans. Some netizens have expressed dissatisfaction with the pricing, claiming that Huawei has become inflated and deviated from its affordability, leaning toward the high-end segment. This perspective is undeniably narrow. Evaluating a situation requires a dialectical approach; just because Huawei has introduced a phone with a high price tag doesn't mean it has abandoned affordability. Huawei's other series phones remain very affordable, and the company's release of the tri-folding phone serves two purposes: demonstrating the potential for Chinese smartphones to reach the high-end market and symbolizing the rise of domestic brands.

Zhou Hongyi, founder and CEO of 360, has come out in support of Huawei, and many domestic consumers are quite satisfied with the MateXT. The phone is currently experiencing significant price premiums on e-commerce platforms due to supply and demand issues. On platforms such as DeWu and Xianyu, a MateXT "Exceptional Master" can be found with markups of 10,000 to 30,000 yuan (approximately $1,350 to $4,000). Some merchants have even listed prices as high as 99,990 yuan (approximately $13,500). While these inflated prices likely won't last as the hype subsides, they highlight that Huawei has carved its own unique path.

The world's first tri-folding screen phone is just one example of Huawei's lead in shaping the global smartphone industry. We believe that with Huawei's continued efforts, Chinese smartphones have the potential to reach even greater heights!

Primary Sources:

1. Original article published on Red Star News on September 14, 2024, titled "Apple's Website Crashes! iPhone 16 is Sold Out Instantly! Pre-Orders Exceed 1.87 Million."

2. Original article published on Daily Economic News on September 10, 2024, titled "Huawei Officially Launches World's First Tri-Folding Screen Phone, Starting at 19,999 Yuan, Highest Price at 23,999 Yuan! Pre-Orders Exceed 3.84 Million."

3. Original article published on Cover News on September 17, 2024, titled "Huawei Tri-Folding Phone Reaches 6.26 Million Pre-Orders in 10 Days."

4. Original article published on Jimu News on September 10, 2024, titled "Huawei Officially Launches World's First Tri-Folding Screen Phone, Starting at 19,999 Yuan, Yu Chengdong: Rewriting Industry History, Breaking Three Records."

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