Huawei’s Foldable Fiesta Begins at Home
China’s Newest Big Thing – Huawei Technologies flipped the switch on Wednesday, taking orders for the much‑anticipated 5G Mate X right in Shanghai. The company is giving its Chinese marketing a boost to make up for the sluggish sales abroad that have been hampered by U.S. trade sanctions.
Why the Delay?
Huawei’s little gem is a competition-ready rival to Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, coming to the market just a month after that Samsung device. Yet the launch date’s been pushed back twice this year, largely because the American blacklist slapped on the firm in May have rattled its tech supply chain.
Impact on Europe
- European sales take a hit – The restriction knocked the company’s smartphone business in Europe, its biggest overseas playground.
- China bounces back – In a bright silver lining, Huawei’s Q3 revenue shot up by 27% thanks to sharp sales in China and strong shipments of older models, pre‑May‑ban.
Launch & Pricing
The new phone will officially drop in China on Nov. 15, with prices starting at 16,999 yuan (roughly S$3,300). The global rollout is still in limbo, according to Huawei.
Security Worries & Android Issues
Washington keeps warning that Huawei’s telecom gear could be a security goldmine for Beijing. While the Shenzhen giant denies the claims, the U.S. ban has left Huawei unable to license the latest Android from Google, affecting the Mate 30 line launched last September.
Milestones & Numbers
He Gang, Huawei’s mobile division head, proudly shared that they’ve sold over 200 million phones in 2019, smashing the 2018 record by more than two months. The 5G Mate X, which was originally due in June, had its launch delayed to accommodate carrier certification tests.
