Analysts on Tuesday said the international launch of Huawei's new foldable smartphone with three screens represented a symbolic victory for the Chinese technology giant, which has been the target of heavy restrictions in the United States.
At the launch event in Kuala Lumpur, the group said the Huawei Mate XT consists of three screens, folds twice and is the thinnest foldable phone, with a 25.4mm screen, similar to an iPad from US-based Apple.
"At the moment, Huawei is the only innovator in triple-screen design models," said Bryan Ma, an analyst at market research firm International Data Corporation.
Huawei achieved this position despite not having access to advanced semiconductors or Google services, as dictated by the United States government.
"All these things have basically been big obstacles for Huawei," Ma said, adding that the "resurgence we are seeing is a victory."
Huawei, China's first global technology brand, is at the center of a US-China battle for trade and technology dominance. In 2019, Washington cut off Huawei's access to US components and technology, including Google and other mobile services, making Huawei models less attractive to users. It also blocked global suppliers from using U.S. technology to produce components for the company.
US authorities have deemed Huawei a security risk, a claim the company has denied. China's government has accused Washington of misusing the concept of national security to contain a rising competitor to US technology companies.
Huawei announced the Mate XT on September 20 last year, the same day Apple launched its iPhone 16 series in global markets.
At the Kuala Lumpur event, Huawei also unveiled its MatePad Pro tablet and Free Arc, its first open-ear headphones, and other wearable devices.
While Huawei's high-end devices showcase its technological prowess, its long-term success remains uncertain given ongoing challenges related to global supply chain constraints, semiconductor availability and limitations on access to software, said Ruby Lu, an analyst at research firm TrendForce.
"The system's limitations, particularly the lack of Google Mobile Services, mean its potential in the international market remains limited," said Ruby Lu.
Huawei dominated the foldable phone market in China, with a 49% market share last year. In the global market, it had a 23% market share, trailing Samsung's 33% share, in 2024. IDC predicted that total shipments of foldable phones worldwide could rise to 45.7 million units by 2028, from more than 20 million last year.
While most major brands have entered the foldable segment, Lu said Apple has yet to launch a competing product.
"Once Apple enters the market, it is expected to significantly influence and stimulate further growth in the foldable phone industry," Lu added.
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