Huawei’s folding Mate X phone will start shipping in China next month for an eye-watering $2,400 while a global release is ‘under review’
- Huawei’s Mate X will go on sale in China next month according to the company
- The folding phone has yet to get an international release date
- Mate X was delayed twice this year in June and August
A folding phone from Chinese tech giant, Huawei, will finally go on sale next month after multiple delays.
The company announced that it will begin shipping its Mate X in China on November 15 and told The Verge that it is in the process of outlining plans for an international release.
‘Our strategy is based on carriers’ 5G roll out in different regions,’ Huawei told The Verge in a statement.
‘So far, Huawei has made the Huawei Mate X available in the China market on November 15. A global launch plan is under review. ‘
Huawei will launch the Mate X in China next month after multiple delays pushed the device’s release back
Huawei’s Mate X is among the first phones to pioneer a new breed of folding device and comes with a collapsible screen that can be used in two configurations.
When open, the display spans 8 inches and appears closer to a tablet. While closed, the phone folds onto itself for a more traditional-looking 6.6-inch display.
The biggest question for the Mate X will be durability since the phone’s screen wraps around its hinge on the exterior instead of folding inside.
This means the phone’s display is constantly exposed and could lead to problems similar to those faced by its direct competitor the Galaxy Fold.
Samsung’s Fold, which retails for $1,980, recently went on sale after myriad problems with the display that plagued initial test by reviewers.
Among the issues were dust and particles finding their way underneath the display and causing bumps and blemished in addition to interfering with the hinge mechanism.
The Mate X will look to avoid the flaws documented via Samsung’s select release of the Galaxy Fold
Another issue caused some reviewers to mistake the screen for a screen protector and attempt to peel it off of the device, a mistake the irreparably damage the screen.
For the Mate X, a hard release in China will proceed after multiple delays from the company throughout the last year.
The device was delayed in June and again in August, though it’s unclear exactly what was causing the postponement.
At the same time, Huawei has struggled with an ongoing trade dispute between the US and China that has seen the company essentially blacklisted by the US government.
