Five days before Apple's scheduled reveal of the iPhone 17, Huawei stepped onto the stage in Shenzhen with the Mate XTs — its second trifold smartphone — a gesture that speaks less to product launches and more to the ancient rhythm of empires staking their ground. Built on homegrown silicon and a proprietary operating system born of necessity after US sanctions, the device represents not merely a phone but a declaration: that constraint, met with ingenuity, can become its own kind of advantage. In a foldable market where Huawei stands alone as the only vendor actually shipping three-screen dev
Bangkok Post
· Sep 05, 2025
· technology
· 2 min read
High
Sourcing: Verified
Huawei launches affordable trifold phone ahead of Apple's iPhone 17 reveal
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Technology
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Bias & Framing
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Geopolitical Impact
🌎
Huawei's affordable trifold phone launch signals China's technological independence push and intensifies US-China tech competition in premium smartphone markets.
Escalation Risk
moderate
Confidence
HIGH
China
United States
Southeast Asia
South Korea
European Union
Huawei's self-developed Kirin chipset and HarmonyOS ecosystem demonstrate China's reduced reliance on US technology despite sanctions. The strategic timing before Apple's reveal and price undercutting reflect competitive positioning in premium markets. Samsung's trifold concepts suggest South Korea balancing between US alliance and Chinese market access. HarmonyOS's 14M users indicate growing alternative ecosystem adoption outside US-dominated Android/iOS duopoly.
Similar to 1980s Japanese electronics manufacturers challenging US/European dominance through affordable innovation, China now leverages domestic tech stacks to circumvent Western sanctions and establish alternative ecosystems.
Economic Lens
📈
Huawei's affordable trifold phone launch signals intensifying competition in premium smartphones, with pricing pressure and innovation focus shifting toward foldable technology ahead of Apple's iPhone 17 reveal.
Market Signal
mixed
Confidence
MED
Consumer Electronics Manufacturing
Smartphone Industry
Semiconductor/Chipset Design
Software/Operating Systems
Retail Technology
Supply Chain/Logistics
Consumers benefit from increased competition and lower foldable phone pricing (2,000 yuan reduction vs. predecessor). However, limited ecosystem compatibility outside China and dependence on proprietary HarmonyOS may restrict functionality for international users. Premium segment consumers face more affordable alternatives to traditional flagship phones.
Potential regulatory scrutiny on Huawei's ecosystem independence from US technology; possible trade policy responses regarding semiconductor self-sufficiency claims. Governments may accelerate domestic tech ecosystem development policies. App store policies may face review regarding desktop-to-mobile app compatibility standards.