This archive report was first published on 23 October 2019.
On October 23, 2019, Huawei announced the launch of its Mate X, a highly anticipated folding phone, in Shenzhen, China. The phone will be available in China starting November 15, 2019, with a price tag of 16,999 yuan ($2,400).
Unfortunately for global consumers, the Mate X will not be available outside of China at least for now. Huawei's strategy is based on carriers' 5G rollout in different regions, and the company is keen to see how the phone is received in China before launching it globally.
The Mate X features a unique design with a wraparound outside display that's accessible even when the phone is closed. This design makes it more usable as a conventional phone than Samsung's Galaxy Fold, but it also faces a greater durability challenge since the screen is constantly exposed.
The phone is powered by Huawei's Kirin 980 processor and features a dual-cell 4,500mAh battery that can reportedly be filled to 85% in half an hour with 55W fast charging. The screen is 8 inches diagonal when unfolded, while when folded, it's like having a 6.6-inch screen phone on the front and a 6.38-inch panel on the back.
For global consumers who are eager to get their hands on the Mate X, a little patience could pay off in the long run. Huawei has announced that a subsequent model, the Mate Xs, will be released in 2020 with updated specs, including the Kirin 990 chip.
It's worth noting that the Mate X will be running an open-source version of Android and won't offer the full range of Google apps and services due to Huawei's placement on the US watchlist.
