Huawei latest innovation, the Mate XT tri-fold phone, has garnered over 2.7 million pre-orders, according to the company’s website on Monday. The Chinese tech giant opened pre-orders midday Saturday, more than two days before Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 16 launch.

Huawei Early Surge in Pre-Orders

The Mate XT will officially hit the market on September 20, but the rush of pre-orders suggests strong consumer interest. This marks Huawei’s continued push in the foldable smartphone market, an area Apple has yet to enter. The new Mate XT features a three-fold display design, setting it apart from other models in the market.

A Competitive Landscape

Huawei’s pre-order numbers come as Apple, which fell out of China’s top five smartphone vendors in Q2 2024, prepares to unveil the iPhone 16. According to Canalys, Huawei ranked fourth in the Chinese market, shipping 10.6 million smartphones in the second quarter. Despite Apple’s dominance in the global smartphone market, it shipped fewer phones in China, trailing behind Huawei and other domestic competitors.

As the Mate XT prepares for its September 10 unveiling, the competition between Apple and Huawei is expected to heat up, particularly in the foldable phone segment.