Following the release of Apple's AI iPhone, Huawei unveiled the first trifold smartphone in history

According to News.Az, which cites AFP, the revelation was made just hours after US competitor Apple unveiled its new iPhone with an AI focus.

At the company's headquarters in the southern city of Shenzhen, Huawei executive Richard Yu made an official keynote address introducing the Mate XT.

The Mate XT was initially intended to be a high-end phone for a specific market, but prior to its release, more than three million people expressed interest in purchasing one.

The phone is officially going on sale on September 20. It is marketed with a sleek red and gold look.

According to the company, prices start at 19,999 yuan ($2,800).

During the speech, Yu stated, "Huawei has always been a leader in the foldable phone industry."

"This is the world's first triple-folding phone," he remarked.

"We have put in a huge amount of effort into solving the problems regarding mass production and product reliability," he continued.

Its release coincides with the announcement by Apple, a rival of Huawei in the technology race, of its iPhone 16, which is designed for generative artificial intelligence.

According to a recent estimate by research firm Canalys, Huawei is currently the fourth-largest smartphone manufacturer in China, shipping 10.6 million units in the most recent quarter.

Prior to getting entangled in a tech conflict between Beijing and Washington, Huawei was the biggest domestic smartphone manufacturer in the nation.

US sanctions prevented it from accessing US technology and severely damaged its smartphone business, but it unexpectedly returned last year with cellphones that used chips produced in the country.

With more than half of the Chinese market share in the first half of 2024, it is also the best-selling foldable phone in China.