Huawei Technologies has witnessed an overwhelming response to its latest Mate XT smartphone, the world’s first tri-fold device, with over 3 million reservations just two days after pre-orders began. As of Monday afternoon, 3.04 million people have reserved their spot for the innovative 5G smartphone on Huawei’s official e-commerce platform, Vmall.com.
The Mate XT, equipped with advanced features and available in striking red and black color options, offers 16GB of RAM and two internal storage choices—512GB or 1 terabyte. Despite Huawei not yet disclosing the official price or full specifications of the device, its unique design and capabilities have already made it highly sought after.
Pre-orders on Vmall.com, which require no deposit, are set to close on September 19. However, those who have made reservations are not guaranteed immediate access to the Mate XT when sales officially begin on September 20. This scarcity has fueled the rise of a grey-market service, where buyers are paying between 100 and 600 yuan to ensure they can secure the handset.
Scalpers have further driven up the demand, listing the Mate XT for at least 20,000 yuan (US$2,821) on platforms like Xianyu, Alibaba’s online flea market. With Huawei keeping the device’s official pricing under wraps, this secondary market activity highlights the excitement and anticipation surrounding the tri-fold smartphone.
Huawei’s Mate XT represents a significant leap forward in smartphone design, and its rapid surge in pre-orders underscores the global appetite for cutting-edge technology, even as grey-market transactions emerge ahead of its release.