Discontent Among Huawei ‘Super Fans’ After Limited $2,800 Phone Launch Falls Short

SHENZHEN, China, Sept 20 (Reuters) - The highly anticipated launch of Huawei and Apple’s latest smartphones took place in China on Friday, but the excitement surrounding Huawei’s new tri-foldable Mate XT was dampened for many eager customers. Priced at $2,800—significantly higher than Apple’s iPhone 16 Pro Max—fans were disappointed to find that the Mate XT was not available for walk-in purchases.

At Huawei's flagship store in Shenzhen, many customers, some identifying themselves as "super fans," expressed their frustration after learning that only those with confirmed pre-orders could buy the Mate XT. A university student named Ye, who had waited in line since 10 p.m. the night before, voiced their discontent, stating, "This is very disappointing. They should have made it clear we can’t buy."

The situation was mirrored at Huawei's Wangfujing store in Beijing, where access to the much-hyped Mate XT was restricted similarly. Outside, a queue of around 30 people awaited their chance, while in contrast, about 100 customers were seen lining up outside one of Apple's major stores in Beijing. The disparity in foot traffic between the two brands highlights the competitive nature of the smartphone market in China.

Some early testers of the Mate XT, like Rui in Shenzhen, noted the device's size and practicality concerns. Rui remarked, "I wanted to see what the fuss is about, but it's a bit big, not very practical really." Analysts had previously warned that supply chain constraints could impact the availability of the Mate XT, which compounded concerns over its steep price amid a sluggish economic climate.

Huawei executive director Richard Yu claimed that sales were "better than expected" during a visit to the Shanghai flagship store, where he reported that devices sold out within "seconds." However, the company did not disclose how many units had been produced or how many customers would receive their phones on launch day. This lack of clarity adds to the air of mystery surrounding the product's availability.

In terms of demand, the Mate XT has garnered a staggering number of pre-orders, surpassing 6.5 million units—almost double the approximately 3.9 million foldable smartphones shipped globally in the second quarter of this year, according to consultancy IDC. Interestingly, the pre-order process does not require consumers to put down a deposit, which may explain the high number of sign-ups.

The excitement over the Mate XT was evident in various online platforms as well. On Alibaba's Xianyu marketplace, there were about 4,760 listings for the new Huawei phone—both for immediate sale and pre-orders—by Friday afternoon. The average asking price on this platform reached an eye-watering 50,000 yuan ($7,089), indicating a significant markup by resellers capitalizing on the high demand.

At the Huaqiangbei electronics market in Shenzhen, vendors reported selling the Mate XT for exorbitant prices, with the most expensive model, equipped with high memory, listed at 150,000 yuan ($21,290), while the standard $2,800 model was being offered for over $4,000. These inflated prices underscore the high demand and the speculative market that surrounds new technology launches in China.

As the launch day unfolds, both Huawei and Apple continue to draw intense consumer interest, reflecting the ongoing challenges and shifting dynamics in the highly competitive smartphone sector. With Huawei's innovative offerings and Apple's established brand loyalty, the race for consumer attention remains fiercely contested. The Mate XT’s unique folding design and advanced features aim to captivate tech enthusiasts, but questions about practicality and price may influence broader market acceptance as the days progress.