Huawei is set to unveil a new tri-fold smartphone that folds its screen twice next month. With the addition of a new chip and an external display, along with rising memory prices, analysts expect the starting price to exceed 4 million won.
According to China's IT industry on the 14th, Huawei plans to reveal the third-generation tri-fold smartphone 'Mate XT2' in September. Chinese IT tipster Ding Zhaoshuma predicted that the production cost of the Mate XT2 will rise significantly compared to its predecessor, leading to a price increase.
The expected starting price is around 20,000 yuan, which translates to approximately 4.2 million won at current exchange rates. This is about 2,000 yuan (roughly 420,000 won) higher than the Mate XTs, the previous model's 16GB/256GB version, which started at 17,999 yuan (about 3.79 million won).
It is also more expensive compared to Samsung Electronics' tri-fold phone. The domestic launch price for Samsung Electronics' 'Galaxy Z Tri-Fold', released in December last year with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage, was 3.594 million won. Compared to the expected price of the Mate XT2, there is a difference of over 600,000 won.
The reason for the price increase lies in product changes. The Mate XT2 is reportedly adopting a new U-shaped tri-fold structure instead of the previous S-shape. This design allows the entire foldable display to retract inside the device when folded, reducing the risk of exposure to external impacts or scratches.
An additional external display that can be used while the phone is folded is also expected to be added. This could reduce the inconvenience of having to unfold the device every time for tasks like checking calls, messages, or making QR code payments. However, adding another display will inevitably increase manufacturing costs. The application processor (AP), which serves as the smartphone's brain, is also expected to change. Locally, the 'Kirin 9050' series of next-generation Kirin chips is being discussed for inclusion in the Mate XT2.
Rising memory prices are also adding to cost pressures. With increased demand for memory centered around AI data centers, low-cost inventory secured earlier by smartphone manufacturers is gradually depleting. Analysts predict that from the second half of the year, the burden of rising component prices will fully materialize.
If launched as expected at around 20,000 yuan, the Mate XT2 will become one of the most expensive foldable smartphones in Huawei's history. As the company that pioneered the market by introducing the world's first commercial tri-fold phone, it remains to be seen whether Huawei can win consumer choice in the ultra-high-end tri-fold segment with a price tag over 600,000 won higher than Samsung Electronics'.
in TECH
