Huawei and Apple’s latest smartphones went on sale in China on Friday, with many fans of the Chinese company disappointed that its much-anticipated $2,800 model – more than twice the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max – was not available to walk-in customers. At Huawei’s flagship shop in the southern Chinese city of Shenzhen, some people describing themselves as “super fans” were upset that only those with confirmed pre-orders could buy the tri-foldable Mate XT.

“I’ve been here since 10pm last night because this three-folding phone has come out for the first time and I’m excited to support my country,” said a university student surnamed Ye. “But this is very disappointing. They should have made it clear that we can’t buy it.”

It was a similar story at the Huawei Wangfujing store in Beijing, where access to the much-hyped Mate XT – which folds in three ways like an accordion screen door – was restricted to those with confirmed pre-orders. Reuters saw about 30 people queuing outside a Huawei store in Beijing and a similar number in Shenzhen. About 100 people were seen queuing outside one of Apple’s main stores in Beijing. Rui, who tried out the Mate XT in Shenzhen, said: “I wanted to see why there is so much buzz, but it’s a bit big, not really very practical.”

Analysts had warned that potential Mate XT buyers could be left empty-handed due to supply chain constraints and others had questioned its high cost amid a sluggish economy. While Huawei executive director Richard Yu said at the Mate XT’s unveiling this month that the company had “turned science fiction into reality,” owning one remains a dream for many.

At Huawei’s flagship store in Shanghai, Yu said sales were “better than expected” but did not give details. He said the phone sold out in “seconds” and that Huawei was working to increase capacity.

According to consultancy IDC, pre-orders for the Mate XT have surpassed 6.5 million, almost double the roughly 3.9 million foldable smartphones shipped worldwide in the second quarter of this year. “Pre-orders” do not require consumers to put down any deposits. Huawei did not say how many phones have been produced so far or how many customers will receive the Mate XT on launch day.

Apple did not respond to a request for comment on how many new iPhones were available for sale in China on Friday. On the Alibaba-owned Xianyu platform, there were about 4,760 listings for new Huawei phones as of Friday afternoon — both for sale and pre-order. The average price of a phone on the platform was 50,000 yuan ($7,089).

A phone stall seller at Shenzhen’s Huaqiangbei electronics market said she was selling the most expensive version of the Mate XT – the one with the most memory – for 150,000 yuan ($21,290), up from 23,999 yuan in stores, while she was selling a $2,800 model for more than $4,000.

Asked if he has sold any of the phone, he replied: “Some people have asked, but it’s too expensive.” Huawei is exploring the possibility of launching the phone in overseas markets in the first quarter of next year, a person with knowledge of the matter said.

Apple needs an AI partner from China

While Apple has enjoyed strong demand for years in China, where new iPhone launches once caused a frenzy, its sales have slipped and its quarterly ranking in the world’s No. 2 economy has now fallen from third to sixth. Apple’s new smartphone launch has been hampered by the fact that it has not yet announced an AI partner in China to power the 16s, and Apple Intelligence, its AI software, will only be available in Chinese next year.

Some Apple fans said the AI ​​challenge is not an issue. “The lack of AI in the iPhone is not a big concern for me at the moment, as it is more like a gimmick at this stage,” said a customer named Shi who upgrades his iPhone every year. Talking about Huawei’s new offering, Shi said it is too expensive and “not for ordinary customers”.

Huawei has received significant patriotic support in China, with fans impressed by how the company has overcome years of export controls imposed by the United States that initially crippled its smartphone business. “The Chinese people need to support (Huawei). Our Huawei phones are currently behind in terms of technology and chips, but it is this gap that demands our support,” said Jiang, a 60-year-old businessman in Beijing.

Analysts say the launch of the Mate XT equipped with a locally manufactured chipset underscores Huawei’s ability to deal with US sanctions, although the company’s ability to mass produce it remains a key concern. Based on recent tests, key components of the Huawei Mate XT, including the panel, cover glass and hinges, may face production yield problems, said Lori Chang, a senior analyst at Isaiah Research.

($1 = 7.0460 yuan)

($1 = 7.0530 Chinese Yuan Renminbi)