Mate XT or iPhone 16: Huawei's hardware gamble faces Apple's AI ...

Huawei and Apple are gearing up for a smartphone showdown. The Chinese tech giant has unveiled the Mate XT—a USD 2,800 smartphone, designed to wow the market just hours after Apple’s highly anticipated iPhone 16 debut. While both devices are set to launch on September 20, they represent two very different approaches to innovation, making this more than a simple head-to-head comparison.

Five years in the making

Huawei’s Mate XT isn’t your typical smartphone. It folds—not once, but twice. Imagine a screen that stretches like an accordion, expanding to a 10.2-inch display that’s as close to a tablet as you can get without actually carrying one. At USD 2,800, it’s a statement piece as much as a phone, and with over 4 million preorders, it’s clear that the audience for this kind of innovation is out there.

Richard Yu, Huawei’s executive director, said at the launch that the Mate XT stemmed from the tech giant’s ambition to introduce a product that everyone can imagine, but no one could make. According to Yu, it took Huawei’s team five years to crack the code. The trifold phone also packs artificial intelligence features—think text translation, cloud-based content generation, and photo editing—powered by Huawei’s own Kirin chips.

But here’s the rub: with that price tag and the complexities of folding-screen production, the Mate XT may struggle to dominate the market. It’s more likely to be seen as a symbol of Huawei’s engineering prowess rather than a major sales driver.

Promotional image of the Huawei Mate XT trifold smartphone. Image and header image source: Huawei. Apple’s iPhone 16 sticks to the familiar, but smarter

Apple’s not chasing foldables—at least not yet. The iPhone 16, launching on the same day as the Mate XT, sticks to the familiar slab form factor. What’s new is what’s inside: Apple Intelligence, the company’s AI-powered system designed to make its phones smarter and users’ life easier. The iPhone 16’s upgrades are subtle but meaningful: AI-enhanced photography, real-time text summarization, and a personal assistant that understands context, powered by Apple’s new A18 chip.

The iPhone 16 may not scream innovation the way the Mate XT does, but it’s a refined piece of hardware. It’s available in two sizes—6.1 inches and 6.7 inches—and starts at USD 799, making it far more accessible than Huawei’s offering. Apple knows its audience, and the iPhone 16’s combination of incremental improvements and AI features will likely resonate with the millions of users who don’t need a phone that folds but appreciate one that does more with less fuss.

The iPhone 16 resembles its predecessor in design but comes equipped with Apple Intelligence, enhancing the phone’s smart capabilities and overall utility for users. Image source: Apple.

The Mate XT and iPhone 16 represent two very different paths in smartphone evolution. Huawei’s gamble is on hardware—the trifold design is bold, transforming the phone into something new: part phone, part tablet. It’s meant for the tech savvy and those who want to own the future of smartphones today.

Apple’s story is more about refinement. The iPhone 16 doesn’t need to fold to impress. Instead, it’s loaded with AI-powered features that seamlessly integrate into everyday use. Apple’s bet is that AI will shape the future of how we interact with our devices. No flashy form factor, just powerful software doing the heavy lifting behind the scenes.

Price tags tell a story, too

At USD 2,800, the Mate XT is priced for a niche market of tech enthusiasts and early adopters. It’s a phone that turns heads but isn’t likely to land in the hands of everyday users. Apple, on the other hand, keeps the iPhone 16 within reach for a wider audience, starting at USD 799 for the base model and USD 1,199 for the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

The price difference reflects the companies’ strategies. Huawei is making a statement with the Mate XT, showcasing its technological lead in foldables. Apple, by contrast, is doubling down on broad appeal, making its AI features accessible to the masses.

In China: Apple slips, Huawei surges

While this global release is significant, the real battleground could very well be in China. Huawei has clawed its way back into the spotlight after years of sanctions that cut off access to global chip supplies. The Mate XT, built with homegrown tech, symbolizes Huawei’s comeback. It’s more than just a phone—it’s a point of national pride. In China, Huawei leads the foldable market, and this device reinforces that position.

Apple, on the other hand, is feeling the pressure. For the first time in years, Apple has dropped out of the top five smartphone vendors in China. Domestic brands like Huawei, Vivo, and Honor have grown in stature, and Apple’s iPhone 16 series is its attempt to fight back. But with Huawei’s Mate XT grabbing attention, the competition is heating up.

The Mate XT has turned heads, no doubt, but analysts are cautious about its long-term impact. The foldable market, while growing, remains small—it accounts for just a minute portion of the total smartphone market, and the Mate XT’s high price and limited production won’t change that overnight. Yet, the trifold concept is a technical achievement, and as senior researcher Will Wong from IDC pointed out to Reuters, “it’s telling the consumers that [Huawei’s] still the tech leader.”

Apple, meanwhile, is expected to keep its grip on the global market. The iPhone 16’s AI capabilities, ecosystem integration, and more affordable pricing will likely continue to drive sales outside of China.

Two companies, two futures

Huawei’s Mate XT and Apple’s iPhone 16 paint two very different pictures of where the smartphone market is heading. Huawei is betting on hardware innovation, hoping that foldables will catch on as a mainstream product. Apple is focused on refining its software, embedding AI deeper into everyday functions.

For Huawei, the Mate XT’s success isn’t just about sales—it’s about showing the world, and especially China, that it’s still in the game, sanctions or not. For Apple, the iPhone 16 is another step toward an AI-driven future, where the device doesn’t need to fold or flex—it just needs to work smarter.