Huawei Mate X competes with Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, another smartphone with a foldable screen. (Express photo by Anuj Bhatia)
Chinese smartphone manufacturer Huawei has announced it is launching the Mate X in India in the second half of 2019. The arrival was confirmed by Wally Yang, who is the director of product marketing at Huawei, in interaction with select reporters in Delhi. Huawei originally revealed its Mate X foldable phone at MWC Barcelona last month.
“[This] device will be ready for a global launch in the middle of this year, and our India team wants to bring the Mate X this year, probably in the second half,” Yang told indianexpress.com. He didn’t reveal the price of the foldable phone, but said the Mate X is targeted at early adopters and premium customers. Yang’s comment could indicate that Huawei’s first foldable phone will be positioned as an ultra high-end device.
The Mate X competes with Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, which was unveiled alongside the Galaxy S10 last month. Unlike the Galaxy Fold, the Mate X folds backward and looks like a regular smartphone. This design also makes the Mate X slimmer and lighter than the Galaxy Fold. Yang also emphasized that the Huawei Mate X is just 11mm thin, and there’s no gap between the two halves of the phone.
Huawei said it took the company three years to design the hinge system, dubbed a “Falcon Wing” design. The hinge features 100 components and because of that, the Mate X can be transformed from a smartphone to a tablet. The stretchable hinge also houses a Leica-branded camera system.
Wally Yang, Product Marketing Director, Huawei, talks about the Mate X foldable phone at a press briefing in Delhi. (Express photo by Anuj Bhatia)
The phone is powered by a Kirin 980 processor and Balong 5000 chipset, which supports 5G. The company claims that 1GB movie can be downloaded in just 3 seconds. It has two batteries, which, in total measure up to 4500mAh and includes a 55W Super Charge support. Read our first look of Mate X here.
Internationally, the Mate X will sell for 2,299 euros ($2,600) when it goes on sale by mid-year in Europe. That’s way more expensive than Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, which costs at nearly $2000. The latter smartphone might come to India as well, but its release date is still shrouded in mystery.
Story continues below this ad
Foldable phones are already seen as the next big thing in the saturated smartphone market worldwide, although industry insiders believe the market for such devices will be limited initially due to sky high prices. Other than Huawei and Samsung, Motorola, Xiaomi, Oppo and TCL have confirmed to be working on foldable phones. Google and Apple, meanwhile, have filed multiple patents for the device with a foldable screen.
Anuj Bhatia is a seasoned personal technology writer at indianexpress.com with a career spanning over a decade. Active in the domain since 2011, he has established himself as a distinct voice in tech journalism, specializing in long-form narratives that bridge the gap between complex innovation and consumer lifestyle.
Experience & Career: Anuj has been a key contributor to The Indian Express since late 2016. Prior to his current tenure, he served as a Senior Tech Writer at My Mobile magazine and held a role as a reviewer and tech writer at Gizbot. His professional trajectory reflects a rigorous commitment to technology reporting, backed by a postgraduate degree from Banaras Hindu University.
Expertise & Focus Areas: Anuj’s reporting covers the spectrum of personal technology, characterized by a unique blend of modern analysis and historical context. His key focus areas include:
Core Technology: Comprehensive coverage of smartphones, personal computers, apps, and lifestyle tech.
Deep-Dive Narratives: Specializes in composing longer-form feature articles and explainers that explore the intersection of history, technology, and popular culture.
Global & Local Scope: Reports extensively on major international product launches from industry titans like Apple and Google, while simultaneously covering the ecosystem of indie and home-grown tech startups.
Niche Interests: A dedicated focus on vintage technology and retro gaming, offering readers a nostalgic yet analytical perspective on the evolution of tech.
Authoritativeness & Trust
Anuj is a trusted voice in the industry, recognized for his ability to de-jargonize trending topics and provide context to rapid technological advancements. His authority is reinforced by his on-ground presence at major international tech conferences and his nuanced approach to product reviews. By balancing coverage of the world's most valuable tech brands with emerging startups, he offers a holistic and objective view of the global technology landscape.
Find all stories by Anuj Bhatia here.
You can find Anuj on Linkedin. ... Read More
3 min read
Huawei Mate X competes with Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, another smartphone with a foldable screen. (Express photo by Anuj Bhatia)
Wally Yang, Product Marketing Director, Huawei, talks about the Mate X foldable phone at a press briefing in Delhi. (Express photo by Anuj Bhatia)
