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The September 2024 claim that Huawei’s tri-fold sales estimates rose by 100% referred to an analyst doubling a shipment forecast for the Mate XT Ultimate Design—from 500,000 to 1 million units for 2024. It was not confirmation that Huawei had sold twice as many phones. Millions of people registered interest before launch, but those reservations required no deposit; later reporting put first-generation shipments at about 470,000 units by the end of the second quarter of 2025.
Which Huawei phone was the headline about?
The product was the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design, announced in September 2024. Huawei described it as the first commercially available tri-fold smartphone, based on products available commercially as of September 10, 2024. Its display can be used in three configurations: 6.4 inches folded, 7.9 inches partly opened, and 10.2 inches fully unfolded.
Huawei’s specifications list the China model with HarmonyOS 4.2. International-market pages list EMUI 14.2, so the software label depends on the market edition. Huawei lists the phone at about 298 grams without its screen protector, or about 306 grams with it. The large tablet-like display comes in a device that is heavy by ordinary phone standards.
What does a 100% rise in the estimate mean?
A September 2024 report said analyst Ming-Chi Kuo raised his estimate of Mate XT shipments for 2024 from 500,000 to 1 million units. One million is twice 500,000, so the forecast increased by 100%. This is a change in an analyst’s estimate, not a Huawei-confirmed result.
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| Measure | What was reported | What it does—and does not—show |
|---|---|---|
| Original 2024 estimate | 500,000 shipments | A reported analyst forecast, not a confirmed tally |
| Revised 2024 estimate | 1 million shipments | Twice the original forecast; not proof of completed sales |
| Reservations before launch | More than 3 million, with later reports putting the count above 4 million | Registrations of interest, not paid orders or shipments |
| First-generation sales reported later | About 470,000 units by the end of Q2 2025 | A later secondary report’s figure, not a disclosed audited Huawei tally |
The forecast story was reported by Android Headlines. It should not be rewritten as “Huawei doubled sales,” which confuses an estimate with a completed outcome.
Did millions of people buy or pre-order the phone?
No. Reuters reporting carried by Investing.com said Huawei’s reservation page had passed 3 million registrations before the launch, with subsequent reporting putting the number above 4 million. The reservations did not require a deposit. They show substantial attention, but they do not establish how many people completed a purchase, could obtain a unit, or ultimately kept one.
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- THE BRIGHTEST DISPLAY ON A GALAXY PHONE: Our brightest smartphone display² provides you with a comfortable view, whether you’re inside or outside. Watch movies, play games and scroll with ease no matter where you are.
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A reservation count can include duplicate or speculative registrations and people who later decide not to buy. It also does not show how many devices Huawei could manufacture. The distinction matters especially for a costly new design: strong interest can coexist with limited production and much lower shipments.
What later evidence says about sales
A 2025 Indian Express report said the first-generation Mate XT had generated more than $1.3 billion in revenue from approximately 470,000 units by the end of the second quarter of 2025. Those figures offer a later indication of commercial performance, but they are reported figures rather than a comprehensive audited sales disclosure in the cited coverage. They also refer to the Mate XT, not the later Mate XTs.
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The reported 470,000 units are close to the original 500,000 estimate, but the figures cover different things: one was a forecast for 2024, the other a later report covering sales through Q2 2025. They should not be treated as a like-for-like audited scorecard. The later report does, however, caution against presenting the revised 1-million estimate as an achieved result.
Why the phone drew attention—and why volume could still be limited
A distinctive device at an exceptional price
The Mate XT turns a phone-sized screen into a 10.2-inch workspace, a format that can help with reading, video and multitasking. Huawei’s international specifications list a 50-megapixel adjustable-aperture main camera, a 5,600-mAh typical battery and wired charging up to 66 W. These specifications help explain the device’s appeal to enthusiasts and buyers interested in phone-plus-tablet functionality.
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- SCREENSHARE FOR STREAMLINED ASSISTANCE: Intrigued by something you see? Go Live with Google Gemini, then screenshare or point your camera at it for additional info or assistance on the fly.¹
- DO AND VIEW MORE, ALL AT ONCE: With an 8” screen that allows you to view up to three windows at once, Galaxy Z Fold7 is the ultimate device for seeing and doing more.²
- ALL THE POWER AND SPEED YOU NEED Smoothly run your day with the power and speed of Galaxy Z Fold7. With its customized Snapdragon 8 Elite processor for Galaxy, you can stream your favorite shows, edit photos, scroll social feeds and more with ease.³
At launch, Reuters reported a starting price of 19,999 yuan—about $2,800—and described it as more than twice the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s starting price. That was a launch-era price, not a current universal retail price. A high price can produce substantial revenue from a relatively small number of devices while restricting the number of buyers.
Novelty and supply are different from mass-market demand
The tri-fold design gave Huawei a conspicuous engineering story and drew attention amid competition with Apple. But analysts quoted in launch coverage also pointed to high pricing and limited production. IDC analysts suggested the model might function more as a technology showcase than as a major-volume shipment driver. A product can be highly visible, difficult to obtain and strategically useful to its maker without becoming a mainstream seller.
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Reuters’ launch coverage, including reporting carried by Investing.com and ThePrint, provides the context for those analyst cautions. Strong reservations and a higher shipment forecast are evidence of unusually high interest; they do not resolve how much demand could convert into completed purchases under supply and price constraints.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What buyers should check before considering one
The Mate XT is a specialist import or regional purchase, not a universally available phone with identical support everywhere. Huawei subsequently marketed it in selected international markets, but availability, software and specifications vary. Before buying, check the official Huawei site for your country and confirm the following directly with the seller or carrier:
- Network fit: Compare the exact regional model’s supported bands with your carrier. Huawei’s cited international specification pages list LTE bands; do not assume 5G, eSIM, VoLTE, roaming or emergency-call support without confirmation for your market and model.
- Apps and services: Verify that the specific banking, payment, workplace, streaming, navigation and authentication apps you rely on work on that edition. APK installation compatibility is not the same as full Google-service support.
- Warranty and repairs: Confirm local warranty coverage, screen and hinge exclusions, authorized repair access and screen-protector replacement arrangements before purchase. A more complex folding mechanism can make damage and repair a more consequential risk.
- Total cost: Treat the 19,999-yuan launch price as historical context, not a current local quote. For an imported unit, account for taxes, shipping, reseller markup, warranty limitations and the cost or difficulty of returning it.
- Everyday handling: At about 298 grams before the protector, it is a heavy device. Consider whether the larger unfolded screen is worth the extra weight and the care a multi-panel folding design may require.
The Mate XT may suit an enthusiast or mobile multitasker who values a large display in one device and can verify local support. A book-style foldable generally offers a simpler route to a larger screen, while a clamshell prioritizes compactness; a conventional phone paired with a small tablet may be more practical for buyers focused on cost, repair access or a familiar app ecosystem. Current competitor prices and regional availability vary and are not established here.
How the story continued
Huawei held a launch event for the second-generation Mate XTs Ultimate Design on September 4, 2025, according to its official event page. The Mate XTs is a later generation; its launch should not be conflated with sales figures for the 2024 Mate XT.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
