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The Chinese handset maker launched its new foldable device on the eve of the Mobile World Congress, a large gathering of the mobile industry in Barcelona. The Mate X is expected to compete with Samsung's recently announced Galaxy Fold, which priced at around $ 1,960 before taxes.
The cheapest version of Mate X costs $ 2,600, taxes included.
Comparisons between Samsung and Huawei phones do not stop there.
Huawei has made sure to highlight the 5G connectivity of the foldable phone, a technology at the center of its quest for global dominance in the smartphone market. Samsung will offer a 4G version and a 5G version.
At 8 inches, Huawei's phone expands to a larger screen than the Samsung Galaxy Fold, which extends to 7.3 inches.
In phone mode, Huawei is about 6.6 inches and the Samsung at 4.6 inches. But the Mate X is only 11 millimeters thick when folded, much less than Samsung's 17-millimeter Galaxy Fold.
Phone manufacturers have begun deploying folding phones with great success, but analysts remain skeptical.
"Whatever the innovation and technological breakthroughs of the new device, it will take much longer for a critical mass of consumers to reap the benefits of foldable phones and 5G technology," said Thomas Husson, a Forrester analyst.
Samsung and Huawei are convinced that phones that act as tablets will make their way.
The launch of Huawei has attracted huge crowds. Fans lined up in front of the meeting venue a few hours before the kickoff and those who could not enter watched the event outdoors on the big screen. Sometimes they applauded with enthusiasm.
"The Mate X clearly shows that Huawei is a leader in technological innovation," Husson said. "The new device has nothing to envy to the latest announcement of Samsung Galaxy Fold," he added.
Huawei did not make the new phones available to analysts and journalists were only allowed to look at the devices through windows, closely watched by security guards.
Samsung has announced plans to launch the Galaxy Fold on April 26. Huawei has not yet given a date.
Huawei did not hide that she compared herself to Samsung.
The South Korean rival holds the title of the world's leading smartphone maker and Huawei is keen to grab it.
At one point during the launch of Huawei, the two products were compared side by side on a giant screen.
Huawei has not mentioned the recent US security charges.
The United States says Huawei is a potential threat to national security. Last month, US prosecutors revealed criminal charges against the company, alleging that Huawei had stolen trade secrets and worked to circumvent US sanctions against Iran.
Huawei strongly denies these allegations and strives to persuade the world to use its 5G technology and not to yield to Washington's pressure.
"This is not something that should be decided by politics," said Huawei president Guo Ping on Sunday before the official launch of the Mobile World Congress.
Guo also said that Huawei must comply with Chinese law and that the company "will never dare, and will not dare, and will not be able to break any regulations" in the countries where it operates.
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