Huawei Mate X2 folding phone unveiled despite chip supply worries
Huawei has unveiled a revamped foldable smartphone, which it says has a much smaller internal gap when closed than that of its main rival Samsung.
The Mate X2 marks a major redesign for the Chinese firm. When shut, the large display is now hidden inside the device rather than exposed over its exterior, as was the case with past generations.
But its price - about £2,000 ($2,800) - is likely to limit demand.
And US trade bans also threaten the firm's ability to produce them.
The company's consumer devices chief acknowledged the challenges it faced in his opening remarks about the new phone.
"US sanctions have posed great difficulties to our business operations and day-to-day work," Richard Yu said in a video recorded at the firm's headquarters near Shenzhen.
Unlike many of Huawei's past high-profile launches, this event was hosted in Mandarin Chinese rather than English, reflecting the fact that its sales are still growing in its home market and falling elsewhere.
But the firm has posted a subtitled version on YouTube.
Water drop cavity
Huawei says it developed a new robust hinge mechanism to safeguard its tablet-like display.
When closed, part of the flexible screen folds into a "water drop-shaped" cavity to prevent it coming under strain at the crease.
Mr Yu said an added benefit of the patented innovation was that the crease was also less visible when the screen was opened.
By contrast, the Samsung's Z Fold 2 angles its two halves to create an intentional gap along its spine.
Mr Yu also highlighted that Mate X2's 8-in (20.3cm) main screen was larger than its rival's 7.6-inch (19.3cm) equivalent, and claimed the dimensions of its exterior display - for when the phone is closed - was better suited for apps than its competitor.
In addition, he claimed the use of a new "nano-optical layer" meant the display was much less reflective.
But one company watcher said it was an unavoidable fact that Huawei had followed its rival's design lead.
"The original Mate X looked phenomenal with its soft flexible screen wrapped around the outside of the device, but it was instantly apparent that it was going to be extremely vulnerable," commented Ben Wood from CCS Insight.
"And all the ones that I saw failed early in their life."
2021-02-22 19:05:13
