Shoppers cannot buy Mate XT without pre-ordering, confirmation Glass, hinge production constraints slow output, analyst says Apple’s new iPhone yet to offer Chinese

Chinese smartphone makers Xiaomi and Honor appear ready to follow rival Huawei Technologies' lead by launching their own tri-fold models, as public records show that the two firms have each previously applied for a design patent on a double-hinged handset.

Over successive administrations, the U.S. government has used stiff trade restrictions to try to stifle the Chinese telecom giant Huawei. In turn, the company never misses an opportunity to show that it is still standing.

The phone is a piece of engineering marvel: when unfolded, the device measures only 3.6mm thick, making it the new thinnest portable computing device in the world. This slimness is needed, because when completely folded up, it is essentially three stacked layers, which then does increase thickness to 12.8mm.

Huawei enthusiasts were left disappointed as the anticipated $2,800 tri-foldable Mate XT was unavailable for walk-in customers upon its launch in China. Supply chain issues restricted availability to pre-order holders only.

Foldable phones have been very hit or miss over the past five years, and now Huawei is moving into uncharted territory. Begging the question of whether a tri-fold phone like the Huawei Mate XT is a trendsetter or a one-off.

Only users who put down a deposit during pre-order are getting the phone. Huawei started shipping the Mate XT Ultimate units, just 10 days after

It's Friday, so it's kind of natural for things to go a bit crazy, but I wasn't prepared for what you're about to read… and you aren't, either.