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Apple's iPhone 16 and Huawei’s tri-foldable phone to launch on the same day [UPDATED]

Published: Sep 02, 2024, 8:06 AM

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Huawei Mate x5 inner and cover display on a black background.

Huawei Mate X5 | Image credit – Huawei

Update from September 2, 2024, 08:00

Huawei has confirmed on the Chinese social media platform Weibo (translated source) that it will host the Extraordinary Brand Ceremony and the Hongmeng Intelligent Driving New Product Launch Conference on September 10 in China. During this event, the world’s first tri-fold device is indeed expected to be unveiled, as hinted by Richard Yu, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group.

Huawei’s most leading, innovative and disruptive product is here! This is an epoch-making product that others have thought of but cannot make. After 5 years of persistence and investment, we have turned science fiction into reality. Huawei’s pinnacle work, please stay tuned!

– Richard Yu, Huawei’s Executive Director, September 2024

Original story from September 2, 2024 follows below:

We have known for a while that Huawei has been prepping to unveil the world’s first tri-fold smartphone this month, and it seems the Chinese tech giant has finally locked in a date. Interestingly, it coincides with another major launch already on the calendar.

The first tri-fold smartphone to debut at the same time as iPhone 16

Renowned leaker Ice Universe, known for reliable mobile industry tips, recently shared a promo image for Huawei’s upcoming event set for September 10 in China. As the image itself suggests, during this event, the company is likely to unveil the world’s first tri-fold smartphone, coinciding with the launch of the iPhone 16 series.

Huawei is about to release the world's first three-fold mobile phone, which will be released at the same time as the iPhone 16 series. pic.twitter.com/ojuoUKuyg2
— ICE UNIVERSE (@UniverseIce) September 2, 2024

Apple's "It's Glowtime" event is set for Monday, September 9 this year, but in a surprising twist, Huawei has scheduled its own event on the same day. Since China is 15 hours ahead of California, Huawei's September 10 event in China actually falls on September 9 in the US – when Apple will be hosting its event in Cupertino.

So, in just one day, we are looking at major releases from both Apple and Huawei. Is Huawei trying to upstage the iPhone 16 series with the debut of the first-ever tri-fold phone? Probably. However, Huawei’s new foldable will likely be exclusive to China, at least at first. Still, I think it is exciting to see tri-foldables moving beyond the prototype phase and making their way into the real world.

September is shaping up to be a busy month for smartphone makers. Apple is gearing up to unveil not just the iPhone 16, but also:

Meanwhile, the tri-fold device that we have already seen in the hands of Huawei’s former CEO Richard Yu on multiple occasions is finally making its debut. Rumor has it that this foldable could come with a hefty price tag of around $4,000, but we will have to wait and see what Huawei has planned.

As you can see, next week is going to be packed with new device launches, so be sure to stay tuned as we will be covering it all.

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Tsveta, a passionate technology enthusiast and accomplished playwright, combines her love for mobile technologies and writing to explore and reveal the transformative power of tech. From being an early follower of PhoneArena to relying exclusively on her smartphone for photography, she embraces the immense capabilities of compact devices in our daily lives. With a Journalism degree and an explorative spirit, Tsveta not only provides expert insights into the world of gadgets and smartphones but also shares a unique perspective shaped by her diverse interests in travel, culture, and visual storytelling.