Huawei's latest tri-foldable smartphone has sparked a wave of national pride in China, with social media buzzing as supporters celebrate its potential to surpass Apple in innovation, despite the challenges posed by U.S. sanctions. However, the device's steep price of $2,800 has raised some eyebrows.

The Chinese tech leader introduced the Mate XT, the first tri-foldable phone in the industry, just hours after Apple launched its AI-enhanced iPhone 16 series.

Both the Mate XT and iPhone 16 are set to hit the market on September 20, although the Mate XT is anticipated to be available exclusively in China.

"Apple hasn't declined, but Huawei has certainly made a significant comeback," remarked one user on Weibo, China's version of X.

Another user stated: "The landscape is shifting. U.S. sanctions have proven ineffective."

A video claiming to show Apple store employees in China visiting a Huawei store to witness the product launch also became the second most trending topic on Weibo for 13 hours, amassing 91 million views and over 6,600 comments.

The introduction of the Mate XT follows Huawei's resurgence in the premium 5G smartphone sector last year with its Mate 60 series and this year with its high-end Pura series, which feature domestically manufactured semiconductors.

All have been acknowledged in China as a victory against U.S. sanctions that have, since 2019, restricted the company’s access to advanced American chips and other technologies.

The U.S. government views Huawei as a potential national security threat, a claim the company refutes. The scope of U.S. sanctions has expanded to include export restrictions on cutting-edge American chips to all Chinese companies, as Washington aims to hinder technological advancements for China's military.

Supporters of Huawei have pointed out that Apple has not yet revealed an AI partner in China to enhance its iPhone 16 lineup, and that Apple Intelligence, the company's AI software, will only be available in Chinese starting next year.

Despite a sense of national pride, the starting price of the Mate XT at 19,999 yuan has faced significant criticism for being unaffordable for average consumers, especially during a period of economic stagnation when many citizens are experiencing financial difficulties.

Models with enhanced features, such as increased memory, will retail for as much as 23,999 yuan ($3,300).

A poll conducted on Weibo regarding the Mate XT indicated that only 966 out of approximately 9,200 participants expressed an intention to purchase it. Over 4,700 respondents cited the price as a deterrent, while another 3,500 indicated they were not considering a purchase at this time.

"I may be a fan of the brand, but that price is just outrageous to me," remarked an individual named Xu at a Huawei store in Beijing, identifying himself as a loyal customer.

"Perhaps Huawei isn't really aiming at consumers like me," he added.