Apple’s iPhone 16 launch occasion falls on a Monday (September ninth) this yr, which is a primary for the iPhone. Apple routinely holds its mid-September iPhone keynotes on the primary Tuesday or Wednesday after Labor Day. This yr’s occasion was anticipated for September tenth, however Apple in all probability moved it to September ninth to keep away from subsequent Tuesday’s presidential debate.
That’s the factor about iPhone launch occasions. They’re crucial attraction in tech yearly in September. Most rivals avoid sharing the highlight with the iPhone. However this yr will probably be completely different as a result of one Chinese language smartphone vendor is able to problem Apple by internet hosting a product launch on the identical day.
Huawei gained’t simply launch a conventional smartphone to tackle the iPhone 16. It’ll unveil the world’s first commercially out there tri-fold smartphone.
We noticed a unique tri-fold idea only a few days in the past. Tecno unveiled the Phantom Final 2 tri-fold telephone final week. The handset options two hinges and three show sections. When unfolded, the telephone turns into a 10-inch pill. When folded, the Phantom Final 2 is thinner than the Galaxy Fold 6 that Samsung launched in mid-July.
The issue with the Phantom Final 2 is that it’s only a idea. It would work as Tecno says it does, but it surely gained’t be bought anyplace on the earth, not even in China.
I instructed you on the time that Huawei and Xiaomi are each rumored to unveil business tri-fold foldabels within the close to future. Huawei’s telephone appeared in leaked photographs a number of weeks in the past. Somebody noticed Huawei Chairman Richard Yu utilizing a tri-fold foldable a number of weeks in the past. This might solely be Huawei’s telephone.
Quick-forward to early September, and well-known leaker Ice Universe shared on-line an invitation for a Huawei press occasion set to happen on September tenth in China at 2:30 PM native time. As the next teaser reveals, we’re in all probability Huawei’s tri-fold handset. The leaker says as a lot, noting that the foldable will probably be unveiled similtaneously the iPhone 16 collection.
Apple’s iPhone 16 launch occasion is on September ninth at 10:00 AM PST. Contemplating the 15-hour distinction between California and China, the occasion will stream reside in China within the early hours of September tenth. Put otherwise, Huawei’s tri-fold foldable launch occasion will occur within the late hours of September ninth in California.
Irrespective of the way you have a look at it, it’s clear that Huawei and Apple will unveil new gadgets on the identical day, even when a number of hours aside.
The tri-fold handset is not going to be an actual iPhone 16 rival. It’ll be a distinct segment gadget that’s focusing on an much more restricted market than conventional foldables. Rumors say the handset would possibly value round $4,000. Contemplating the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Professional Fold value virtually $2,000 with tax, a tri-fold gadget can’t be low cost.
Nevertheless, that is extra of a publicity stunt from Huawei. A sign that the Chinese language firm is able to compete in opposition to the world’s finest smartphone distributors, together with Apple.
Huawei’s cellular division took an enormous hit following the US sanctions a number of years in the past. It took the corporate a number of years to get better, however Huawei has been doing effectively in China just lately. Whereas Huawei’s press occasion primarily targets Apple, it additionally sends a message to Samsung and different foldable distributors.
Huawei’s common foldable telephones have been promoting higher than Samsung’s foldables in China to this point this yr. The Korean big doesn’t have a tri-fold foldable of its personal, but it surely’s about to unveil a thinner model of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which can goal Korea and China. The Galaxy Z Fold 6 Slim must be unveiled in late September.
Huwei’s tri-fold telephone has a much bigger downside than the value on the subject of a world launch. Following the sanctions, Huawei telephones ship with out Google’s model of Android. Whereas that’s not a problem for patrons in China, it’s actually annoying for worldwide Android customers who is perhaps enthusiastic about an costly tri-fold foldable telephone.
