On the brink of Apple's autumn product unveiling, Huawei and Xiaomi broke away from tradition by successively launching their foldable smartphones, aggressively capitalizing on market opportunities. Huawei introduced the triple-folding Mate XT 2, with a starting price of 19,999 yuan. It places a strong emphasis on its imaging prowess and seamless integration with its HarmonyOS ecosystem, striving to cement its foothold in the ultra-high-end market segment. Meanwhile, Xiaomi unveiled the mid-folding 18 Fold, starting at 10,999 yuan, showcasing its unique screen aspect ratio and in-house developed chip. Xiaomi aims to make foldable phones more accessible and elevate its brand's premium appeal.

Both companies' preemptive strategies are designed to capture consumer attention before Apple sets the benchmark for foldable phone standards. Currently, foldable phones represent the sole category that can command premium pricing. However, foldable phones still occupy a niche position within the high-end market. By 2030, global shipments of foldable phones are projected to constitute less than 3% of the total smartphone shipments, and sales in China have been experiencing successive declines. Nevertheless, Apple is anticipated to capture a 25% share of the global market in its inaugural year of entry. The forthcoming Apple launch event will thus pave the way for direct competition among the three manufacturers within the same price bracket.