Huawei's Remarkable Strategy Behind Leading Folding Smartphone Innovation

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology, Huawei stands out as a resilient force. Renowned for its relentless drive toward innovation, Huawei has become a leader in not only conventional smartphones but also in the burgeoning sector of folding devices. Industry experts agree that the company consistently pushes boundaries. Its recent substantial growth in the folding smartphone market underscores this reputation.

According to Counterpoint Research, Huawei's shipments of folding smartphones soared by an astonishing 257% year-on-year in Q1 2024, capturing a significant 35% market share and surpassing competitors like Samsung. This remarkable achievement places Huawei among the top three brands globally in the folding smartphone arena.

A Five-Year Journey of Innovative Mindset

This leap in growth didn't happen by coincidence; it reflects a five-year journey driven by foresight and innovation. Nine years ago, Huawei's CTO, Li Xiaolong (Bruce Lee), introduced the concept of a triple-folding smartphone—a vision that took years of development. The company's entry was marked by the launch of the original HUAWEI Mate X at the Mobile World Congress in 2019, which revolutionized smartphone design. Fast forward to 2024, and Huawei has continued to pioneer, recently unveiling the HUAWEI Mate XT, further solidifying its reputation as an industry trailblazer.

To transition from concept to reality, Huawei combined an entrepreneurial spirit with its innovative genius. The company consistently allocated over 10% of its annual revenue to research and development, leading to an impressive total of over 1.11 trillion CNY in investment over the past decade. The Boston Consulting Group has ranked Huawei as the 8th-most innovative company worldwide, and 5th in the European Union for industrial research and development investments in 2023.

This unwavering commitment to innovation is evident in each generation of Huawei’s folding devices—from the seamless exterior folding of the Mate X to the advanced inner folding of the Mate X2, and now the lightweight and powerful Mate X3/5, culminating in the next-generation Mate XT.

User-Centric Approach

Huawei emphasizes a user-first approach, continually motivated by consumer feedback. By identifying problems related to foldable screens—particularly concerning durability, build quality, weight, and display creasing—Huawei made resolving these common issues its top priority. This user-centric ethos paved the way for creative solutions, including the development of the innovative