Stronger screen, better hinge and faster processor -- Huawei’s newly released foldable Mate X smartphone already has a new and improved version in the works. The company’s executive director Richard Yu told French media that the new version equipped with a Kirin 990 processor will likely be available in the first quarter of 2020, but more details aren’t available at the moment.
The Mate X was only just released in China in November after a quiet delay. Yu also said that he would like to see a device that’s lighter than current models on the market, according to Frandroid. And the company might be planning other foldables, too. Patents from Huawei show designs for a smartphone that folds twice, similar to the one teased by Xiaomi this year.
Huawei’s plans indicate that smartphone makers aren’t giving up on foldable phones despite teething problems. Samsung, which experienced quality issues with its Galaxy Fold, said that it’s aiming to sell 500,000 units this year. The company also announced a new foldable smartphone with a clamshell design that’s set to launch early next year. This design is similar to Motorola’s Razr smartphone, which goes on sale in January.
Kyobo Securities analyst Choi Bo-young said Samsung could sell as many as 6 million Galaxy Fold phones next year and another 20 million in 2021.