Huawei and Samsung Issue Updates on the Status of Their Folding Phones ⇥ cnbc.com

Arjun Kharpal, CNBC:

A spokesperson for the Chinese technology giant told CNBC on Friday that the company is trying to launch the Huawei Mate X globally, focusing on markets that are rolling out next-generation mobile networks known as 5G. The Mate X, which starts at around 2,299 euros or roughly $2,600, is a 5G-capable device.

The Mate X was unveiled in February but has yet to go on sale. Huawei had initially targeted a mid-2019 launch date and in April, Chinese media reported that it was looking at June. But the spokesperson confirmed the official launch will take place in September. He said that the company was doing extra testing with mobile carriers around the world and developers to make sure their apps work when the device is fully unfolded.

Huawei’s spokesperson said the company was more “cautious” after Samsung’s foldable device, the Galaxy Fold, began to break when tested by reviewers in April. Samsung and some of the carriers selling the Galaxy Fold have canceled pre-orders that consumers had already placed.

So, let me get this straight: Huawei’s spokesperson says the company is concerned about the frequent device damage sustained by reviewers of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, so they’re going to be more cautious in their testing of apps? Sure.

Meanwhile, Song Su-hyun of the Korea Herald reports on the delayed launch of the Samsung Galaxy Fold:

There have been rumors that the foldable device would be unveiled to Korean media in June and released on the market in July.

Last week, Samsung’s smartphone business chief Koh Dong-jin told a Korean media outlet that the phone would arrive before July.

However, according to Samsung and its partners, the schedule of a media event for the foldable phone in Korea and its official launch have not been set yet.

“If we are running such a media event this month, we should be doing something by now,” said a Samsung official. “Nothing has progressed since the April delay.”

It remains to be seen if it’s possible for Apple to catch up.