Huawei postpones foldable Mate X to be able to do extra tests

Huawei will not release its foldable Mate X tablet-cum-smartphone in June, as originally planned, but in September. The company reports that it is conducting additional tests and has become more cautious after the Samsung Fold debacle.

Huawei does not want to lose its reputation with the Mate X, a company spokesperson told CNBC. The spokesperson calls September as the month in which the foldable device should be released. He says the company is conducting additional testing with mobile operators and developers to make sure apps work when unfolding the Mate X.

Huawei doesn’t immediately report that it will hold additional tests regarding build quality, but it seems likely that the company is also looking at this. Samsung was seriously embarrassed at the end of April when it turned out that review devices of its Galaxy Fold broke. The Fold subsequently did not come out in April and it is unclear whether and if so when a new release will take place. Several telecom providers have since canceled preorders for the device.

The Mate X was set to release sometime in mid-2019 and Chinese media reported June as the month of availability. Huawei announced the foldable smartphone and tablet combination in February. The device costs 2299 euros.