Huawei has finally released its first 5G-enabled foldable phone Mate X in China for 16,999 yuan ($2,422) this Friday after it was unveiled in February.

(File photo: VCG)

With the new foldable screen design and 5G network, users are now able to gain almost double the viewing area and can enjoy higher internet speed. But it is notable the phone can’t be bent if it's in temperatures of -5°C/23°F or lower as mentioned on Huawei’s website.

Many tech giants are striving to develop their foldable smartphones. Huawei’s newly-released Mate X will become a competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Fold, which came out in September but was not well-received because of its screen quality. Motorola announced on Wednesday that its foldable Razr will be available for pre-order on December 26 and is scheduled for release in the US in January. The smartphone industry is hoping that the emergence of foldable phones will energize a lackluster smartphone market.