Many of Apple’s affluent iPhone users in China are just as interested in Huawei’s pricier trifold phone, CNBC found during spot checks at stores Friday, the day the iPhone 16 and Mate XT launched in the country.

Huawei and Apple's latest smartphones went on sale in China on Friday, with many fans of the Chinese company disappointed that its much-anticipated $2,800 phone - more than twice the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max - was not available for walk-in customers.

The Huawei phone, the Mate 60 Pro, was heralded in China as the triumph of a national champion over American constraints. It sold out within minutes on Chinese e-commerce platforms. Many shoppers chose to pair their purchase with a phone case emblazoned with a photo of Ms. Raimondo’s face.

Huawei and Apple's latest smartphones went on sale in China on Friday, with many fans of the Chinese company disappointed that its much-anticipated $2,800 model - more than twice the price of the iPhone 16 Pro Max - was not available for walk-in customers.

Pictured here is an Apple flagship store in Beijing, China, on the day of the iPhone 16 launch on Sept. 20, 2024. Many Apple iPhone users in China are just as interested in Huawei's pricier trifold phone,

Huawei is preparing to release its new ‘trifold’ smartphone on Friday — the same day as Apple’s (AAPL) latest iPhone comes out — but it’s already being listed in China for up to three times its price.

However, analysts warn that supply chain constraints could leave many buyers of Huawei Technologies' Mate XT empty-handed. The launch of the Mate XT, which analysts say has a locally-made chipset, underscores Huawei's ability to navigate U.