I think they are still banned in the U.S.? Not that everyone else won't copy them after they release it.
Only some Huawei products are banned. Either way, another article says the 1st gen version of this will stay in China. Setting aside the fact I don't like or want to carry around a "tablet" size phone, any phone I will be carrying around all day MUST fit in my pocket. Period. I have a Samsung "Flip" bi-folding phone and I love it because it fits in my back shirt pocket when riding my bike. And it easily (and comfortably) fits in other pockets, including jeans front pockets. I prefer to use front pockets to avoid accidently sitting on the phone when in rear pants pockets. HOWEVER, when folded it is thicker than most phones and with the protective cover I use in case I drop it, it is even thicker, ~3/4 inch thick. Any thicker and I probably would not like it as much. That takes me to my point. I have never had a phone I didn't drop - more than once. So I always buy a good protective cover. I can't picture in my head how one could put a protective cover on a trifold phone that protects all 3 sections. It seems the cover would have to come in 2 parts, one for each outer section, leaving the middle section unprotected. And looking at the image of the phone here, not sure how any cover would not interfere with the folding function anyway. I don't see how it could fold flat with a protector on. So is a protective cover even possible? I don't know. Assuming someone comes up with a cover, when folded, the 3 sections of the phone plus two layers of the protector would (in my head anyway) make for a phone even thicker than my 3/4 inch bi-fold phone. That might make for a tight fit with already tight jeans. Heavy too. Also in that MS article, this Huawei trifold will unfold to about 10 inches. Again, I don't want to lug around a tablet. I don't see a trifold phone in my future. Oh, as a side note, I noticed the haters are already pouncing on this in the comments section of stapp's article. One "space-cadet" (see his name for context) poster said, I am not aware of any phone, folding or not, that has not had problems with cracked screens. And with folding screens, I have not seen any report of those screens cracking - due to the folds - either. HOWEVER screen protectors cracking (including those installed at the factory) is another problem. I went through 3 different protectors because the protectors, not the screens would crack after just a few weeks of use. Then I found Supershieldz. It came 2 in a pack for under $10. The first one is still on my phone, with no cracks, after 2 years! There is a long thin air bubble at the fold, but that disappears out of sight when the phone is on. It is like the rear-view mirror of your car - you don't even see it unless you look for it. And what does that space cadet's friend's Samsung Flip phone have to do with this Huawei anyway? It seems the guy just doesn't like folding phones - and I bet he never owned one.
I still occasionally use my Huawei MATE phone. Best wireless phone i ever owned. From Android Jellybean all the way up the candy/cookie chain. Fully rooted as well.
