Tech giant Huawei on Tuesday unveiled its new smartphone, billed as the world's first trifold phone, just hours after US competitor Apple lifted the curtain on its new iPhone built for AI.

The Mate XT was officially launched in a keynote presentation by Huawei executive Richard Yu at the firm's headquarters in Shenzhen.

Originally designed as a premium phone for a niche audience, over three million people registered interest in buying the Mate XT ahead of its launch.

Advertised in a sleek red and gold design, the phone officially goes on sale on September 20.

"Huawei has always been a leader in the foldable phone industry," Yu said.

"This is the world's first triple-folding phone," he said.

"We have put in a huge amount of effort into solving the problems regarding mass production and product reliability," he added.

Its release comes a day after Huawei competitor Apple announced its iPhone 16, built for generative artificial intelligence as it seeks to boost sales and keep up in the technology race. (AFP)