The Chinese tech giant showed off its new Mate XT, which users can fold three ways like an accordion screen door, during a launch ceremony in the southern tech hub of Shenzhen.

The device has already received more than 3.6 million pre-orders, for which no deposit is required, according to the company's website.

The entire global market for foldable phones was around 4 million units in the second quarter, according to research firm IDC.

"Today we bring you a product that everyone can think of but could not make. Our team has been working hard for five years and has never given up," Huawei Executive Director Richard Yu said at launch.

--Reuters--