Huawei, Xiaomi launch new Foldables ahead of Apple Launch

Huawei and Xiaomi have launched new flagship foldable smartphones as competition intensifies in China’s premium handset market ahead of Apple’s latest iPhone launch.

Huawei unveiled its Mate XT2 on Monday, while Xiaomi introduced the Xiaomi 18 Fold at a separate event. The launches come two days before Apple is expected to unveil its latest iPhone lineup, with growing expectations that the company could enter the foldable market.

The Mate XT2 folds twice to expand into a tablet-sized display, similar to the Trifold Samsung dropped last year. It features Huawei’s new Kirin 9050 Pro chip, a redesigned hinge, improved water resistance and a privacy display designed to prevent people nearby from viewing the screen.

The phone starts at 19,999 yuan ($2,980), while the top-end version costs 24,999 yuan ($3,725). Sales begin on September 12.

Huawei said the Kirin 9050 Pro delivers more computing power while consuming less electricity. Its design uses an architecture called LogicFolding, which forms part of Huawei’s Tau Scaling Law approach to developing chips amid US restrictions on access to advanced technology.

The Mate XT2 also features four cameras, including a 50-megapixel main camera and a 50-megapixel periscope camera with 3.5x optical zoom. Its display expands from 6.5 inches when folded to 10.2 inches when fully open.

Xiaomi’s 18 Fold takes a different approach to the foldable form factor.

The phone remains passport-sized when closed and can run three apps side by side when opened. It weighs 219 grams and measures 5.02mm thick when unfolded, according to Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun.

The device uses Xiaomi’s in-house XRing O3 AI processor and memory chips supplied by Chinese semiconductor company CXMT. Xiaomi claims the processor offers better responsiveness than Apple’s A19 Pro.

The 18 Fold is priced between 10,999 yuan ($1,540) and 14,999 yuan ($2,100).

The launches strengthen competition in a market where Huawei already has a strong position. Huawei accounted for 68% of foldable smartphone shipments in China in the second quarter, according to Smart Analytics Global.

Huawei also led China’s broader smartphone market with a 22.6% share during the quarter. Apple held 18.1%, while Xiaomi had 12.4%, according to IDC.

Samsung remains the world’s largest foldable smartphone vendor globally. However, Apple’s expected entry could reshape the market by bringing its large premium customer base into the category.

For Huawei and Xiaomi, launching new devices just ahead of Apple gives both companies an opportunity to strengthen their positions before the iPhone maker enters a segment Chinese manufacturers have already been developing for years.