Huawei and Xiaomi both unveiled flagship foldables Monday, two days before Apple’s September event, where it is widely expected to launch its first foldable iPhone.
The timing gives China’s two largest phone makers a chance to strengthen their premium foldable lead before Apple enters the market.
Huawei’s new device, the Mate XT2, extends a tri-fold design it pioneered two years ago, while Xiaomi’s 18 Fold uses a slimmer “wide foldable” design similar to what Apple itself is rumored to be building.
Huawei Leans Into Chip Independence, Even at a Higher Price
Huawei’s Mate XT2 folds twice into a 10.2-inch tablet-sized display using a redesigned G-shaped hinge and runs on the company’s new Kirin 9050 Pro chip.
As Reuters reports, the device is based on Huawei’s LogicFolding architecture and its broader Tau Scaling Law design principle developed to work around U.S. semiconductor restrictions.
Huawei executive director Richard Yu said rising memory costs pushed prices about 10% higher than the previous generation, while the base model has 16GB of RAM.
Huawei remains barred from the U.S. market, where Washington has classified the company as a national security risk, making China and other international markets its main battlegrounds against Apple and Samsung.
For complete details and the spec sheet of the device, you can watch the official launch event.
Xiaomi Bets on Homegrown Silicon and a Lighter Design
Xiaomi’s 18 Fold focuses on self-sufficiency and a slimmer design rather than raw folding complexity.
(Image here) https://www.mi.com/global/discover/article?id=6357
It uses Xiaomi’s Xring O3 processor, a 24 billion transistor chip that the company says delivers 60% higher CPU performance while using up to 25% less power on some tasks, paired with memory from ChangXin Memory Technologies.
According to NBC News, CEO Lei Jun claimed the device is more responsive than Apple’s A19 Pro chip in its flagship lineup.
He also highlighted its 219-gram weight and 5.02mm unfolded thickness, making it noticeably lighter and thinner than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, while offering more screen space than entry models like the iPhone 17e.
Notably, world-leading foldable phone seller Samsung discontinued its own tri-fold device three months post-launch in December, a cautionary data point for how quickly even a market leader can misjudge demand in this category.
Apple’s Foldable Debut May Already Be on Shaky Ground
The bigger issue is what these launches are racing against.
Korean industry reports suggest Apple’s foldable iPhone, expected Wednesday at its “Surprise and Shine” event, faces hinge manufacturing constraints, with output reportedly limited to a few hundred units per day.
That could hurt a company known for meeting launch day demand at scale.
Huawei’s instant preorder sellout and Xiaomi’s aggressive homegrown chip pricing show Chinese manufacturers are moving quickly into the segment Apple is entering with reported supply problems.
Apple’s foldable will still attract major attention because of its installed base and brand loyalty, but the timing highlights a shift: Apple is entering a category Huawei, Xiaomi, and Samsung have spent years refining, while reportedly still working out its hinge.
Source: Huawei, Xiaomi launch new foldable smartphones ahead of Apple event
