TLDR
- Huawei launched the Mate XT2 tri-fold smartphone series in Guangzhou, starting at 19,999 yuan ($2,980)
- The phone features the new Kirin 9050 Pro chip using “LogicFolding” architecture
- Sales begin September 12; Xiaomi launches a rival foldable the same day
- Apple is expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone on Wednesday, September 10
- Huawei holds 68% of China’s foldable phone market as of Q2 2026
Huawei launched its second-generation tri-fold smartphone, the Mate XT2, at an event in Guangzhou on Monday. The phone folds out twice to open into a tablet-sized screen and runs on the company’s new Kirin 9050 Pro chip.
Join the HarmonyOS 7 | HUAWEI Mate XT 2 and All-Scenario Product Launch Livestream NOW!
Huawei is launching the new tri-fold smartphone Mate XT 2 | ULTIMATE DESIGN with HarmonyOS 7! https://t.co/0qbE3QOvmT
— Huawei (@Huawei) September 7, 2026
Prices start at 19,999 yuan, roughly $2,980, with the most expensive version costing 24,999 yuan, or about $3,725. Sales are set to begin on September 12.
Huawei Executive Director Richard Yu said rising memory costs and the use of new technology created enormous cost pressure during development.
The Kirin 9050 Pro is the first high-performance chip to use Huawei’s “LogicFolding” architecture. The design stacks logic units in vertical layers within a single chip, which shortens signal paths, cuts latency, and improves performance.
Huawei says this is part of its “Tau Scaling Law” principle, which the company introduced in May to help work around U.S. restrictions on access to advanced semiconductor technology.
The Mate XT2 also brings a redesigned folding mechanism, improved water resistance, a privacy screen feature, and upgraded cameras. Huawei says overall performance is 42% better than its predecessor.
Competition Heats Up in the Foldable Market
Xiaomi is launching a rival foldable phone later on Monday. Shares in Xiaomi dropped 3% in afternoon trading after Huawei’s announcement.
Huawei will launch the new tri-fold smartphone Mate XT 2 | ULTIMATE DESIGN with HarmonyOS 7.
Join the HarmonyOS 7 | HUAWEI Mate XT 2 and All-Scenario Product Launch Livestream on September 7 at 2:45 AM (GMT-4)! pic.twitter.com/VD6nZA729f
— Huawei (@Huawei) September 6, 2026
Apple is expected to reveal its latest iPhone lineup on Wednesday, with strong expectations that it will also include a foldable model.
Samsung, currently the world’s largest seller of foldable phones, launched a tri-fold in December but reportedly stopped selling it after just three months. The South Korean company expanded its foldable lineup in July with a passport-sized model.
Huawei’s Position in China
Huawei leads China’s smartphone market overall with a 22.6% share in Q2 2026, according to IDC. Apple follows with 18.1%, and Xiaomi holds 12.4%.
In the foldable segment, Huawei is even more dominant. The company accounted for 68% of foldable phone shipments in China during Q2, according to Smart Analytics Global.
Huawei remains banned from selling in the United States, where the government has classified it as a national security risk.
The Mate XT2 launch marks Huawei’s first Kirin chip unveiling at a flagship event since the Mate 40 launch six years ago.
With Apple and Xiaomi both making moves this week, the competition in the premium foldable smartphone market is set to intensify heading into the second half of 2026.
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