Huawei launches new tri-fold smartphone

Huawei Technologies Co launched its latest tri-fold smartphone, Mate XTs, on Thursday, marking the first time in four years that the Chinese company has publicly disclosed the model of its in-house Kirin processor.

At the launch event, Richard Yu, Huawei's executive director and head of consumer business, said that the device is powered by the Kirin 9020 chip and runs on HarmonyOS 5, and that it delivers a 36 percent performance enhancement over its predecessor.

The disclosure signaled a more confident stance on Huawei's chip technology after years of supply chain pressure. The move, industry experts said, underscores Huawei's push to demonstrate greater self-sufficiency in semiconductors.

"Even with access to more advanced nodes constrained, Huawei is showing it can still advance chip performance through design and architecture," said Xiang Ligang, director-general of the Zhongguancun Modern Information Consumer Application Industry Technology Alliance, a telecom industry association.

In addition to the chip upgrade, the Mate XTs also features improvements in imaging capabilities and its broader ecosystem of HarmonyOS as well. The new gadget marks the first time that the industry is bringing personal computer-level applications to a smartphone, supporting multiwindow interactions comparable to a desktop PC.

The Mate XTs starts at 17,999 yuan ($2,480), 2,000 yuan cheaper than the company's first tri-fold device released a year ago.

According to market consultancy International Data Corp, Huawei currently leads China's foldable smartphone market with a 75 percent share in the first half of 2025, shipping 3.74 million units.

Xiang said: "Huawei's momentum is not only reshaping consumer expectations but also driving growth of the country's foldable market. The tri-fold device is gaining user trust and pushing the industry into maturity."

Huawei's latest move also comes amid preparation by rivals for their own next-generation devices. Companies including Samsung, Motorola, and Google have ventured into foldable smartphones.

According to a media report, Apple is also working on its first foldable iPhone.

Apple's foldable smartphone, which is expected to feature significant changes in display technology, connectivity and biometrics, is expected to roll out next year.