OMM Redaksiyası
Huawei and Xiaomi have intensified competition in China’s premium smartphone market by unveiling flagship foldable phones. The launches came just days before Apple’s expected new product presentation.
Huawei showcased its new Mate XT2 series, which opens twice and transforms into a tablet-sized device. The smartphone is equipped with a Kirin 9050 Pro chip, an upgraded hinge, improved water resistance and a privacy display designed to prevent people nearby from viewing the screen.
When fully unfolded, the device has a screen of about 10.2 inches and is powered by a battery with a capacity of approximately 6,000 milliampere-hours. The smartphone runs on the HarmonyOS 7 operating system. The upgraded hinge is primarily intended to reduce the crease that has affected foldable phone screens since 2019.
The Mate XT2 starts at 19,999 yuan, or $2,980. The most expensive version costs 24,999 yuan, or $3,725. Sales will begin on Sept. 12.
Richard Yu, Huawei’s deputy chief executive, said at a press conference that a sharp rise in the cost of memory components and the adoption of new technologies had placed significant pressure on the device’s production costs.
The new chip used in the Mate XT2 is also considered significant for Huawei’s strategy of achieving greater technological independence. Huawei said the new design, based on an architecture called “LogicFolding,” provides higher computing power and lower energy consumption.
The technology is linked to the “Tau Scaling Law” principle that the company presented in May. Huawei is seeking to overcome US restrictions on access to advanced technologies.
Xiaomi also unveiled its most premium smartphone to date, the Xiaomi 18 Fold, at a separate launch event. The device uses memory components supplied by China’s CXMT Corp. and the Xring O3 processor developed by Xiaomi.
The launch of the Xiaomi 18 Fold is viewed as another step in the major Chinese smartphone manufacturers’ efforts to reduce reliance on foreign chipmakers and turn to domestic component suppliers. The model’s passport-style design closely resembles the form expected for Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
Both launches took place two days before Apple’s event. The company is expected to unveil its first foldable phone, which is reportedly likely to be called the iPhone Ultra.
Huawei is currently the only major brand selling a triple-folding phone. The company cannot sell its products in the United States because Washington considers Huawei a national security risk.
The Mate XT2 is currently intended only for the Chinese market, and Huawei has not announced plans to sell it globally. Nevertheless, the successive launches highlight intensifying competition in the premium smartphone market, where foldable devices have become a major area of innovation.
