Huawei and Xiaomi Launch New Foldable Phones Ahead of Apple

The foldable smartphone business is getting more and more competitive as the Chinese smartphone maker Huawei and Xiaomi have unveiled their latest flagship foldable smartphones just days before Apple's much-awaited event in September.

The timing of the launches is very important as Apple is expected to make its first foray into the foldable smartphone market with a new foldable iPhone. Huawei and Xiaomi are thus trying to consolidate their position in the high end smartphone market ahead of Apple's new offerings. 

Huawei launches Mate XT2 tri-fold smartphone

Huawei has unveiled the second generation of its tri-fold smartphone, the Huawei Mate XT2, which can fold twice and then unfold into a Tablet-sized display.

The device is powered by Huawei's new chipset Kirin 9050 Pro. The chip will deliver enhanced computing performance with reduced power consumption, Huawei says.

Besides this, Mate XT2 boasts a new folding mechanism, enhanced water resistance and enhanced cameras, while an optional privacy display can obscure the screen for passersby.

The new version's company testing results show it has improved performance markedly over the previous version, Reuters reports. The handset will be available in China from September 12 for the price of 19,999 yuan to 24,999 yuan.

Xiaomi introduces Xiaomi 18 Fold

In a recent battle of the foldables, Xiaomi is also getting in the game with the Xiaomi 18 Fold.

The smartphone features a wide-fold design and is running on the power of Xiaomi's XRing o3 processor. With the device, the company is highlighting its "multi-tasking" and "AI" features.

The Xiaomi 18 Fold is said to weigh approximately 219 grams, and when unfolded, the Fold is about 5.02 mm thick.

It is designed so that users can run multiple applications concurrent to each other, so it can resemble a small tablet when opened.

The Xiaomi 18 Fold will retail at 10,999 yuan, and the more expensive options will cost up to 14,999 yuan.

Apple is about to enter the foldable-phone market

The most significant change to watch this week is Apple getting into the foldable smartphone market.

In addition to new products, Apple will most likely unveil its first foldable iPhone on Sept. 9. According to reports, Apple has been considering a book-like design, which is different from the tri-folded design of Huawei's foldable device.

The iPhone has a wide international user base, which could make a difference to the premium foldable smartphone market, as Apple enters the fray.

Huawei currently has a strong position in China

Huawei has already a solid market share in China's foldable smartphone market.

In China, Huawei has shipped around 68% of foldables in Q2 2026, according to Reuters. The company also captured 22.6% of the Chinese smartphone market in that time.

This is where Apple, Xiaomi and Huawei are thus going into an increasingly competitive fight for premium smartphone users.

What happens next?

The upcoming big event will be Apple's September 9 event.

There are plenty of options between the traditional book-fold and the Huawei tri-fold ones, if Apple has officially confirmed the foldable iPhone.

The competition also might spur technology advancements for hinges, battery life, cameras, AI and display durability.

Conclusion

Huawei and Xiaomi are making their big moves just prior to Apple's big iPhone event. 2026 may be a pivotal year in foldable smartphones as Huawei, Xiaomi, and Apple are set to release their foldable devices simultaneously.

It's no longer just Samsung and some Chinese manufacturers. Apple is now rumored to be joining the ever-expanding foldable-phone market with one of its own.