Huawei and Xiaomi Foldable Phones are making the headlines after both companies unveiled new premium foldable smartphones just ahead of Apple’s major product event. Huawei has introduced the Mate XT2, a premium tri-folding device that can be unfolded into a tablet-sized screen, while Xiaomi has introduced the Xiaomi 18 Fold, a new book-style foldable that aims to provide multitasking and premium performance. The launches have upped the ante in the foldable smartphone market as Apple prepares to reveal its latest products.
Introduction
The battle for the next generation of premium smartphones is heating up.
Huawei and Xiaomi have been making big moves in the foldable market, dropping new devices as the global focus turns to Apple’s upcoming product launches.
Huawei and Xiaomi’s newest foldables are two different approaches to premium foldables. As for the foldables, Huawei is sticking to its own tri-fold format, while Xiaomi is betting on a powerful book-style foldable with its own in-house processor.
The launches come at a critical time, with foldable smartphones becoming a key battleground for the world’s largest technology brands.
Huawei Introduces the Mate XT2
Huawei has launched a new Mate XT2 series to continue its tri-fold smartphone technology.
The Mate XT2 also opens twice, unlike regular foldables that only open once, resulting in a much larger, tablet-sized display. The new model from Huawei has its Kirin 9050 Pro chip, a new hinge, better water resistance, better cameras, and a privacy-display option on some versions, it says.
The Mate XT2 firmly occupies the ultra-premium end of the market. Reuters said prices would be between 19,999 yuan and 24,999 yuan, with sales beginning Sept. 12.
Xiaomi has launched the 18 Fold
At a separate launch event, Xiaomi also announced the Xiaomi 18 Fold.
The phone itself is a book-style design and is built to stay small when closed but offer a larger workspace when opened. Xiaomi says users can run up to three apps side-by-side, implying the device is particularly tuned for multitasking.
One of the biggest highlights is Xiaomi’s XRing O3 processor. The company has been pitching the new chip as a key part of its premium smartphone strategy.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold in China starts at 10,999 yuan and goes up to 14,999 yuan, which is less than the price of the new Huawei Mate XT2, but still aims for the premium foldable market.
Huawei Mate XT2 vs Xiaomi 18 Fold
| Feature | Huawei Mate XT2 | Xiaomi 18 Fold |
| Design | Tri-fold | Book-style foldable |
| Processor | Kirin 9050 Pro | XRing O3 |
| Main Focus | Large expandable display | Performance and multitasking |
| Display Style | Opens twice into a tablet-sized screen | Compact phone opening into larger display |
| Price Range | 19,999–24,999 yuan | 10,999–14,999 yuan |
| Market Position | Ultra-premium | Premium |
The comparison shows how Huawei and Xiaomi foldable phones target different users while competing in the same rapidly developing category.
Timing Is Everything
The timing of the launches is important.
The two companies announced their new devices before Apple’s major product event, drawing more attention to the future of premium smartphones and foldable technology.
Apple hasn’t historically played a huge role in the foldable phone market, so Huawei, Xiaomi, and Samsung have already invested years trying out different folding designs.
The recent launches have increased pressure on Apple as the tech industry and consumers wait to find out how the company will respond to the growing foldable market.
Competition is heating up in the foldable market
Foldable smartphones are no longer an experiment.
Companies are now competing in:
- Various folding designs
- Smaller units
- Bigger, more flexible displays
- Better Hinge
- Improved durability
- Extended battery life
- More powerful CPUs
- Improved multi-tasking capabilities
Reuters says Huawei has a particularly strong position in China’s foldable smartphone market. Meanwhile, Samsung still remains the world’s largest foldable smartphone vendor in total.
That means the battle is getting more complicated, with Chinese brands, Samsung, and perhaps Apple all vying for attention in the premium segment.
What might happen next?
Now the biggest question is how Apple’s latest announcements will impact the foldable smartphone market.
Huawei and Xiaomi have already demonstrated their strategies. Huawei is betting on a larger tri-fold experience, while Xiaomi is combining a known foldable design with top-of-the-range hardware and multitasking features.
Apple’s next step could determine how quickly foldables transition from niche items to premium smartphones for the masses.
In the meantime, the launches of the Mate XT2 and Xiaomi 18 Fold have made foldable tech one of the biggest smartphone stories around Apple’s event.
FAQs
Huawei launched which new foldable phone?
Huawei has launched a premium tri-fold smartphone — Mate XT2. It folds out twice to become a tablet-sized display.
What is the Xiaomi 18 Fold?
Xiaomi 18 Fold is Xiaomi’s new premium book-style foldable smartphone that is powered by the company’s XRing O3 processor and allows multitasking with up to three apps side by side.
What’s the cost of the Huawei Mate XT2?
The price begins at 19,999 yuan ($2,943) and rises to 24,999 yuan for the top-end model, according to Reuters.
The price of the Xiaomi 18 Fold is $3,999.00.
The Xiaomi 18 Fold price in China is set at 10,999 yuan to 14,999 yuan.
Why were these phones released before Apple’s event?
The timing puts Huawei and Xiaomi in the spotlight before Apple’s product announcements and underscores growing competition in the premium smartphone and foldable market.
Summary
New Huawei and Xiaomi Foldable Phones launches another milestone for the premium smartphone industry.
Huawei’s Mate XT2 continues to advance tri-fold technology with a large, foldable display and a premium design, whereas Xiaomi’s 18 Fold emphasizes powerful hardware and multitasking.
The premium smartphone market is getting hot, with Apple also getting ready for big product launches. What the next few months will tell us is whether foldable phones are going to remain a niche product or become a slightly more mainstream part of the flagship phone market.