Huawei, Xiaomi to debut new foldables ahead of foldable iPhone
The launch ahead of Apple's new debut gives brands the chance to own the spotlight momentarily.
Huawei and Xiaomi are set to unveil new foldable smartphones just days before Apple makes its debut in the premium foldable category. Huawei will showcase the Mate XT 2, its first trifold device with two folding mechanisms, on September 7. The successor to the 2024 Mate XT, this new device is a combination of a smartphone and a large-screen tablet, featuring Huawei's new LogicFolding chip design philosophy.
Xiaomi will follow suit later that evening with its Xiaomi 18 Fold, which will run on memory from domestic champion CXMT and Xiaomi's self-developed Xring O3 processor. The phone's passport-like design mirrors what Apple's first foldable iPhone is expected to look like. Priced above $2,000 (S$2,530), Apple's foldable iPhone is expected to bring new attention to this premium segment.
Analysts predict that Apple could capture a significant share of the global foldable market, with projections suggesting the company could become the No.1 player in 2027. This move by Huawei and Xiaomi comes as Chinese smartphone makers struggle with a 14% contraction in shipments due to rising component costs. Both companies are heavily promoting their premium segments to raise average selling prices and escape the crunch.
Written by urgent.news from Straits Times Business's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
