Huawei and Xiaomi have fired the latest shots in the premium smartphone battle, unveiling new foldable phones just days before Apple’s September 9 product event.
Huawei introduced the Mate XT 2, its latest tri-fold flagship, while Xiaomi unveiled the Xiaomi 18 Fold. The timing puts both Chinese manufacturers firmly in the spotlight as attention turns to what Apple will announce next.
What happened?
Huawei’s new Mate XT 2 expands from a conventional phone into a tablet-sized device using its multi-panel folding design. Huawei’s official product information confirms the Kirin 9050 Pro processor, HarmonyOS 7, an upgraded folding architecture, improved durability and IP58/IP59 dust and water resistance.
The Mate XT 2 starts at 19,999 yuan in China. Reuters reports that Huawei says the new model delivers a 42% overall performance improvement over its predecessor based on company testing.
Xiaomi, meanwhile, has launched the Xiaomi 18 Fold, a book-style foldable positioned at the top end of its smartphone range. It starts at 10,999 yuan in China, significantly below the Mate XT 2 while still targeting the premium foldable market.
Why it matters
The launches are important not simply because they add two more foldables to an increasingly crowded market. They arrive immediately before one of the biggest technology events of the year.
Apple will hold its September product event on September 9. Expectations around Apple’s next iPhone generation are high, but readers should treat reports of an Apple foldable as speculation unless and until Apple confirms one on stage.
Huawei already has considerable strength in foldables in China. Reuters, citing market data, reports that Huawei accounted for 68% of Chinese foldable-phone shipments in the second quarter of 2026. That means any new entrant into this part of the premium market faces established competitors rather than an empty category.
What it means for buyers
For consumers, the bigger story is how quickly foldable phones are evolving. Manufacturers are no longer competing only over whether a screen can fold. The battle increasingly involves durability, thickness, battery life, multitasking, cameras, privacy features, software and price.
Huawei’s Mate XT 2 demonstrates one extreme: a device designed to transform into a roughly tablet-sized experience. Xiaomi’s 18 Fold takes a more conventional book-style approach at a lower starting price.
Apple’s September 9 announcements could now determine how the next stage of that competition develops. If Apple does enter the foldable category, comparisons with Huawei, Xiaomi and Samsung will begin immediately. If it does not, the launches still underline how aggressively rival manufacturers are pushing premium hardware beyond the traditional slab smartphone.
The Tech Boom will be watching Apple next
The Tech Boom will cover Apple’s September 9 announcements as they become official, including confirmed products, pricing, release dates and what the changes mean for buyers. We’ll also separate confirmed announcements from pre-event rumours so readers can quickly see what Apple actually unveiled.
Sources
- Huawei — official Mate XT 2 product information and HarmonyOS 7 support information.
- Reuters — September 7, 2026 reporting on the Huawei Mate XT 2 and Xiaomi 18 Fold launches.
