Huawei is reportedly preparing two major foldable phones for launch in the second half of the year, signaling a more aggressive push into the premium foldable segment. The lineup is said to include a tri-fold model and a more conventional book-style foldable.
That combination matters because it shows Huawei is not treating foldables as a single product category. Instead, the company appears to be expanding in multiple directions at once, while also laying the groundwork for another wide-format compact foldable next year.
Tri-fold ambition remains central
The most attention-grabbing device is the Huawei Mate XT2, which is described as the successor to Huawei’s earlier tri-fold efforts. Its main focus is expected to be refinement of the tri-fold structure first introduced through the XT and XTs series.
Details remain limited, but Digital Chat Station says the Mate XT2 is due in the second half of the year. That timing matches an earlier Weibo tip claiming the device could debut in October.
Mate X9 brings a more familiar foldable format
Alongside the tri-fold model, Huawei is also said to be preparing the Mate X9. This book-style foldable is expected to bring upgrades in several important areas, including display, battery life, and camera performance.
The Mate X9 is tipped to use a 6.5-inch cover display and an 8.15-inch inner screen. For comparison, the current Mate X7 has a 6.5-inch cover display and an 8.0-inch inner display.
| Model | Outer Display | Inner Display | Other Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mate X9 | 6.5 inches | 8.15 inches | Battery, camera, and chipset upgrades |
| Mate X7 | 6.5 inches | 8.0 inches | Current reference model |
New Kirin chip is expected to power both phones
Both foldables are expected to run on the Kirin 9050 Pro chipset. The chip is said to arrive with the Mate 90 series and is claimed to deliver performance on par with a 3nm-class chip, even if it is unlikely to be built on a 3nm process.
For now, Huawei’s top chip in the same leak cycle is the Kirin 9030. That processor is reportedly made on SMIC’s N+3 node, described as a 6nm-class process and comparable to TSMC N6.
If the Kirin 9050 Pro does appear in the new foldables, it would make performance one of the key selling points alongside hinge durability and industrial design.
Battery and camera upgrades are aimed at the Mate X9
The Mate X9 has the more detailed leak of the two, especially on battery and imaging. It is said to pack a battery above 6,000mAh, although the exact figure has not been revealed.
That would be a meaningful jump from the Mate X7, which currently carries a 5,600mAh battery. For a large foldable, a bigger battery could be one of the most practical upgrades for everyday use.
On the camera side, the Mate X9 is said to use an improved 1/1.3-inch main sensor. It is also expected to include a telephoto module and possibly an ultra-wide camera.
| Model | Battery | Main Camera | Additional Cameras |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mate X9 | Above 6,000mAh | Improved 1/1.3-inch sensor | Telephoto, possibly ultra-wide |
| Mate X7 | 5,600mAh | 50MP 1/1.28-inch sensor, f/1.4-f/4.0 | 50MP 3.5x periscope, 40MP ultra-wide |
The current Mate X7 uses a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.28-inch sensor and an f/1.4-f/4.0 aperture. It also features a 50MP periscope camera with 3.5x zoom or 81mm, plus a 40MP ultra-wide camera with a 120-degree field of view.
While the Mate X9 leak points to a slightly different sensor size on paper, the broader message is clear. Huawei seems intent on keeping its foldables competitive not only in design and display quality, but also in imaging.
Pricing hints at a strong premium strategy
The Mate X9 is expected to launch at around CNY 10,000. That would place it below the Mate X7 base model, which starts at CNY 13,000 for the 12/256GB configuration.
No pricing has surfaced for the Mate XT2 yet, but the earlier Mate XTs started at CNY 18,000. That suggests the next tri-fold model will likely remain firmly in ultra-premium territory.
Looking ahead, Digital Chat Station also says Huawei plans to release a small wide-format foldable next year. If that report is accurate, it could serve as the successor to the Huawei Pura X.
Taken together, the leaks point to a broader strategy rather than a single product update. Huawei appears to be building a more complete foldable lineup, with a tri-fold flagship, a book-style large foldable, and another compact wide-format model in development.