A few months ago, a relatively unknown tipster on Weibo indicated that the Huawei Mate XT2 would debut in October. Now, the reputable source, Digital Chat Station, has confirmed that the next-generation triple foldable is set to arrive in the latter half of this year, alongside another model.
These new foldables are expected to incorporate the Kirin 9050 Pro chipset, which will likely be introduced with the Mate 90 series. This chipset is reported to deliver performance comparable to that of 3nm chips, even though it may not be manufactured using a 3nm node. Currently, Huawei's most advanced chip is the Kirin 9030, produced on SMIC’s N+3 node, a 6nm-class node similar to TSMC’s N6.
The Huawei Mate XT2 aims to refine the tri-folding mechanism of its predecessor, the original XT. However, further details on this model remain sparse.
In addition, the other significant foldable release will be the Huawei Mate X9, which will feature a traditional book-style design with a 6.5-inch cover display and an 8.15-inch inner display. For comparison, the Mate X7 offers a 6.5-inch cover and an 8.0-inch inner display and is powered by the Kirin 9030 Pro.
The Mate X9 will come with a larger battery, exceeding 6,000mAh, although the specific capacity has yet to be disclosed (the X7 is equipped with a 5,600mAh battery).
Moreover, the new model is anticipated to feature a primary camera with an enhanced 1/1.3-inch sensor and a telephoto module, likely including an ultra-wide lens as well. The Mate X7 has a 50MP main camera with a 1/1.28-inch sensor and f/1.4-f/4.0 aperture, along with a 50MP 3.5x periscope lens and a 40MP ultra-wide lens.
The anticipated price for the Huawei Mate X9 is projected to be around CNY 10,000 (approximately $1,475/€1,290/₹140,500). In comparison, the base Mate X7 (12/256GB) started at CNY 13,000. Details on the pricing for the Mate XT2 have not been disclosed, and given that the original XTs began at CNY 18,000, it may be wise to temper expectations.
Looking ahead to next year, DCS reports that Huawei plans to unveil a new, smaller wide foldable device, which may indicate a sequel to the Huawei Pura X.
