Huawei Technologies has launched its latest tri-fold smartphone, the Mate XTs, marking the first time in four years the company has revealed details about its in-house Kirin processor.
At the launch, Richard Yu, Huawei’s executive director and head of consumer business, announced that the phone is powered by the Kirin 9020 chip and runs on HarmonyOS 5. He said the device offers 36% better performance compared to the previous model.
This public disclosure highlights Huawei’s growing confidence in its chip technology after years of supply chain challenges. Industry experts see it as proof of Huawei’s push toward self-reliance in semiconductors.
“Even with limits on advanced nodes, Huawei is showing progress in chip performance through design and architecture,” said Xiang Ligang, head of the Zhongguancun telecom industry alliance.
Along with the new chip, the Mate XTs brings upgrades in camera performance and a stronger HarmonyOS ecosystem. It is also the first smartphone in the industry to support PC-level applications, allowing multiwindow interactions similar to a desktop computer.
The device is priced at 17,999 yuan ($2,480), which is 2,000 yuan cheaper than Huawei’s first tri-fold phone launched last year.
According to IDC, Huawei dominated China’s foldable smartphone market in the first half of 2025 with a 75% share, shipping 3.74 million units. Experts say the company’s momentum is building consumer trust and pushing the foldable market toward maturity.
Meanwhile, competitors including Samsung, Motorola, and Google are also working on new foldable devices. Reports suggest that Apple is developing its first foldable iPhone, expected to launch next year with major upgrades in display, connectivity, and biometrics.
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