Updated
Updated · NBC News · Sep 8
Huawei, Xiaomi Unveil Foldables From 10,999 Yuan as Apple Nears China Launch
Updated
Updated · NBC News · Sep 8

Huawei, Xiaomi Unveil Foldables From 10,999 Yuan as Apple Nears China Launch

3 articles · Updated · NBC News · Sep 8

Summary

  • Huawei and Xiaomi on Monday rolled out new premium foldables in China, escalating a high-end handset fight just two days before Apple’s latest product event.
  • Huawei priced its tri-fold Mate XT2 at 19,999 yuan to 24,999 yuan, citing sharply higher memory costs as it added a Kirin 9050 Pro chip, a redesigned hinge and stronger privacy and water-resistance features.
  • Xiaomi set its 18 Fold at 10,999 yuan to 14,999 yuan, pitching a lighter passport-sized design, an in-house XRing O3 AI processor and DRAM supplied by Chinese chipmaker CXMT.
  • The launches also highlight China’s push for domestic tech: Huawei said its new chip architecture boosts computing power while cutting electricity use as it works around U.S. sanctions.
  • Huawei enters the showdown from a position of strength, holding 22.6% of China’s smartphone market and 68% of the country’s foldable shipments in the second quarter, ahead of Apple’s 18.1% share.

Insights

Can Huawei's unverified domestic chips truly outpace Apple's upcoming foldable, or is it a strategic bluff?
Will a radical tri-fold design secure China's market dominance before Apple's highly anticipated entry disrupts everything?
Are these groundbreaking foldable innovations masking a deeper struggle for semiconductor survival under strict global sanctions?