Huawei has expanded its foldable smartphone portfolio with the launch of the Huawei Mate XT 2 Ultimate Design in China on September 7, 2026. The second-generation tri-fold flagship combines an updated folding architecture, a new proprietary processor, and hardware-level privacy technology, reinforcing the company’s strategy in the ultra-premium smartphone market.
Huawei Unveils Mate XT 2 Ultimate Design Tri-Fold Phone
Priced from RMB 19,999 (approximately $2,800), the device is available in Black, White, and Purple color options. Configurations include up to 16GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, with the top-end Special Edition reaching RMB 29,999 ($4,470) and coming with a stylus. Sales are set to begin on September 12.
Display and Wing-Like Tri-Fold Architecture
The standout feature of the Mate XT 2 Ultimate Design is its G-shaped, wing-like tri-fold architecture, which allows users to switch between single-screen, dual-screen, and full tablet modes. When folded, the device measures 12.3mm thick and thins down to 3.5mm when fully unfolded, with a total weight of 299g.
The exterior features a 6.5-inch OLED LTPO cover display with a 2442 x 1140 resolution, a 120Hz refresh rate, a 300Hz touch sampling rate, 1440Hz high-frequency PWM dimming, and a peak brightness of 6,500 nits. The outer screen is built with basalt glass, which is rated for improved drop and scratch resistance. When unfolded, the internal flexible OLED panel expands to 10.2 inches with a 3K resolution (2232 x 3184 pixels), a 12.8:9 aspect ratio, a 1Hz to 90Hz LTPO refresh rate, 1440Hz PWM dimming, and a 240Hz touch sampling rate. The inner panel also includes a shield hardware privacy-screen option designed to reduce visibility from side angles.
Huawei utilizes its Xuanwu Ultra-Durable Tri-Fold Architecture for structural reinforcement, and the device achieves IP58 and IP59 ratings for dust and water resistance.
Kirin 9050 Pro Performance and HarmonyOS 7
Under the hood, the flagship debuts the new Kirin 9050 Pro processor alongside the LogicFolding Tau (τ) chip. According to Huawei, the processor setup and cloud optimization deliver a 42 percent improvement in overall device performance compared to the previous generation, featuring a 24 percent single-core boost and a 52 percent multi-core improvement.
Graphics are handled by a Ma Liang GPU that doubles computing units and cache, featuring real-time ray tracing capable of processing 50 million lines. AI tasks are powered by a Da Vinci Architecture NPU, which supports the on-device Pangu 30B-A2B MoE large language model. Thermal management relies on a cross-axis graphene vapor chamber cooling system.
The phone runs HarmonyOS 7, optimized for split-screen multitasking, desktop-class PC applications, and running three apps side by side on the larger display.
Camera System and Comprehensive Connectivity
The rear camera module is positioned on the center panel and includes:
- Main Camera: 50MP RYYB LOFIC sensor with a 1/1.28-inch size, variable aperture from f/1.49 to f/4.0, and optical image stabilization.
- Periscope Telephoto: 50MP RYYB sensor with f/2.2 aperture, 3.5x optical zoom, OIS, and telephoto macro capabilities.
- Ultra-Wide: 40MP RYYB sensor with an f/2.2 aperture.
- Color Sensor: Third-generation Red Maple primary color camera.
For selfies, the device features an 8.3MP camera on both the internal and cover screens.
The smartphone is powered by a 5,600mAh battery that supports 66W wired charging and 50W wireless charging. Additional hardware includes a side-mounted fingerprint scanner, touch-sensitive buttons on both edges that can record electrocardiogram (ECG) data certified as a Class II medical device by the NMPA, and support for the M-Pen 3 stylus. Connectivity features include 5G, dual 4G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0 LE, GPS, NFC, a USB 3.1 Type-C port, and satellite communication support for Tiantong satellite calls and two-way BeiDou messaging.
