Apple Inc.Huawei's new tri-fold launch ahead of iPhone launch intensifies competition in premium smartphones, especially in China.

Huawei Technologies has unveiled its second triple-folding smartphone, the Mate XT2, powered by chips not subject to U.S. supply restrictions, just days before Apple's annual iPhone launch. Announced Monday by Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei's consumer electronics group, the device features the in-house Kirin 9050 Pro chipset, with prices starting at 19,999 yuan ($2,980) for the 256GB model and rising to 24,999 yuan ($3,724.91) for the 1TB version with a privacy screen. Yu highlighted the chip's Linxi Core CPU, Maleoon GPU, and Da Vinci NPU, noting it can run AI models with up to 3 billion parameters on-device and delivers 42% higher overall computing performance than its predecessor. The launch comes as Apple faces a high-stakes test with its premium-only iPhone lineup, and as IDC forecasts a 16.7% year-over-year decline in global smartphone shipments for 2026, a downturn concentrated in segments Apple barely serves, while Huawei's resurgence could challenge Apple in China.
Apple Inc.Huawei's new tri-fold launch ahead of iPhone launch intensifies competition in premium smartphones, especially in China.
Applovin CorpHuawei unveils Mate XT2 with new Kirin chipset, showcasing technological advancement and product launch.