Huawei and Xiaomi Just Raised the Stakes for Foldable Phones — Before Apple Even Takes the Stage
MOBILE · PRODUCT · CONSUMER TECH
The foldable-phone market has suddenly become a price-and-form-factor contest at the very top end. Huawei and Xiaomi unveiled new premium foldables just ahead of Apple’s September 9 event, putting fresh pressure on a category that is moving from novelty toward a genuine alternative to the conventional flagship phone.
The headline numbers are extreme: Huawei’s new Mate XT2 starts at 19,999 yuan, while Xiaomi’s 18 Fold starts at 10,999 yuan. But the more interesting story is what buyers now get for those prices — thinner bodies, more usable multitasking and increasingly ambitious in-house silicon.
Xiaomi 18 Fold: from ¥10,999
Huawei is doubling down on the tri-fold
The Mate XT2 continues Huawei’s unusual three-panel approach rather than copying the now-familiar book-style foldable. Reuters reports that the device uses Huawei’s Kirin 9050 Pro chip, adds stronger water resistance and introduces a privacy-display feature. Sales in China begin September 12, with configurations reaching 24,999 yuan.
The price makes it closer to a portable luxury screen than a mainstream smartphone. That matters because foldables are increasingly being segmented the way laptops are: not simply by processor, but by how much usable screen a buyer is willing to carry and pay for.
Xiaomi is making the foldable more conventional — and more powerful
Xiaomi’s 18 Fold takes the more familiar book-style route, but its pitch is performance and multitasking. The company says its XRing O3 processor powers the device, while the unfolded display can run three apps simultaneously. Pricing runs from 10,999 to 14,999 yuan.
| Model | Format | Starting price |
|---|---|---|
| Huawei Mate XT2 | Tri-fold | ¥19,999 |
| Xiaomi 18 Fold | Book-style | ¥10,999 |
The purchase question is changing
For years, the obvious foldable question was “Will the hinge and screen survive?” Durability still matters, but the category is mature enough that buyers should now ask a more ordinary question: does the extra screen actually replace another device in your day?
If a foldable only reproduces the same single-app phone workflow on a larger display, the premium is hard to justify. If it replaces a small tablet for reading, work, travel or split-screen tasks, the economics begin to make more sense.
And then there is Apple
Apple’s September event takes place later today at 10 a.m. PT. Reuters reports that a high-end foldable iPhone is expected to take center stage. Until Apple confirms the product, specifications and pricing remain expectations rather than facts. What is already clear is that Huawei and Xiaomi have made the benchmark much harder: a new foldable now has to offer more than the ability to bend.
Sources: Reuters, Sep. 7, 2026 · Reuters, Sep. 8, 2026 · Apple Events
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