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Beijing, September 7, 2026 – Huawei and Xiaomi are stepping up their challenge to Apple in the premium smartphone market, unveiling new foldable devices just days before Apple’s highly anticipated foldable iPhone debut.
The timing underscores China’s determination to seize momentum in high end innovation, even as global smartphone demand contracts sharply.
On September 7, 2026, Huawei introduced the Mate XT 2, a dual folding handset that can transform from a phone into a tablet.
The device is powered by Huawei’s new LogicFolding chip design, which the company claims will deliver superior performance and efficiency.
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Xiaomi, meanwhile, launched the Xiaomi 18 Fold on the same day, featuring a passport-style design similar to Apple’s expected foldable iPhone.
It runs on domestic CXMT memory and Xiaomi’s proprietary Xring O3 processor, signaling a push toward greater self in advanced components.
Apple is set to reveal its foldable iPhone on September 9, 2026, with analysts projecting a price tag above US$2,000 (S$2,530).
Despite the premium cost, Apple is expected to capture 25 percent of the global foldable market in 2026, rising to 41 percent by 2027, thanks to its loyal customer base and ecosystem integration.
The company’s entry is widely seen as a turning point that could normalize foldables as mainstream devices rather than niche products.
The launches come against a bleak backdrop: global smartphone shipments are forecast to decline 14 percent in 2026, the steepest drop on record.
Chinese brands, long reliant on budget models, have seen profits squeezed by rising component costs and slowing demand.
Foldables, however, offer a rare bright spot, allowing companies to raise average selling prices and reposition themselves in the premium segment.
For Huawei and Xiaomi, the strategy is both defensive and opportunistic aiming to capture headlines before Apple dominates the conversation.
Samsung Electronics, currently the global leader in foldables, now faces intensified competition.
While Huawei and Xiaomi are strong in China, Apple’s global reach and premium positioning could reshape the market dynamics, leaving Samsung squeezed between aggressive Chinese challengers and Apple’s brand power.
Still, risks remain. Rising memory prices have forced Chinese manufacturers to stockpile supplies, further pressuring margins.
Consumer adoption is another hurdle while foldables are gaining traction, they remain expensive and fragile compared to traditional smartphones.
Apple’s entry may accelerate adoption, but its pricing could limit mainstream appeal.
For now, Huawei and Xiaomi’s bold timing reflects a broader ambition to prove that Chinese brands can innovate at the highest level and compete head-on with Apple in defining the future of mobile technology.
Whether they succeed will depend not only on engineering breakthroughs but also on convincing consumers that foldables are worth the premium.
