Huawei Unveils Mate XT 2 Smartphone with Proprietary Kirin 9050 Pro Chip
New trifold device features HarmonyOS 7 and claims 42 per cent performance improvement over previous models.
Quick Look
- Huawei launched the Mate XT 2, a trifold smartphone featuring the new Kirin 9050 Pro processor and HarmonyOS 7.
- Priced at 19,999 yuan, the device marks Huawei's latest effort to enhance chip performance amid ongoing competition in the foldable phone market.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Huawei is developing proprietary chip technology to mitigate the impact of restrictions on foreign semiconductor equipment. The foldable phone market is experiencing significant growth projections.
Huawei Technologies has unveiled its first smartphone powered by a next-generation mobile processor based on the company’s proprietary Tau Scaling Law, continuing its push to boost chip performance while reducing reliance on advanced foreign semiconductor equipment.
Speaking at a launch event in Guangzhou on Monday, Richard Yu Chengdong, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, described the Kirin 9050 Pro as the company’s “most powerful Kirin chip ever”.
The chip is used in the Mate XT 2, a new trifold smartphone unveiled on Monday starting at 19,999 yuan (US$2,980). Huawei’s Yu stated that the chip improved overall performance by 42 per cent compared with the previous-generation Mate XTs model released last year.
The launch comes as competition in the foldable phone sector heats up. Chinese rival Xiaomi is set to announce a new foldable model later on Monday, while Apple’s first-ever foldable is expected to be revealed on Wednesday.
Global shipments of foldable phones grew 18 per cent last year, according to Counterpoint Research on Monday, which projected growth to accelerate to 24 per cent this year and 37 per cent in 2027.
The Mate XT 2 is also the first device to run on the updated HarmonyOS 7, the latest version of Huawei’s self-developed operating system. Initially released to developers in June as a beta version featuring AI coding agents, the software began rolling out to existing Huawei phones on Monday.
What to Watch
AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
Xiaomi to announce a new foldable model.
Very likely · Within hours
Open Questions
- What are the specific technical details of the Tau Scaling Law?
- How will the Mate XT 2 perform in international markets?
