Guangzhou – September 11, 2026 -- Huawei has unveiled the Mate XT 2 | ULTIMATE DESIGN, a tri-fold smartphone starting at RMB 19,999, with sales beginning September 12 at 10:08 local time.
The device is the first phone to run Huawei's new LogicFolding Tau (τ) chip, marking its move into mass production, and the first to use the company's Kirin 9050 Pro processor. Huawei says overall performance is up 42% compared to the previous generation, with the new NPU natively supporting the on-device Pangu Large Model (30B-A2B) for AI features like automated photo album sorting through its Celia assistant.
The hinge and screen get an IP58/59 rating, an industry first for tri-folds
Huawei calls the new hinge and screen setup the Xuanwu Ultra-Durable Tri-Fold Architecture, combining a cover screen made of Xuanwu Kunlun Glass with a multi-layer main screen built from UTG glass, aerospace-grade steel, and carbon fiber. The company says it's the first tri-fold phone to achieve IP58/59 dust and water resistance, and the redesigned hinge uses a five-arm curved structure to distribute pressure evenly when folding.
A privacy screen and ECG sensor turn the phone into a personal health tool
The Mate XT 2 introduces what Huawei describes as the industry's first foldable Smart Shield Privacy Screen, a hardware-level privacy mode that keeps screen resolution unchanged while blocking side views, and can sense when a user enters an airport or train station to suggest activating it. Separately, the phone has secured an NMPA Class II Medical Device Registration in China for its built-in ECG software, letting users take a heart-rhythm reading by holding the unfolded screen with both hands, with results interpreted by Celia.
The camera system claims a 95% jump in color accuracy
Huawei's True-to-Color Camera 3.0 filters out infrared interference and improves color reproduction by 95% over the prior model, according to the company. The setup pairs an ultra-HDR main camera with a periscope telephoto lens and ultra-wide camera, and video capture supports an 18 EV dynamic range. For gaming, the Maleoon GPU enables real-time ray tracing at up to 50 million rays per second.
The phone ships with HarmonyOS 7, which adds a Live-Multitask mode allowing three app windows to run side by side with independent volume controls, aimed at tasks like managing finances or comparing shopping options on the unfolded display. It also supports Tiantong satellite communication and Beidou satellite messaging for connectivity in remote areas.