HUAWEI has officially unveiled the HUAWEI Mate XT 2 | ULTIMATE DESIGN, the latest addition to its tri-fold smartphone lineup.
The new flagship is the first smartphone to feature the Kirin 9050 Pro chipset and introduces the LogicFolding Tau (τ) Chip to mass commercialisation.
Huawei says the device combines a new wing-like tri-fold design with upgrades spanning durability, performance, privacy, photography, connectivity and large-screen software.
Ultimate Design: A Wing-Like Tri-Fold Form
The HUAWEI Mate XT 2 | ULTIMATE DESIGN features a wing-like tri-fold design that opens from both sides, creating what Huawei describes as a more intuitive unfolding experience.
The design draws inspiration from Chinese aesthetics, with a cloud pattern on the rear panel created using Brocade Cloud craftsmanship. The smartphone will be available in Purple, White and Black.
The camera module continues Huawei’s Star Diamond Glow design language. It is crafted from Yttrium Crystal and fired at 1,800°C, before undergoing eight stages of fine polishing. The process creates 33 star diamond facets, giving the camera ring a gemstone-like appearance.
Durability is handled by Huawei’s new Xuanwu Ultra-Durable Tri-Fold Architecture, which re-engineers the hinge and display structure to provide layered protection from the inside out.
The Mate XT 2 is the first tri-fold smartphone to support IP58 and IP59 dust and water resistance. Its cover display uses Xuanwu Kunlun Glass, designed to withstand everyday scratches and impacts while also incorporating anti-glare technology for improved visibility under direct sunlight.
The main display uses a multi-layer composite ultra-tough structure comprising a large UTG glass layer, aerospace-grade ultra-thin high-strength steel and a carbon-fibre support layer for increased impact resistance.
Huawei’s Advanced Precision Hinge System 2.0 features a five-curved-arm structure and synchronised linkage mechanism to distribute force more evenly while improving pressure resistance.
Ultimate Performance: Kirin 9050 Pro Takes the Lead
The HUAWEI Mate XT 2 | ULTIMATE DESIGN is the first device powered by the Kirin 9050 Pro, which Huawei says delivers improvements in both performance and energy efficiency.
Through deeper integration between hardware, software, chipset and cloud technologies, overall device performance is claimed to be 42% higher than the previous generation.
The LinxiCore CPU, paired with Huawei’s Ark Engine, is designed to accelerate large-file loading and improve performance when running multiple applications simultaneously.
Graphics performance also gets an upgrade through the Maleoon GPU, which now features twice the computing units and cache. For gaming, the smartphone supports 50 MRPS hardware-level real-time ray tracing, enabling more detailed lighting and reflections in supported titles.
For AI workloads, the HUAWEI Da Vinci Architecture NPU provides increased on-device AI computing capabilities and supports large models of different sizes.
Huawei says the Mate XT 2 is also the first smartphone in the industry to natively support the Pangu 30B-A2B MoE large language model, enabling on-device AI functions such as intelligent album management through Celia.
The phone’s thermal architecture distributes heat sources across its three frames. This works alongside ultra-large vapour chambers and highly thermally conductive graphene materials to move heat efficiently across the device.
For connectivity, the smartphone uses an intelligent combination of multiple communication systems and 32 distributed antennas, supporting faster 5A connectivity. It also supports Tiantong satellite communication and Beidou satellite messaging, providing additional connectivity when conventional mobile networks are unavailable.
Security is handled by a Mobile Security Processor working alongside an independent security chip. The system supports post-quantum cryptography algorithm detection and has passed EAL5+ CCRC security certification, providing additional protection for personal data and digital assets.
Ultimate Technology: Privacy Built Into the Display
The Mate XT 2 introduces what Huawei calls the industry’s first foldable Smart Shield Privacy Screen, bringing hardware-level privacy protection to a foldable smartphone.
The system uses an independent dual-pixel design that maintains consistent display resolution before and after Privacy mode is activated, while preserving a clear front-facing view.
Intelligent sensing can also provide reminders when users enter locations such as airports or train stations. Privacy mode can be activated through several methods, including double-tapping the cover screen or pressing the Smart Controls button.
The smartphone also comes with ECG analysis software and has obtained the NMPA Class II Medical Device Registration Certificate.
Users can begin an ECG measurement by holding the unfolded large screen with both hands. Once the measurement is complete, Celia can interpret and analyse the report to provide users with additional insights.
Ultimate Photography: True-to-Color Camera 3.0
Huawei has also upgraded the Mate XT 2’s camera system, covering both optical hardware and computational photography.
The smartphone is the first to feature True-to-Color Camera 3.0, which is designed to filter out infrared light interference and improve colour reproduction by 95% compared with the previous generation.
The camera system includes an ultra-HDR main camera, an ultra-wide-aperture periscope telephoto camera and an ultra-wide-angle camera.
Together, the system is designed to produce more natural colours, realistic portraits and clearer night photography, while maintaining performance across both close-up and long-distance shooting.
For video, the smartphone supports an ultra-high dynamic range of 18 EV, helping preserve detail across bright and dark areas of each frame.
Huawei has also upgraded XMAGE SmartCapture, which can intelligently recognise people, scenery and food scenes. The system supports AIGC real-time previews, providing recommendations for composition and lighting before users capture an image.
The tri-fold form factor also enables Desk-calendar mode shooting, allowing the phone to stand in a convenient position for selfies and group photos.
Ultimate Experience: HarmonyOS 7 for the Large Screen
The HUAWEI Mate XT 2 | ULTIMATE DESIGN runs on HarmonyOS 7, bringing new large-screen interaction features to the tri-fold form factor.
Its Live-Multitask feature allows users to display three windows side by side, with adjustable window sizes and independent volume controls.
Huawei says the large-screen experience has been optimised for scenarios including financial management, social entertainment, office productivity, shopping comparisons and travel planning.
The company has also worked with leading industry applications to improve compatibility with the tri-fold large-screen format, with the aim of expanding the wider tri-fold app ecosystem.
Pricing and Availability
The HUAWEI Mate XT 2 | ULTIMATE DESIGN starts at RMB 19,999 and will be available with a stylus set.
Official sales in China will begin at 10:08 am on 12 September 2026.
