Huawei launches first wide foldable, surpassing Samsung and Apple

Huawei has unveiled its passport-style foldable device in China, stepping ahead of anticipated releases from both Apple and Samsung.

This positions the Pura X Max as the pioneering large foldable phone available for purchase, with today's launch shedding light on its full specs and price point following last week’s design reveal by Huawei.

The Pura X Max is available in two variants, both ready for preorder. The basic model begins at CNY 10,999 (approximately $1,613) with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, or CNY 11,999 (around $1,800) for 512GB storage.

The Collector’s Edition starts at CNY 12,999 (roughly $1,906) for 16GB RAM / 512GB storage, or CNY 13,999 (about $2,053) for the 16GB/1TB model.

The standout feature is its broad display approach, opting for a book-like form unlike typical foldables. 

It offers a 5.4-inch cover screen with 3500 nits of peak brightness. Opening it reveals a 7.7-inch internal screen with a maximum of 3000 nits, with both displays accommodating a 1–120Hz LTPO adaptive refresh rate.

Apple and Samsung are reportedly crafting their versions of wide-style foldable phones. 

Several leaks have surfaced presenting a potential early glimpse at the speculated iPhone foldable and a broader model of Samsung’s Z Fold, though both gadgets are unlikely to hit the market before the latter part of 2026—giving Huawei a considerable lead in pioneering this design trend.

The Pura X Max, hardware-wise, includes an in-house Kirin 9030 Pro chipset and a 5,300mAh battery, supporting 66W wired and 50W wireless charging. 

The triple camera setup has a 50MP main camera with variable aperture, a 50-megapixel telephoto lens, and a 12.5MP ultra-wide lens. 

Operating on Huawei’s latest HarmonyOS 6.1, it is compatible with the Huawei M-Pen 3 Mini stylus and comes packed with AI-driven features like pose suggestions for photographers.

While Huawei hasn’t confirmed an international release for the Pura X Max, the possibility is likely to give both Samsung and Apple pause for thought.