Huawei just dropped the Pura X Max in China. It’s the first wide foldable phone you can actually buy. Preorders kicked off today at prices starting around $1,613 for the base model.
The device folds open like a passport. Unfolded, it measures 166.5 x 120 x 5.2 mm. Folded, that’s 85 x 120 x 11.2 mm, weighing 229 grams. A slimmer build than its predecessor, the original Pura X. Inside, a 7.7-inch LTPO OLED display hits 3000 nits peak brightness with 1-120Hz refresh. The 5.4-inch cover screen pushes 3500 nits. Both pack 1440Hz PWM dimming and support the Huawei M-Pen 3 Mini stylus. The Verge calls it a beat on Samsung and Apple, who rumor wider folds for later this year.
Power comes from Huawei’s Kirin 9030 Pro chip. No Qualcomm here. Memory options run 12GB RAM with 256GB or 512GB storage at ¥10,999 ($1,613) and ¥12,999 ($1,800). Collector’s Edition jumps to 16GB/512GB for ¥12,999 or 16GB/1TB at ¥14,999 ($2,053). Battery’s 5,300mAh with 66W wired, 50W wireless, even 7.5W reverse wireless. GSMArena notes the thinner profile and stylus nod.
Cameras. Triple rear: 50MP main with variable f/1.4-f/4.0 aperture and OIS, 12.5MP ultrawide, 50MP 3.5x periscope telephoto that doubles for macro. AI steps in with pose suggestions for shots. Front gets dual 8MP sensors, one per screen. Second-gen Red Maple multispectral lens tunes colors. IP59/58 rating, IR blaster, VC cooling, USB 3.1 Gen1, eSIM, Wi-Fi 7+, Bluetooth 6.0, NFC, even satellite comms. HarmonyOS 6.1 runs the show.
But. No global launch word yet. China only, like most recent Huawei flagships. U.S. sanctions linger, blocking Google services. HarmonyOS fills that gap, though app access varies outside China. Android Headlines highlights how it edges Samsung’s rumored Z Fold 8 wide variant.
Why wide? Tall foldables like Galaxy Z Folds feel phone-like closed, tablet-narrow open. This squares up. Cover screen’s nearly square, inner display wider for multitasking, video, stylus work. Echoes early Pixel Fold or Oppo Find N. Huawei pioneered flip-style wide last year with Pura X. Now book-style. Android Authority pegs the 5.4-inch outer and 7.7-inch inner as direct shots at rivals’ plans.
Competition stirs. Samsung eyes wider Z Fold 8. Apple whispers iPhone Fold or Ultra for H2 2026. Huawei’s head start tests the form in real hands. Preorders via Huawei’s China site. Ships soon. Analysts watch sales; premium pricing tests demand in a maturing foldable market.
Design pulls from Pura 90 series. Textured backs in Interstellar Blue, Olive Gold, Phantom Night Black, Vibrant Orange, Zero Degree White. Gridded panels, triple cams aligned horizontally. Leaks matched reality, from live images days prior. GSMArena specs page lists May 31 expected release, though preorders now.
Performance claims solid. Kirin 9030 Pro handles HarmonyOS multitasking demos, side-by-side AI aids. Battery life should stretch, given silicon-carbon cells common in Huawei packs. Charging speeds competitive, wireless a bonus.
China’s foldable share grows. Huawei leads domestically. Global? Tougher. No Play Store hurts. AppGallery expands, sideloading works. Execs stay mum on exports. Focus stays home market first.
Early buzz on X mixes hype and skepticism. Posts show unboxings, spec rundowns. One calls color accuracy a win over iPhone 17 Pro Max. Another flags price as steep. Hands-on videos demo the wide unfold, stylus scribbles.
Foldables evolve. Durability improves—UTG glass, second-gen Kunlun cover. Crease? Minimized in promo shots. Real tests pending. Huawei bets big on width changing usage. If it clicks in China, pressure mounts on Seoul, Cupertino.
Pricey entry. Base undercuts some rivals converted, but tops slab flagships. Collectors pay extra for flair, more RAM. Availability ties to HarmonyOS ecosystem—phones, pads, watches sync tight.
Shift happening. Wide folds address pain points: usable cover screens, natural inner ratios. Huawei plants flag. Others follow or differentiate. Market watches.
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