Huawei (华为) unveils Pura X Max — industry’s first “wide” foldable with √2:1 paper-like display, Kirin 9030 Pro across the lineup, 10,999 yuan starting price

Industry-first foldable and pricing

Huawei (华为) on Tuesday unveiled what it has been reported that the company is calling the industry's first wide-folding smartphone: the Pura X Max. The device starts at 10,999 yuan (roughly $1,500) and is billed as a flagship folding for users who want a tablet-like inner display but a squarer, paper-like aspect ratio. The full Pura series will be powered by Huawei’s new Kirin 9030 Pro chip, marking a firm push to standardize the in-house platform across its top models.

Design, display and imaging

Huawei emphasized display symmetry: both inner and outer screens use an approximately √2:1 “paper” ratio to preserve a consistent look when open or closed. The outer panel measures 5.4 inches with up to 3,500 nits peak brightness (20% APL) and an adaptive 1–120Hz LTPO refresh rate; the inner tablet-like screen is 7.7 inches with 3,000 nits peak and the same LTPO range. The phone’s camera array is positioned as a “foldable imaging flagship,” with a 50MP main sensor, a 50MP periscope telephoto with large aperture, a second-generation color-accurate sensor and a 12.5MP ultra‑wide, plus XMAGE computational photography features and 3D dynamic photo options.

Software, AI and accessories

The Pura X Max ships with HarmonyOS 6.1 (a new “Max” experience on the device) and an expanded companion AI called “Xiaoyi accompanying AI” that Huawei says will integrate into multiple apps. It has been reported that Huawei has already secured cooperation with several Chinese platform partners including Amap (高德地图), Zhihu (知乎), Didi (滴滴出行), Baidu (百度), DingTalk (钉钉) and Xuexitong (学习通) to surface AI features. Huawei also introduced the M‑Pen 3 Mini stylus with air‑mouse controls, a wheel menu, omnidirectional microphones and a smart key to summon the assistant.

Context: chips, durability and geopolitics

Technically ambitious, the Pura X Max also touts improved durability — a new “Xuanwu” water‑drop hinge that increases usable screen area by 16% and drop resistance by 33%, plus a three‑layer composite inner display (UTG, carbon-fiber support and a high‑molecular buffer) Huawei says improves impact and squeeze resistance. The Kirin 9030 Pro on every unit is notable beyond specs: Huawei’s chipset story remains entangled with past US export controls that curtailed its access to advanced foundry tech. It has been reported that Huawei has accelerated internal R&D and local supply‑chain solutions to sustain its chip ambitions. Can Huawei translate those engineering gains into broader international traction? The Pura X Max is a clear attempt to answer that question with hardware and software tightly integrated under Huawei’s own ecosystem.