Chinese giants Xiaomi, Huawei race to get ahead of Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone

Chinese giants Xiaomi, Huawei race to get ahead of Apple’s rumored foldable iPhone. In this article1810-HKAAPLFollow your favorite stocksCREATE FREE ACCOUNTwatch nowVIDEO4:3604:36New foldable competitors to iPhone: Here's what to knowSquawk BoxHuawei and Xiaomi this week rolled out their latest foldable phones as the Chinese tech giants look to steal a lead on rival Apple, which is rumored to launch its first foldable iPhone on Wednesday.

What happened

Xiaomi and Huawei launched new foldables ahead of Apple’s event, where the company is rumored to unveil its first foldable iPhone. Dominic PrestonAppleApple Event 2026Foldable PhonesGadgetsiPhoneMobilePhonesReportTechMost PopularMost PopularLG TVs caught spying even when offline or on standbyApple says ‘Fold’ and competitors ask ‘how wide? ’Six years later, Sony revisits its legendary XM4 headphonesDIY plug-in solar gains momentum in the USMicrosoft breaks another patch Tuesday recordAdvertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adMore in TechMeta bets on AI agent Muse to catch up in AI racePusheen’s first game is coming to Apple ArcadeA word with a woman who’s trying to pull off a crossbody phone strapGoogle’s Atlas of the human genome could pave the way for new treatmentsMicrosoft breaks another patch Tuesday recordSteelSeries’ pro-grade, wireless Xbox controller sure is expensiveMeta bets on AI agent Muse to catch up in AI raceRobert HartTwo hours agoPusheen’s first game is coming to Apple ArcadeEmma Roth3:07 PM UTCA word with a woman who’s trying to pull off a crossbody phone strapAllison Johnson2:04 PM UTCGoogle’s Atlas of the human genome could pave the way for new treatmentsRobert Hart2:00 PM UTCMicrosoft breaks another patch Tuesday recordTom Warren2:00 PM UTCSteelSeries’ pro-grade, wireless Xbox controller sure is expensiveCameron Faulkner2:00 PM UTCAdvertiser Content FromThis is the title for the native adTop StoriesTwo hours agoMeta bets on AI agent Muse to catch up in AI race7:00 AM UTCXiaomi’s wide foldable promises more power than Samsung’s5:27 PM UTCAI power users claim Anthropic duped them with subscriptions, and they’re taking it to court2:04 PM UTCA word with a woman who’s trying to pull off a crossbody phone strapNotifications DrawerSign in to see your notifications or create an account to join the conversation.

Apple is holding an event on Wednesday, where it is rumored to be unveiling the first foldable iPhone, a major new product under new CEO John Ternus. Aside from the foldable iPhone Ultra, Apple is also expected to announce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, for people who want an upgrade but don’t see the appeal of the foldable, or who don’t want to pay the rumored $2,000 price for the iPhone Ultra.

Apple could ship 6 million foldable iPhones this year and capture 25% of the global foldable smartphone market, according to Counterpoint Research. "There is significant pent-up demand for a foldable iPhone within the Apple community," Neil Shah, partner at Counterpoint Research, told CNBC on Tuesday. But in China, Apple will compete against a host of players, led by Huawei, which accounts for more than two-thirds of the foldable market in the country.

The wider picture

"They knew Apple was coming up with a foldable, so they're trying to get ahead and, more importantly, trying to make sure that when the Apple products hit the stores, their product is there so consumers can compare. "Huawei and Xiaomi chipsHuawei and Xiaomi this week touted their own self-designed chips in their foldables. 25% off tickets now Back by popular demand: Save up to $300 on Disrupt Close Image Credits:Apple Hardware How to watch Apple’s foldable iPhone announcement Amanda Silberling 10:46 AM PDT · September 8, 2026 Apple will host its annual iPhone event on Wednesday, September 9 at 10 a. m.

TechGadgetsReportApple says ‘Fold’ and competitors ask ‘How wide? ’Tomorrow’s launch of its first foldable iPhone proves Apple still calls the shots. by Dominic PrestonSep 8, 2026, 12:00 PM UTCNew Apple CEO John Ternus’ first hardware launch has already proved the company’s industry influence. | Image: The Verge / Getty ImagesTechGadgetsReportApple says ‘Fold’ and competitors ask ‘How wide? ’Tomorrow’s launch of its first foldable iPhone proves Apple still calls the shots. by Dominic PrestonSep 8, 2026, 12:00 PM UTCDominic Preston is a news editor with over a decade’s experience in journalism.

Apple is almost certain to launch its first foldable iPhone tomorrow, seven years after Samsung’s Galaxy Fold initially went on sale. But leaks and rumors have consistently suggested that Apple will instead pair the release of its Pros with the first foldable iPhone, which is likely to be short, squat, and wide, about the size and shape of a passport. Samsung, Huawei, and most recently Xiaomi have all released passport-shaped foldables over the last few months, creating an emerging form factor that looks likely to stick around, with Oppo and Honor also tipped to have similar products in the works.

Samsung in particular has probably known of Apple’s plans for some time, since it’s reportedly the manufacturer of the foldable display panel inside the new iPhone.

What has been reported

Fallon/Bloomberg / Getty Images Hardware What we expect from the upcoming Apple launch Amanda Silberling 8:58 AM PDT · September 7, 2026 It’s finally happening — this week, we are (probably) about to see Apple’s first foldable iPhone, more than five years after Samsung launched its first foldable phone. What we think we know so far about the foldable “iPhone Ultra” If Apple has made its consumers wait over half a decade for it to enter the foldable market, its first attempt had better be good — especially since reports indicate that the phone will cost more than $2,000.

According to Bloomberg’s Apple insider Mark Gurman, the foldable iPhone has a premium feel, fits nicely into a pocket, and opens up into a wide, iPad-like display. Apple would face Samsung globally, which dominates the foldable market. Some have switched, but they might come back if there is an amazing foldable iPhone. Shah said "aspiring Chinese consumers" are likely to want Apple's latest device. "We will see lots of upgrades from the existing install base in China happening toward the foldable iPhone," Shah said.

Huawei said its Mate XT2 is the first device to feature a new semiconductor technique it calls LogicFolding, which is designed to move electrical signals on a chip. watch nowVIDEO3:0603:06What to expect at Apple's big eventSquawk BoxChoose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.

What happens next

All signs point to Apple’s long-awaited entrance into the foldable smartphone market, finally shipping this kind of hardware about seven years after Samsung did. Topics Apple, Hardware, iPhone When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. After all, Huawei’s Pura X Max launched back in April, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 in July, and Xiaomi’s 18 Fold yesterday. The foldable iPhone hasn’t even been officially teased yet, let alone announced, so how could these Android OEMs possibly have copied it?

Photo: Dominic Preston / The VergeWe’ll never know for certain which manufacturer landed on the idea of a wide foldable first, but there is good reason to think it was Apple. The company has reportedly been working on a foldable iPhone since at least 2017, with leakers tipping the smaller, wider form factor as early as February 2025. Last year, the iPhone Air triggered a similar early imitation in Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, not to mention other thin and light phones from the likes of Honor, Huawei, and Tecno.

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across cnbc.com, techcrunch.com, theverge.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.