Huawei Confirms Pura X Max Wide Foldable Launch Alongside Pura 90 Series on April 20

Huawei has officially confirmed the debut of its Pura X Max foldable smartphone, positioning it as the industry's first horizontally wide foldable device. The formal unveiling is slated for April 20, 2026, in China, an event that will concurrently introduce the Pura 90 series smartphones, including the Pura 90 Pro and Pura 90 Pro Max.

The strategic design pivot for the Pura X Max moves away from the tall, narrow form factors that previously characterized the foldable segment, aiming instead for a usability profile closer to compact tablets. The internal display specifications detail a screen measuring approximately 7.6 to 7.69 inches diagonally with a 16:10 aspect ratio, complemented by an external cover screen of approximately 5.5 inches. This wider internal screen is intended to enhance media consumption and multitasking capabilities. Hardware considerations include a triple rear camera array with horizontally aligned sensors and design elements aimed at minimizing the visible display crease, while the internal screen will feature a corner-offset punch-hole camera.

Pre-orders for the Pura X Max have already commenced in China, requiring an advance deposit of 1,000 yuan across configurations including 12GB + 256GB, 12GB + 512GB, 16GB + 512GB (Collector's Edition), and a 16GB + 1TB option. Color schemes revealed for the device include Interstellar Blue, Olive Gold, Phantom Night Black, Vibrant Orange, and Zero Degree White.

The device is anticipated to operate on HarmonyOS 6.1 and be powered by the Huawei Kirin 9030 chip. This processor is manufactured by SMIC utilizing their N+3 process node, which is an advanced evolution of SMIC's 7nm-class technology, achieved without Extreme Ultraviolet (EUV) lithography. The Kirin 9030 CPU configuration is specified as two large cores at 2.75GHz, four medium cores at 1.72GHz, and six small cores at 2.27GHz, utilizing the Maleoon 935 GPU and reportedly offering a 35% improvement in overall system performance over previous iterations. Analysis confirms the N+3 node remains less scaled than leading commercial 5nm processes from TSMC and Samsung.

The Pura 90 Pro and Pura 90 Pro Max are also part of the April 20 launch. The Pura 90 Pro Max is expected to feature the Kirin 9030 Pro chipset, potentially a 7,000 mAh battery with 100W wired charging, and satellite communication support. Both Pro models are reportedly transitioning to flat 2.5D OLED displays, with the Pro series anticipated to feature a 6.87-inch 1.5K LTPO panel with a 1–120Hz refresh rate.

This introduction of a wide foldable form factor by Huawei places it in a competitive landscape where major rivals are reportedly pivoting toward similar designs, including expectations for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide and Apple's anticipated iPhone Fold. Industry projections from IDC suggest the broader foldable market is set to see approximately 30% year-over-year growth in 2026, driven by these new form factors and the entry of Apple into the segment, making Huawei's early adoption of the wide format a significant competitive maneuver.