Key Highlights:
- Huawei’s upcoming Pura X Max introduces a wide foldable design just days before Apple’s first foldable iPhone is expected to surface in leaks.
- The device appears to follow the unusual extra-wide format first seen in the earlier Pura X.
- Apple’s foldable iPhone may launch alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup in September.
- Reports suggest Apple could brand its foldable as “iPhone Ultra” instead of “iPhone Fold.”
Huawei is preparing to launch the Pura X Max in China next week, introducing a wide foldable design that closely mirrors expectations around Apple’s first foldable iPhone. The timing is notable because Apple’s device is rumored to debut later this year with a similar book-style form factor.
The Pura X Max appears to extend the design language first seen in Huawei’s earlier Pura X, which arrived as an extra-wide flip-style foldable. However, the Max variant moves further into tablet-like territory with a wider internal display layout.
What makes the Huawei Pura X Max design different?
The Huawei Pura X Max stands out because it does not follow the tall, narrow foldable pattern seen in most clamshell foldables. Instead, it adopts a wider aspect ratio that supports both portrait and landscape use more naturally.
Huawei’s promotional imagery already shows the device operating comfortably in both orientations. That detail suggests the company is positioning the phone for multitasking and media viewing rather than compact portability alone.
Only limited hardware details are available so far. However, early visuals confirm a triple-lens rear camera setup. This signals that Huawei is targeting the premium foldable category rather than introducing a mid-range experiment.
Interestingly, the Pura X Max builds directly on last year’s smaller Pura X. That earlier model introduced the idea of an extra-wide flip foldable, making the Max version a logical next step rather than a sudden design shift.
How does this connect to Apple’s foldable iPhone plans?
Reports about Apple’s foldable iPhone suggest the device will follow a book-style folding structure with a wide internal display. Dummy models that surfaced recently indicate the phone may feature a 5.5-inch outer screen and a 7.8-inch internal display when unfolded.
That internal display size places it slightly below the footprint of an iPad mini. However, it remains large enough to support tablet-style productivity tasks.
Earlier rumors suggested Apple’s foldable would resemble the Oppo Find N5 in shape and proportions. More recent developments now hint that the wider layout seen in Huawei’s Pura X Max could better reflect Apple’s final direction.
At the same time, Samsung is also believed to be exploring a similar wide-aspect foldable for an upcoming device. This suggests a broader industry transition toward shorter and wider foldable formats.
When could Apple launch its foldable iPhone?
Current reports point to a September debut window alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models. If accurate, the foldable iPhone would mark Apple’s biggest hardware category expansion since introducing its first large-screen smartphones.
Pricing expectations remain high. Most supply-chain estimates place the starting cost near $2,000. That would position the device firmly in the ultra-premium tier of the smartphone market.
There is also uncertainty around the product name. Some rumors claim Apple may introduce the device as the “iPhone Ultra” instead of using the widely circulated “iPhone Fold” label.
Why the timing of Huawei’s launch matters
The arrival of the Huawei Pura X Max just before Apple’s foldable announcement window could influence how the market interprets wide foldable designs. If adoption grows, manufacturers may shift away from taller foldable layouts toward more tablet-like proportions.
This transition could reshape expectations around multitasking, productivity, and media consumption on foldable devices. As a result, the Huawei Pura X Max may act as an early indicator of where premium foldables are heading next.
