Shenzhen, China, April 19, 2026, 23:33 China Standard Time
Fresh live shots of Huawei’s Pura X Max have hit the web just ahead of the phone’s April 20 debut in China, revealing a shiny white foldable with wide hinges, an oversized camera module, and textured panels sporting the company’s XMAGE logo. The latest leak offers the best glimpse yet of a model Huawei has hyped as a bigger foldable—pushing the concept further.
Timing is crucial here: Huawei wants to define the next wave of foldables ahead of Apple and Samsung’s launch of their own broader devices. The Pura X Max offers a book-style fold—essentially a phone that opens into a compact tablet—but stands out with a noticeably shorter, wider footprint compared to the elongated look of Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series.
Huawei has jumped back into the market with firmer footing at home. In the first quarter, the company claimed 20% of China’s smartphone market—the biggest slice it’s had since 2019. Apple followed close behind, holding 19%, according to numbers from Counterpoint Research cited by the South China Morning Post.
The Pura X Max now has a wider home audience, though China’s smartphone sector faces persistent cost pressures. “Profitability matters more than shipment growth,” said Will Wong, senior research manager at IDC Asia/Pacific. Vendors are scaling back on budget models and shifting resources into premium smartphones as they adapt, he said. IDC
Huawei has started taking pre-orders for the Pura X Max on its official VMall shop. The store lists four versions: 12GB+256GB, 12GB+512GB, 16GB+512GB Collector’s Edition, and 16GB+1TB Collector’s Edition. Buyers can pick from Interstellar Blue, Olive Gold, Phantom Night Black, Vibrant Orange, or Zero Degree White. The company hasn’t disclosed pricing or broader release details so far.
Huawei Central’s latest leak points to a pill-shaped rear camera housing, featuring three lens rings flanked by two flashes. Flip the device open and it’s got a mini tablet vibe; snap it shut, and it’s clearly made for one-handed use—though whether that holds up after launch is another question.
Huawei’s bringing stylus support to the lineup. He Gang, CEO of Huawei Consumer Business Group, said in a teaser that M-Pencil would work with the device, calling it “Easy to make drawings.” He highlighted features like drawing, note-taking, and the GoPaint app—tools designed specifically with the larger display in mind. Huawei Central
Huawei is touting new AI capabilities in its device rollout, highlighting an improved Celia assistant and enhanced creative tools. Reports focused on the company suggest the main display could hit 3,000 nits brightness, with the cover screen even higher at 3,500 nits. However, the official spec sheet is still missing.
It’s a clear shot at rivals. According to Android Central, Huawei is touting the device as the industry’s first horizontally wide foldable. The report also points out that Google’s first Pixel Fold tried a comparable form factor, and that both Samsung and Apple have been rumored to be working on wider foldable models too.
That wider format might finally address a key foldables headache: oversized screens that rarely fit the task at hand. According to T3, past Galaxy Z Fold generations unfolded into a mostly square display—awkward for reading, and making videos sit inside thick black bars. The Pura X Max, by contrast, lines up more with a 16:10 laptop ratio, potentially a better fit.
If Apple jumps into the category, it could carve out its own lane. “Apple stands out for value,” Counterpoint Research senior analyst Ivan Lam told Reuters, as competitors hike prices in China. Lam added that Huawei’s first-quarter shipments grew thanks to demand spanning both premium and entry-level devices. Reuters
Plenty of unknowns hang in the air. Huawei hasn’t released official details on pricing, hardware specs, or whether the device will launch globally. That rumored April 24 first-sale date? Still just chatter from tipsters, not confirmed by the company. Sure, a large foldable can grab headlines ahead of release — but building lasting demand, reliable supply, and robust app support for that form factor? That’s the real hurdle.
Huawei will roll out the Pura 90 series, wearables, a new notebook and smart TVs at its April 20 event, but most eyes are on the Pura X Max for a clearer industry signal. The device could reveal if Huawei can push “wide” into the spotlight as more than just a foldable teaser. Huawei Central
