Huawei has officially entered the foldable laptop market by introducing the MateBook X Fold Ultimate Design, which was unveiled yesterday.
This innovative device is Huawei’s first attempt at a foldable PC and debuts HarmonyOS 5, the company’s in-house operating system, on a laptop for the first time.
The MateBook X Fold represents a major milestone in Huawei’s effort to build a more self-sufficient hardware and software ecosystem.
The laptop features an 18-inch OLED display with a resolution of 3.3K and a 4:3 aspect ratio when fully opened. This large screen provides users with a tablet-like experience suitable for multitasking, media use, and productivity tasks.
When folded, it resembles a 13-inch laptop, making it more portable for everyday use. Unlike traditional laptops, the MateBook X Fold does not have a physical keyboard; instead, it uses a virtual keyboard on the lower half of the screen.
Huawei has not confirmed the specific chipset used in the device, but noted it is powered by an in-house processor. The laptop is available with configurations offering up to 32GB of RAM and 2TB of storage, making it capable of handling demanding tasks.
This hardware setup, combined with the flexible display, suggests Huawei is targeting power users and professionals looking for a high-end, multitasking laptop.
The MateBook X Fold is the first laptop to run HarmonyOS 5, Huawei’s latest operating system developed as an alternative to Microsoft’s Windows and Apple’s macOS.
The OS supports more than 150 native applications, including productivity tools like WPS Office and design apps such as Meitu Xiu Xiu. This launch is part of Huawei’s ongoing strategy to reduce reliance on foreign software amid continued restrictions from the US government.
At a starting price of 23,999 yuan (approximately KES 430,000), the MateBook X Fold is positioned as a premium product. It is currently only available in China, with no confirmed plans for a global release.
