In summary
- Huawei Mate XT 2 launch tipped to clash with iPhone 17
- 10 September launch rumoured
- Not the first time Huawei has emulated Apple
Huawei could be seeking steel some of the iPhone 17’s thunder with the launch of its next tri-fold foldable, the Huawei Mate XT 2.
According to Weibo tipster Fixed Focus Digital (via Android Headlines), Huawei is planning to launch the Huawei Mate XT 2 on 10 September, 2025.
From a certain perspective, that’s the exact same date as the Huawei Mate XT was launched last year.
Zoom out a little, however, and you’ll note that Apple has been tipped to launch the iPhone 17 series on either 9 or 10 September. Coincidence? Perhaps.
Luke Baker
Huawei’s Apple love
It’s well known that Huawei has always had Apple in its sights beyond any other smartphone manufacturer.
Well before the US government intervened by sanctioning the Chinese megabrand, it was notable how Apple-like Huawei’s phones were. It was the rare Android manufacturer to consistently emulate Apple’s sophisticated Face ID authentication system, while its custom Android UI borrowed more than a few elements from iOS.
You can see some of that lineage in the likes of the Honor Magic 7 Pro – Honor having been a Huawei sub-brand that spun off on its own following those US sanctions – and indeed the odd Huawei device that continues to find its way into our hands.
We wouldn’t put it past the brand to seek to undermine Apple’s big 2025 launch, if only for the benefit of its mostly domestic audience.
We were impressed with the hardware on the original Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design, and praised its massive fold-out screen and gorgeous design. We couldn’t fault its excellent camera set-up, either.
The big buts start with Huawei’s hamstrung software environment, in which you can’t access any Google apps or services. The price also proved prohibitively expensive.
With that said, we’re keen to see what the brand has in store for the follow-up. It really does make some impeccable hardware.
