Huawei Unveils Pura X, First Foldable Smartphone Running HarmonyOS Next
Huawei Technologies has launched the Pura X, a foldable smartphone powered by its home-grown HarmonyOS Next operating system. The device marks the latest step in Huawei’s resurgence in the smartphone market despite ongoing US sanctions.
The Pura X, part of Huawei’s premium Pura brand, features a vertically folding design with a 6.3-inch main screen and a 16:10 aspect ratio, resembling a tablet. It also includes a smaller 3.5-inch screen on the back, which supports phone calls and mobile payments.
The smartphone runs on HarmonyOS Next, the latest version of Huawei’s operating system that is not compatible with Android. It is the second device to use the updated system, following the Huawei Mate 70 series, which was introduced in November.
Huawei has been making strides in the smartphone industry despite restrictions on accessing advanced chips. The company surprised the market in 2023 with an in-house 5G chip in the Mate 60 and introduced the world’s first trifold phone in 2024.
Richard Yu, chairman of Huawei’s consumer business group, stated that HarmonyOS Next offers a 40% performance improvement over Android. He also noted that over 20,000 native apps and services are now available on the platform, with 20 apps surpassing 2 million downloads. Huawei expects all its smartphones and tablets to transition to HarmonyOS Next this year.
The Pura X is available in five colour options and starts at 7,499 yuan (USD 1,037). At this price, it does not qualify for China’s government subsidy scheme, which provides a 15% discount on smartphones, tablets, and smartwatches priced under 6,000 yuan. This suggests Huawei is focusing on expanding its presence in the premium market.
HarmonyOS has been gaining traction in China. In the three months ended December 31, its market share reached 19%, surpassing Apple’s iOS for the fourth consecutive quarter. Android remained the dominant operating system with a 64% market share, while iOS held 17%, according to Counterpoint Research.
Huawei led China’s smartphone market in January, benefiting from a government subsidy programme that began on Jan. 20. During the first week of the programme, total smartphone sales surged 65% year on year to over 9.5 million units, according to Counterpoint data.
Apple, whose iPhone 16 models do not qualify for the subsidies due to their premium pricing, introduced the budget-friendly iPhone 16e last month. This model is eligible for a 500-yuan discount in China, except for the 512-gigabyte version.
Huawei launched the Pura X, a foldable smartphone running HarmonyOS Next.
The device features a 6.3-inch main screen and a 3.5-inch secondary display.
HarmonyOS Next is not compatible with Android and offers a 40% performance boost.
Source: SCMP