Have you been waiting for 4 years to finally see Huawei’s Kirin chip back at a launch event? On September 10, during the Huawei Mate XTs Extraordinary Master launch, not only was the world’s first triple-folding screen phone unveiled, but more importantly, after 4 years, the Kirin chip made its official return. The new device is equipped with the Kirin 9020 chip, paired with HarmonyOS 5, providing a 36% boost in overall performance and breaking the performance ceiling for foldable phones.
The event began by unveiling the phone’s design: available in four colors—Obsidian Black, Ruby Red, Pearl White, and Lavender Purple—the phone features Huawei’s first-ever TianGong hinge system. This hinge uses a dual-track linkage structure and, for the first time, achieves both inward and outward folding. Even more remarkable, the core components of the hinge are made from 1900MPa ultra-strong rocket steel, crafted through 80 layers of precision steel and 78 forging processes, ensuring exceptional durability. When unfolded, the device’s thickness is only 3.6mm, making it the world’s thinnest foldable screen phone.
Display
On the display front, Yu Chengdong, during the launch, mentioned that the Mate XTs is equipped with a 10.2-inch 3K display (3184×2232 resolution), supporting LTPO adaptive frame rate refresh and 1440Hz high-frequency PWM dimming. More importantly, this screen can switch between three usage modes: a 6.4-inch single screen for commuting, a 7.9-inch dual screen for work, and a 10.2-inch three-screen mode for entertainment—truly a “one device, multiple uses” solution.
Core Performance
In terms of core performance, the spotlight of the event was the breakthrough in the Kirin 9020 chip. Featuring a 1+3+4 architecture, with a 2.5GHz main core paired with an 840MHz Maleoon 920 GPU, alongside 16GB of RAM and up to 1TB of storage, multitasking is a breeze. As the industry’s first 5G-A SOC supporting 3GPP R18, the chip delivers a superior 5G experience. During the demo at the launch event, the phone smoothly handled video calls, document editing, and social media apps without any lag, thanks to the combination of the Kirin 9020 chip and HarmonyOS 5.
Camera System
The camera system was another highlight of the event. The Mate XTs features a 50MP ultra-light-variable main camera (with a variable aperture ranging from f/1.4 to f/4.0), a 12MP ultra-wide-angle camera, and a 12MP periscope telephoto camera (with 5.5x optical zoom). The imaging capabilities rival those of flagship bar-style phones. Even more exciting, the device supports Tiantong satellite communication, allowing users to maintain contact even in areas without signal, which is crucial for outdoor enthusiasts.
Pricing and Release Information
At the end of the event, the pricing and release details were revealed.
Finally, the event sent an important message: after 4 years, the return of the Kirin chip from 2021 to 2025 signals a major milestone—China’s chip supply chain has achieved full autonomy and control. This is a significant development for the entire industry. For regular users, it means no longer having to worry about “chip shortages” leading to compromised functionalities.
What caught your attention more at the launch event—the Mate XTs’ triple-fold design or the Kirin 9020 chip? Let us know in the comments if you’re considering purchasing it!
