Huawei Beats Apple to Wide 'Passport' Foldable Design

Huawei has officially unveiled the Pura X Max, a new wide-format foldable smartphone with a "passport" form factor that closely mirrors recent leaks of Apple's first foldable device. Scheduled for a full release in China on April 20, the handset moves away from the tall, narrow aspect ratios common in many current folding phones in favor of a boxier, tablet-like design.



The Pura X Max appears to be a hybrid between a traditional book-style foldable and a large flip phone. Images shared by the company reveal a device available in blue, white, orange, and black, featuring a triple rear camera system. The back of the device utilizes a distinct textured finish with gridded sections, an aesthetic carried over from the original Pura X. While that previous model was smaller and marketed primarily as a flip device, the X Max is significantly wider, allowing for a more expansive internal workspace that Huawei suggests can be used effectively in both portrait and landscape orientations.


This design positions Huawei ahead of Apple and Samsung in bringing a wide-aspect foldable to market. Recent leaks have suggested that Apple's upcoming iPhone Fold dummy model utilizes a similar passport-style layout. That device is expected to feature a 7.8-inch internal display with a 4:3 aspect ratio, as seen in 3D CAD models that surfaced earlier this year.



Samsung is also reportedly developing a "Wide Fold" variant of its Galaxy Z series to compete with the form factor Apple is expected to use. While Huawei is preparing to launch the Pura X Max next week, Apple's high-end convertible is not expected to arrive until this fall, though it has reportedly faced engineering snags during the Engineering Validation Test phase.

The Pura X Max will launch alongside the new Pura 90 series, adding pressure in a premium segment where Apple has only recently regained its lead in the Chinese market.

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Huawei's new Pura X Max looks very similar to the rumored iPhone Fold. pic.twitter.com/fwSR6p7wMw

— iClarified (@iClarified) April 13, 2026