With the failure of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, a number of smartphone manufacturers are throwing their hat into the ring in a bid to capture this growing market. The latest to join the fray is Huawei with its flagship foldable phone, the Mate X. Recent rumors claim that the Huawei Mate X will be powered by the new Kirin 990 chipset.
Following the disaster release of the Samsung Galaxy Fold, Huawei decided to postpone the official release of the Mate X in order to make sure that it will not repeat Samsung's mistakes. The delay gave Huawei the time it needed to make necessary upgrades in terms of hardware. It was considered a good decision for Huawei as it gave it enough time to equip the Mate X with the powerful Kirin 990 chipset.
The same SOC can be found on the Huawei Mate 30 and Mate 30 Pro. Huawei also made some changes in terms of the Mate X's camera configuration and position. The rear camera now closely resembles that of the Mate 20. As for its camera configuration, the Huawei Mate X will feature the RYYB sensor, the same sensor installed on the P30 Pro. This new camera sensor promises excellent performance, even in low-light environments.
One interesting fact about the Kirin 990 is that Huawei has yet to announce it officially. The company is rumored to make the official announcement next month at its IFA 2019 press conference. The chipset is considered a great breakthrough and is the first of its kind. It is the first mobile processor that HiSilicon built using the 7nm EUV process from TSMC.
The Kirin 990 is touted to be the fast and will deliver excellent energy efficiency compared to the current-generation Kirin 980. The chipset is expected to support 4K video capture at a stunning 60fps refresh rate. All three of Huawei's upcoming flagship devices - the Mate 30, Mate 30 Pro, and Mate X - are expected to sport the Kirin 990 chipset.
As for its physical design, the Mate X will feature a foldable design. Its buttons are slimmer, and it features a more refined version of the Falcon hinge. Huawei has kept details about the Mate X under the radar, and based on the amount of information that has leaked; it would appear that Huawei is doing an excellent job at that. Huawei is expected to unveil the Mate X foldable smartphone next month.
