Chinese tech company Huawei just unveiled its new MateBook Fold, and it looks suspiciously like what Apple is rumored to be cooking up in its labs.
The ultra-thin foldable device features a 13-inch form factor when closed but unfolds to reveal an impressive 18-inch OLED display with 3.3K resolution and 1600 nits peak brightness. At just 7.3mm unfolded (thinner than an iPhone 16 Pro Max), it's an impressive feat of engineering that Apple fans might find themselves eyeing with envy.
What makes this launch particularly interesting is how closely it rides on the coattails of Apple's own foldable plans – or at least rumors about its ambitions. For years now, we've heard whispers about Apple working on foldable devices, and most recent reports suggest a foldable iPad/MacBook hybrid with a screen around 18-20 inches could arrive by 2027.
Huawei's version features some clever touches, like a "water drop" hinge allowing the device to open at various angles and an on-screen keyboard activated by placing eight fingers on the display. The MateBook Fold is currently only available in China, and cashes in at around $3,330.
While Apple continues its characteristically secretive development process, Huawei has already put a product on shelves that embodies what some believe Apple is aiming for. Is this a case of Huawei beating Apple at its own game, or simply rushing to market with a concept Apple is meticulously perfecting? Either way, the foldable hybrid future suddenly feels a lot closer.
