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The era of tri-folding phones is nigh | Image by PhoneArena
A couple of years ago, Huawei climbed to the top of the smartphone market, surpassing Samsung and Apple in the number of phones shipped. The Chinese company was about to take on the US market but then came the ban and all went downhill from there.
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So, you know how Google services are a no-go on Huawei phones lately? Well, the company is trying to push its own Harmony OS with the Huawei AppGallery store. We're not sure if it's going to be a hit, but what we do know is we've put some of the latest Huawei phones to the test, and they're quite good, at least on the hardware front.
For all you Huawei fans out there, we've rounded up the best Huawei phones in 2026. The new camera king, the Huawei Pura 80 Ultra, is already out, and so is the Mate X7 - the top foldable in Huawei's portfolio. Last but not least, we shouldn't forget the first mass-produced tri-fold, the Huawei Mate XT.
One of the best camera systems on a phone with a 1-inch sensor | Image by PhoneArena
The latest Pura takes off where the previous model left off, bringing more innovation to the table. Along with the 1-inch camera sensor under the main camera lens, this phone features a big sensor that physically moves under two telephoto lenses. Okay, technically the prism that focuses the light moves, but you get the picture—two zoom levels on one sensor. It's a great idea.
The Pura 80 Ultra also features a great screen, great battery life, and super-fast charging. The processor inside might be viewed as a compromise—it's Huawei's in-house-developed Kirin 9020 (7 nm), but the UI and the software in general are so well optimized that everything is fast and fluid.
The only drawback, besides the lack of Google Mobile Services, is the price of the phone, starting at 1,200 euros. It's not pocket money, and it requires a leap of faith to reach and grab the Pura 80 Ultra rather than go for something familiar and cheaper. But it's a great camera phone!
The Huawei Mate 80 Pro is a proper flagship, but one that's also hard to find | Image by PhoneArena
The Huawei Mate 80 Pro is the company's latest ultra-premium flagship, but the sad part is that this model is not exactly available everywhere around the world. The global rollout is focused mainly on countries in Asia and the Middle East, so Europe and North America won't have the chance to get the Mate 80 Pro.
What are the differences compared to the previous model? The new model has a bigger battery, upgraded camera system, and a new, flatter design. The main camera uses a different 50MP sensor with the same variable f/1.4-4.0 aperture, while the telephoto and the ultrawide are largely unchanged.
The Kirin 9030 in-house developed processor is still a few generations behind the latest Qualcomm offerings, but gets the job done. All in all, the Huawei Mate 80 Pro is a great package, hindered only by it's availability or the lack of it.
The latest Huawei foldable is reassuringly durable | Image by PhoneArena
The Huawei Mate X7 is the latest foldable from the company, and it follows the X-series philosophy. The X-series foldables fold inwards, much like the Galaxy Z Fold, while the XS-series are outward-folding. The Mate X7 is a masterpiece when it comes to hardware, with a bright screen, almost invisible crease, and one of the best hinges in the business.
What's even more impressive is that the Mate X7 is also great on the camera front, that's not always the case with foldables. Daylight and nighttime photos are great, and you don't sacrifice anything camera-wise with this model.
Of course, being a Huawei device, this phone lacks GMS, and you need to find your preferable workaround but it's also a reason to try and get out of Google's ecosystem and find out whether or not that's your thing.
The Mate XT won our Innovation award | Image by PhoneArena
It's great to see innovation in action, and that's what the Huawei Mate XT really is. A bold move from Huawei to mass-produce a concept device with an even bolder price tag of 3,500 euros. The Mate XT is not just a showpiece, though; it's a powerhouse capable of things other smartphones, even regular foldables, can't do.
The device folds three times to offer you a "regular" smartphone experience, and it's so thin that even folded in three it's just 12.8 mm thick. The real magic happens when you unfold it, though, as the resulting 10.2-inch tablet-like device is much more usable than normal dual-folding phones. The aspect ratio is great for media consumption and productivity, and the phone is designed in such a way that you can partially unfold it and use it as a dual-folding phone.
There are three batteries inside with a combined capacity of 5,600 mAh and a unique way to arrange the internals of the phone. There are no compromises when it comes to the camera system, and it can rival regular, non-folding camera phones as well. Of course, the 3,500-euro price tag is buying you a glimpse at the future, not hardware specs, so if you're prepared to pay the price, you can have the first and only tri-folding phone on the market.
So there you have it! The best Huawei phones you can get (if you try really hard) in 2026. It's a work-in-progress list, and we'll be adding models as they pop up. The latest and greatest is the new and fresh Pura 80 Ultra, with its one inch sensor and a very interesting design.
Let's not forget the first tri-folding phone on the market - the Huawei Mate XT. It's a great feat of engineering and a device that promises to pave the world for even more innovative products.
Sadly, these phones don't have Google apps and services onboard, and they are very, very hard to get outside China. It's a pity, because hardware-wise, Huawei phones are still quite potent and could've offered some real competition and run for the money from the big players in the business.
The Huawei case is a strange one, and we're not sure where things will end up with this brand. It might rise from the ashes and fly on the phoenix wings of Harmony OS, or it can dissolve into oblivion. Only time will tell...
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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