Huawei has officially launched its latest flip phone, the Huawei Pura X, in China. This marks a major shift for the company as it is the first Huawei smartphone to completely abandon Android. Instead, it introduces Harmony Intelligence, Huawei’s proprietary AI assistant, and operates on HarmonyOS Next.
This is the first Huawei phone that does not use the Android Open Source Project (AOSP), which the company had been relying on since being banned from using Google’s services. Unlike the Mate 70 series, which launched in 2024 and allowed users to choose between Android and HarmonyOS, the Pura X comes exclusively with HarmonyOS Next, making it completely incompatible with Android apps.
At first glance, the Pura X looks like a typical flip phone, but its unique hinge design sets it apart. Instead of the hinge being positioned at the top like other clamshell foldables, Huawei has placed it on the side, allowing the phone to open more like a book-style foldable. When closed, the device features a 3.5-inch OLED outer display with a 1:1 aspect ratio and a refresh rate ranging from 1Hz to 120Hz. Once unfolded, it reveals a 6.3-inch foldable OLED screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, LTPO adaptive refresh rate between 1Hz and 120Hz, and 1440Hz high-frequency PWM dimming for better eye comfort.
Due to US sanctions, Huawei has been unable to use the latest chipsets from companies like Qualcomm. As a result, the company continues to rely on its in-house Kirin processors. While Huawei has not officially disclosed the exact chipset powering the Pura X, reports suggest it is using the Kirin 9020, which was introduced last year. The phone supports up to 16GB of RAM and offers a maximum of 1TB storage.
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In the camera department, Huawei has equipped the Pura X with a triple-camera setup. It features a 50-megapixel main sensor with optical image stabilization (OIS), a 40-megapixel ultra-wide-angle macro camera, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom and OIS. The inner display also houses a 10.7-megapixel selfie camera.
The phone is powered by a 4,720mAh silicon-carbon battery, which supports 66W wired fast charging and 40W wireless fast charging. It also comes with an IPX8 water resistance rating, providing durability against water exposure.
The Huawei Pura X has been launched in China at a starting price of CNY 7,499 (approximately Rs 89,000). Given Huawei’s limited market presence in India and the phone’s lack of Android support, it is unlikely to be officially launched in the country. Even for those considering importing the device, the incompatibility with Android apps could make everyday usage challenging.
