Huawei to Launch Compact Flagship Foldable MateBook Fold in Q4 with Built-In External Cover Display

Huawei will roll out a refreshed version of its existing 18-inch MateBook Fold foldable laptop later the same day, retaining its large flexible panel without major structural or hardware overhauls. Meanwhile, industry insiders leak that a brand-new compact flagship foldable notebook is scheduled to hit the market in the fourth quarter of 2026, packing an exclusive external cover screen that drastically improves daily usability.

The built-in outer display enables users to complete lightweight daily tasks without fully unfolding the main panel, including checking WeChat notifications, previewing calendar schedules, jotting quick memos, scanning QR codes and wireless screen casting—ideal for fast operations during commutes or short business trips. This compact device supports three flexible form factor modes:

1. Standalone tablet mode powered solely by the external cover screen
2. Standard laptop mode for daily document editing
3. Expanded large-screen mode after full unfolding

By referencing the aspect ratio of the current-generation MateBook Fold, the new compact model features a roughly 14-inch inner flexible main display, which folds down to a portable footprint matching mainstream 10-inch consumer tablets. This size tier perfectly aligns with Huawei’s triple-fold smartphone lineup, forming a complete full-size product matrix covering foldable mobile and PC devices.

In terms of hardware specifications, the mini foldable laptop matches the high-end configuration of the 18-inch flagship variant. It adopts Huawei’s proprietary Basalt Water Drop Hinge paired with premium UTG Ultra-Thin Glass for the flexible screen. At its core sits Huawei’s self-developed Kirin X9 series PC processor, preloaded with the latest HarmonyOS 6.1. It fully inherits Huawei’s full smart office ecosystem including multi-screen collaboration, stylus hand-drawing, and seamless cross-device connectivity, with native compatibility for the official Huawei M-Pencil stylus.