Huawei has unveiled its latest flip phone, the Huawei Pura X, in China, marking a major shift in the company’s smartphone lineup.
This is Huawei’s first phone to ditch Android completely, running HarmonyOS Next, a version of the company’s in-house operating system that doesn’t support Android apps. It also debuts Harmony Intelligence, Huawei’s new AI assistant.
No more android: A major shift for Huawei
For years, Huawei relied on Android Open Source Project (AOSP) after the US banned it from using Google’s services. However, with the launch of HarmonyOS Next, the Pura X no longer supports Android apps at all. This is a big step for Huawei, as previous devices—like the Mate 70 series—allowed users to choose between Android and HarmonyOS. With the Pura X, there’s no such option.
Huawei Pura X: What makes it stand out?
At first glance, the Huawei Pura X looks like other flip phones, but it has a unique twist—literally. Instead of a hinge at the top, it has a side-mounted hinge, making it open more like a book-style foldable rather than a traditional flip phone.
On the outside, the phone features a 3.5-inch OLED display with a 1:1 aspect ratio and 1-120Hz refresh rate. Inside, there’s a 6.3-inch foldable OLED screen with a 16:10 aspect ratio, 1-120Hz LTPO 2.0 adaptive refresh rate, and 1440Hz PWM dimming for better eye comfort.
Since the US ban, Huawei has been developing its own Kirin-branded chips. While Huawei hasn’t officially disclosed the processor inside the Pura X, reports suggest it’s powered by the Kirin 9020. The phone supports up to 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage.
Camera, battery, and other features
Huawei is packing serious camera hardware into the Pura X, with a triple-camera setup on the back. We get a 50MP main sensor with OIS, a 40MP ultra-wide-angle macro lens and an 8MP 3.5x telephoto lens with OIS
For selfies, there’s a 10.7MP front camera inside the foldable display.
Battery life is also impressive, with a 4,720mAh silicon-carbon battery, 66W wired fast charging, and 40W wireless charging. Plus, the phone comes with an IPX8 rating for water resistance.
Pricing details
The Huawei Pura X starts at CNY 7,499 (approximately ₹89,000) in China. Given Huawei’s limited presence in India and the fact that HarmonyOS Next doesn’t support Android apps, it’s unlikely that the Pura X will officially launch in the country. Even if someone imports the device, the lack of Android support could make it difficult to use outside of China.
With the Pura X, Huawei is taking a bold step toward complete independence from Android. Whether this move pays off or limits Huawei’s reach globally remains to be seen.
