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Introduction

I was scrolling through tech news late at night and saw a photo that made me stop.

It looked like a regular laptop. Then someone unfolded it.

And it became an 18 inch screen.

I genuinely could not figure out what I was looking at for a second.

That is the Huawei MateBook Fold. And I spent a good chunk of time researching everything about it.

Here is what I found.

So What Even Is the Huawei MateBook Fold

The MateBook Fold is Huawei's first foldable PC.

It is not a laptop. It is not a tablet. It is kind of both at the same time.

When folded it looks and works like a 13 inch laptop.

Open it fully and it becomes an 18 inch OLED screen that you can use flat on a desk or propped up with the built-in kickstand.

The whole thing weighs 1.16kg without the keyboard.

That is lighter than a 13 inch MacBook Air. Let that sink in for a second.

The Design and Build

This is where things get seriously impressive.

When unfolded the device is only 7.3mm thick on one side.

Folded up it sits at 14.9mm. That is roughly the thickness of two modern smartphones stacked together.

The back is finished in artificial leather.

The hinge is made from zirconium-based alloy and can be set at any angle between 30 and 150 degrees.

From every hands-on account I read, the hinge feels incredibly solid. Not flimsy at all.

There is a built-in kickstand on the back that sits completely flush when not in use.

No bumps. No camera bump. Nothing breaking the clean lines anywhere on the device.

The 18 Inch OLED Display

This is the whole reason the MateBook Fold exists.

The display is a dual-layer LTPO OLED panel running at 3296 by 2472 resolution.

Peak brightness hits 1600 nits.

It covers the P3 wide color gamut and uses an LTPO backplane for adaptive refresh rates up to 120Hz.

The screen-to-body ratio is 92%.

Huawei uses a non-Newtonian fluid buffer layer and a carbon fiber support layer inside the display stack.

That combination is meant to improve durability and impact resistance on what is ultimately a flexible panel being folded repeatedly over time.

In laptop mode the usable display drops to 13 inches at 2472 by 1648 resolution.

Both modes look stunning based on everything I found from people who actually held it.

The Keyboard Situation

The MateBook Fold ships with a separate wireless magnetic keyboard.

It attaches via magnets and can either sit on top of the lower screen or be used independently to the side.

When you are in laptop mode without the physical keyboard, the lower half of the screen becomes a virtual touchscreen keyboard.

You can change the layout, color, and design of that virtual keyboard.

It is a wild level of customization for something most people never think about.

With the keyboard attached the total weight goes up to 1.45kg.

Still comfortably below most conventional 15 inch laptops.

The Processor

Here is the part that matters most for daily performance.

The MateBook Fold runs on Huawei's own Kirin chip fabricated on SMIC's 7nm process.

I want to be real with you here. That chip puts it several generations behind Apple Silicon, Qualcomm Snapdragon X, and AMD Ryzen in raw performance benchmarks.

Independent testing showed CPU performance throttles under sustained heavy workloads after around 12 minutes.

For web browsing, document editing, video calls, and media consumption it handles everything without issue.

For video transcoding, large spreadsheet models, or anything seriously CPU-intensive you will hit a ceiling.

The Operating System

This is the most important thing to understand before even considering this device.

The MateBook Fold runs HarmonyOS 5. Not Windows. Not Android. Not macOS.

HarmonyOS is Huawei's own operating system.

It handles window management, split screen, floating windows, and multi-monitor output through USB-C.

Here is the thing though. The app ecosystem is limited to what is in Huawei's AppGallery.

No Microsoft Office desktop suite. No Adobe Creative Cloud. No Zoom desktop client. No Google apps of any kind.

WPS Office is available. Some Android APKs can be sideloaded manually. But Google Play Services are completely absent.

If your work relies on Windows software or Google Workspace, this will be a dealbreaker.

If you live in the Huawei ecosystem and mostly do lighter productivity work, it functions well.

RAM, Storage, and Cooling

The MateBook Fold comes in 1TB and 2TB SSD configurations.

Both versions include 32GB of RAM.

RAM and storage are soldered. There is no upgrading either after purchase.

Cooling uses a vapor chamber with dual thin aluminum fans inside the chassis.

The three-layer diamond aluminum structure helps distribute heat across a larger surface area.

During gaming or heavy sustained workloads temperatures stay manageable but performance does throttle.

Pricing and Availability

The 1TB model launched at approximately $3,300 USD.

The 2TB model sits at approximately $3,900 USD.

Both include the wireless keyboard, matching case, and 140W USB-C charger in the box.

Here is the catch. The MateBook Fold is currently only officially available in China.

It has no FCC certification for the US market. No EU retail availability. No confirmed global launch timeline.

Third-party resellers and import channels list it but buying through those routes means no official warranty support and no local service access.

How to Maintain Your Huawei MateBook Fold

Keep the hinge clean and free of dust.

Never force it open or closed. The hinge requires two hands to open intentionally, and that resistance is by design.

Wipe the leather back panel with a soft dry cloth only. No harsh cleaners on any surface.

The OLED display is flexible. Avoid pressing hard on the fold crease area.

Keep it away from keys or sharp objects in a bag. The display surface needs protection from scratches.

Note that the battery is glued in and requires specialized tools to replace. Repair costs are high on this device.

Keep HarmonyOS updated for the latest performance and stability improvements.

Customer Reviews

Hands-on reactions from journalists and tech reviewers are consistently positive about the physical experience.

Multiple people who held it describe carrying it as feeling like carrying a book. Big but not bulky.

The hinge gets universal praise for feeling solid and confidence-inspiring despite the foldable format.

The display is described as stunning in person. The thinness of the device when unfolded genuinely surprises people who see it for the first time.

The main criticism across every review I found is HarmonyOS app availability.

For users outside the Huawei ecosystem, the software limitations are a real problem regardless of how impressive the hardware is.

Read Also: ROG Strix G16 Review

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the Huawei MateBook Fold run Windows?

No, it runs HarmonyOS 5 exclusively. There is no official Windows support available on this device.

Is it available outside China?

No official retail availability exists outside China. Import via third-party resellers voids warranty and local service access.

Can I use Microsoft Office on it?

Only web-based or mobile versions of Office are available. The full desktop suite is not supported on HarmonyOS.

How thick is it when folded?

It folds to 14.9mm thick, which is roughly the size of two modern smartphones stacked together.

Does it support Google apps?

No. Google Play Services are absent. Only apps from Huawei's AppGallery or manually sideloaded APKs without Google services are available.

What is included in the box?

Both configurations include the wireless magnetic keyboard, a matching case, and a 140W USB-C charger.

Features

• 18-inch dual-layer LTPO OLED display at 3296 x 2472 resolution

• 1600 nits peak brightness with P3 wide color gamut coverage

• 120Hz adaptive refresh rate via LTPO backplane

• Folds to 13-inch laptop form at 2472 x 1648 resolution

• 7.3mm thin when unfolded, 14.9mm when folded

• Weighs 1.16kg without keyboard, 1.45kg with keyboard

• Zirconium-based alloy hinge adjustable from 30 to 150 degrees

• Built-in integrated kickstand sits flush when not in use

• Artificial leather rear finish with no camera bump

• 32GB RAM with 1TB or 2TB SSD storage options

• Kirin processor on SMIC 7nm fabrication process

• Vapor chamber cooling with dual thin aluminum fans

• 74.96Wh battery

• HarmonyOS 5 operating system with adaptive window management

• Wireless magnetic keyboard included in box

• Touchscreen virtual keyboard with customizable layout

• Two USB-C ports

• Bluetooth 5.2 and dual-band WiFi

• 140W USB-C fast charger included

• Six-speaker audio system

• 92% screen-to-body ratio

Specifications

Brand: Huawei

Model: MateBook Fold Ultimate Design

Display: 18-inch dual-layer LTPO OLED flexible touchscreen

Resolution: 3296 x 2472 (18-inch mode), 2472 x 1648 (13-inch mode)

Aspect Ratio: 4:3

Peak Brightness: 1600 nits

Color Gamut: P3 wide color gamut

Refresh Rate: Up to 120Hz adaptive

Screen-to-Body Ratio: 92%

Processor: Huawei Kirin (SMIC 7nm process)

RAM: 32GB LPDDR5 (soldered)

Storage: 1TB or 2TB SSD (soldered)

Operating System: HarmonyOS 5

Battery: 74.96Wh

Charger: 140W USB-C (included)

Ports: 2x USB-C

Bluetooth: 5.2

WiFi: Dual-band

Thickness: 7.3mm unfolded, 14.9mm folded

Weight: 1.16kg without keyboard, 1.45kg with keyboard

Hinge Material: Zirconium-based alloy

Hinge Range: 30 to 150 degrees

Keyboard: Wireless magnetic detachable (included)

Audio: Six-speaker system

Rear Finish: Artificial leather

Color Options: Blue, Ruihong Red (2TB model)

Launch Price: ~$3,300 USD (1TB), ~$3,900 USD (2TB)

Availability: China only (official)

Pros

• Stunning 18-inch OLED display at 1600 nits is genuinely class-leading

• Lighter than a 13-inch MacBook Air despite the 18-inch foldable display

• Zirconium alloy hinge feels extremely solid and confidence-inspiring in use

• 7.3mm thin when unfolded is thinner than most smartphones

• Wireless magnetic keyboard and 140W charger included in the box

• HarmonyOS adapts window layout intelligently when folding and unfolding

• Six-speaker audio system is rare at this form factor

• Built-in kickstand enables hands-free use without any accessories

• 74.96Wh battery larger than most premium ultrabooks and tablets

Cons

• HarmonyOS has no Microsoft Office desktop, no Adobe apps, no Google services

• Only officially available in China with no confirmed global retail launch

• Kirin processor throttles under sustained heavy CPU workloads after 12 minutes

• RAM and SSD are soldered with zero upgrade options after purchase

• OLED panel replacement costs approximately 65% of the original device price

• No FCC certification means US buyers face import risk and no warranty support

• Starting price of $3,300 USD is extremely high for a China-only device

• No native Windows compatibility despite some dual-boot workaround reports