Huawei Mate XT 2 in China; Nova 16s and new smartwatches make their global debut.

The mid-range Huawei Nova 16 series, distinguished by its cameras, has a global counterpart, the double-foldable Huawei Mate XT Ultimate Design has a successor, and we have five smartwatches and headphones to boot.

Huawei Nova 16s and Nova 16s Pro Make Their Global Debut

The Huawei Nova 16s and Nova 16s Pro are the global counterparts of the Chinese Huawei Nova 16 and Huawei Nova 16 Pro – Chinese mid-range smartphones equipped with a rich camera setup, highlighted by a striking dual-camera island on the back.

The Nova 16s Pro features a 200 Mpx main camera with an f/1.8 aperture and optical image stabilization, and a 50 Mpx ultra-wide-angle camera with a 118° field of view, also used for macro photography. 2.5 cm, and a 50 MP f/2.6 periscopic telephoto lens offering 3.7x optical zoom, also with OIS. All rear cameras use RYYB sensors, and a 50 MP selfie camera completes the package.

The entry-level Huawei Nova 16s offers a more modest camera setup, with a 50 MP main camera and a 50 MP RYYB periscopic telephoto lens with 3.3x optical zoom and OIS, as well as a 6.68-inch screen, slightly smaller than its predecessor's 6.84-inch display, and a slightly lower peak brightness of 5500 nits. The Huawei Nova 16s Pro's LTPO OLED display boasts a peak brightness of 6,000 nits and features Kunlun glass with a nanocrystalline coating, which is said to provide 10 times greater drop resistance than the Huawei Nova 15. Both smartphones feature a 7,000 mAh battery with 100W charging. Both also run the EMUI 16.0 operating system and 256 or 512 GB of internal storage, depending on the variant. The entry-level Huawei Nova 16s is powered by the Kirin 8020 processor, while the Huawei Nova 16s Pro is powered by the Kirin 9010S processor. There's also an interesting set of AI photo editing tools available - AI Best Expression captures the best facial expression of each subject in the final photo, AI Move lets you move objects in the photo, and AI De-Glare removes reflections from glass and shiny surfaces.

Pricing and availability of the Huawei Nova 16s and Nova 16s Pro have not yet been revealed, but we do know that they will be available in Starry Black, Isle Blue, and two-tone Breathing Crystal, with the Pro model also available in Sky White.

Huawei Mate XT 2 folds like a Trifold

Despite the official announcement, Huawei hasn't yet revealed many details about the Huawei Mate XT 2. The trailer confirms that the new three-part foldable device now has an additional external display and folds inward like a Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold, unlike the first Huawei Mate XT, which folded in a Z-shape, and its large, flexible screen doubled as an external display – a risky venture we had the opportunity to test the validity of a few years ago during our review of the Huawei Mate Xs 2.

Despite the current lack of official specifications and price, the Huawei Mate XT 2 can already be reserved at the manufacturer's store by paying a deposit of 1,000 yen (approximately $150, €130). There are black, white, and purple color options to choose from, as well as generous memory options: 16 GB RAM and 512 GB, 1 TB, or 2 TB of internal storage.

Tri-foldable smartphones cost a fortune anyway, so rising memory prices shouldn't be a major issue... although some optimistic leaks have suggested that the Huawei Mate XT 2 could be over 20% cheaper than its predecessor. How much will it actually cost? We'll find out on September 7th.

Huawei Mate XT 2
photo: Huawei

Huawei Watch D3 will measure blood pressure throughout the day

Besides smartphones, Huawei's smartwatches and headphones are also worth noting – for these, we no longer have to wait for global pricing to be announced. The most interesting of these may be the Huawei Watch D3, certified as a medical device and capable of measuring blood pressure on the go 24/7, reporting trends and operating more quietly at night.

The Huawei Watch D2 already offered 24/7 blood pressure monitoring, but the Watch D3 surpasses the previous model in many respects. Its pressure-sensing case is now a thinner 11.3mm, and its larger 1.92-inch LTPO AMOLED display has twice the peak brightness of 3,000 nits. The larger 540 mAh battery is expected to last for 6 days, and Bluetooth 6.0 connectivity is also available.

The Huawei Watch GT 7 mm and Huawei Watch GT 7 Pro sports smartwatches, which we've already seen in China, have also been released, as well as the new Huawei Watch 6 and 6 Pro. The 42mm Huawei Watch 6 weighs just 38 grams without a strap, making it the lightest smartwatch in the series.

Both smartwatches feature an OLED LTPO display protected by sapphire glass, optional eSIM mobile connectivity, and gesture control, adding the ability to silence alarms or incoming calls with a flick of the wrist. The multifunctional X-Tap sensor now measures 14 different health measurements, including the risk of hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease, with twice the sensitivity of the previous generation.

The Huawei Watch 6 and Huawei Watch 6 Pro differ in size and design. The basic model has an aluminum alloy and stainless steel case, while the Huawei Watch 6 Pro is made of titanium or a nanotechnology ceramic material, depending on the variant. The Huawei Watch 6 Pro also has a slightly better display, with a peak brightness of 3500 nits instead of 3000 in the base model.

The Huawei FreeBuds Neo wireless earphones boast dual-channel noise reduction of up to 30 dB, adapting to the surroundings within milliseconds using adaptive algorithms. Their sound is powered by a third-generation transducer that transmits data at a lossless 2.3 Mbps.

The new watches and earphones will be available for purchase starting September 23rd. Their UK prices have already been announced and are as follows: