Huawei Mate 90: Which Model Will Get the Powerful Kirin 9050 Pro?

According to a new leak, the Huawei Mate 90 series will split into four models: the Mate 90, Mate 90 Pro, Mate 90 Pro Max, and Mate 90 RS. The lineup is set to replace last year's Mate 80 generation. Specifications were published on Weibo by leaker Digital Chat Station, though official confirmation from Huawei is still missing.

According to the leaker, the base Mate 90 will use the Kirin 9030, a chip based on the previous generation. The Mate 90 Pro will get the Kirin 9035, clocked at 2.85GHz with Maleoon 935 graphics, though this is only a mildly revised architecture running at higher frequencies. The Pro Max and RS models are set to receive the newest Kirin 9050 Pro. The chip is therefore the main factor distinguishing the different models.

Based on information available so far, the Kirin 9050 Pro is said to use what's called logic folding technology, which stacks logic circuits in layers. The company states a density of roughly 238 million transistors per square millimeter, compared to about 155 million on the previous generation, along with higher performance compared to the Mate XTs. Specifically, a 24 percent improvement in single-core performance and 52 percent across all cores.

According to leaks, the higher-tier models will get dual-layer OLED displays. The Mate 90 Pro will have a 6.75-inch panel, while the Pro Max and RS will feature 6.9-inch displays. The leaker did not provide display details for the base model. Earlier leaks also mentioned local peak brightness of up to 10,000 nits, though this has not yet been confirmed by anyone.

The most interesting camera setups are expected on the Mate 90 Pro Max and RS. These will reportedly feature a main camera with a large sensor rated at 18EV, along with a 200MP telephoto lens also using a large sensor. Both models are also expected to support an additional attachable lens described as a 1-inch 10X module, available for the Pro Max in a collector's edition. According to the leak, the RS will offer a premium body using a construction referred to as Xuanwu. Earlier leaks indicated that all models will feature three rear cameras, including a telephoto lens, but the 200MP periscope camera will be reserved for the top-tier versions only.

According to material leaked from Huawei's official website, the unveiling is planned for October 1 at 2:30 PM Beijing time. However, Huawei subsequently took the page down, so the exact date cannot yet be considered definitively confirmed. Huawei has not announced pricing so far. International availability and a launch date outside China also remain unconfirmed at this time.

The lineup will therefore offer clearly tiered hardware. Anyone wanting the newest chip and the best cameras will need to go for the Pro Max or RS models, while the base Mate 90 will only offer a chip based on the previous generation