What you need to know
- A photo of former Huawei CEO Richard Yu is currently circulating on social media because it looks like he is holding a tri-folding phone.
- A Weibo source said the device is similar to a prototype they have seen, which has a 10-inch internal display, and speculated that it could launch before the fourth quarter of 2024.
- An early report claimed that Huawei began “mass production” of a triple-folding phone in February and that it would feature a display similar to the one depicted in the theory.
The world of foldable devices could be about to shake up as a photo suggests that Huawei’s triple-folding device is quite real.
According to Gizmochina, a photo of Huawei’s former CEO Richard Yu preparing for a flight allegedly shows him holding a tri-fold phone. Zooming in on the image gives a rough idea of where the device bends (or folds) to open/close. Additionally, it looks like the far left side of the device is slightly curved, potentially indicating the placement of the first hinge.
Chinese Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station (DCS) has come forward to claim that the device in question is the real thing. They claim that the photographed device resembles a previously observed prototype with a dual-hinge design. More importantly, the device is rumored to feature a 10-inch internal display when opened.
It is speculated that there will be a punch-hole selfie camera on the “far left” of the internal display. According to a specs rumor, the tri-folding phone will feature HiSilicon’s Kirin 9 series SoC. Furthermore, DCS suggests that this tri-folding device will launch “earlier than the Huawei Mate 70.”
The publication states that the Mate 70 is not expected to launch until the fourth quarter of 2024. could That means we’re closer to the world’s first tri-fold device than we think. It’s not something to take too seriously, but speculation suggests it could show up somewhere between now and September.
Huawei’s tri-fold phone is expected to launch at a “premium” price, with users on Weibo also wondering if the company will include a stylus due to its size.
The idea of a “tri-fold” phone piqued consumer interest, with Huawei reportedly beginning development of such a device earlier this year. That post claimed the Chinese company had begun “mass production” of a device that could fold twice to form a “Z” shape. Similarly, early rumors claimed the device would offer a 10-inch internal display, which remains the popular theory.
Unfortunately, the device didn’t arrive in the first half of the year as the report claimed, so we’ll have to wait and see if this next rumored timeframe comes to pass.
The other side of this report dealt with Samsung reportedly bringing the idea of a “rollable” phone back to the table. The Korean OEM did indeed unveil a prototype rollable phone during CES 2024, so perhaps this theory has some merit.
