Xiaomi and Honor Embrace Double-Hinged Handsets in the Tri-Fold Smartphone Market

Xiaomi and Honor's Ambitious Plans

Double-hinged handsets are poised to redefine the smartphone landscape, as Xiaomi and Honor prepare to launch tri-fold models following the lead of Huawei Technologies. Recent records from China's National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) reveal that Xiaomi had applied for a patent for a double-hinged smartphone featuring three rear cameras back in 2022. Simultaneously, Honor, a spin-off from Huawei, sought a patent for its own tri-fold design, which was unveiled earlier this year.

The Rise of Foldable Smartphones

As competition intensifies, both brands are betting on foldable models with artificial intelligence features to capture the lucrative high-end segment dominated by Apple's iPhone. Research from IDC predicts a 3.1% rise in smartphone shipments in mainland China, totaling 279 million units by 2024, emphasizing the growing demand.

• George Zhao Ming, Honor's CEO, indicated that while technology for tri-fold devices is prepared, timing is critical.
• Potential exists to cater to the excitement sparked by Huawei's much-anticipated Mate XT, leading to a surge in reservations.

The Competitive Landscape

With over 6.5 million pre-orders for Huawei's Mate XT tri-fold 5G smartphone, the competitive pressure is significant. As domestic Android players like Tecno unveil concepts like the Phantom Ultimate 2, the drive for innovation in the foldable segment strengthens.

Mainland China remains the world's largest market for foldable smartphones, commanded by Huawei's significant market share and growing interest in new models. The future of foldable handsets is promising, and as Xiaomi and Honor push forward, the technological advancements they bring could reshape consumer preferences and industry standards.