Huawei recently garnered attention with its new tri-fold device, the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate. This raises the question: will we see similar devices from other manufacturers? Patent filings indicate that Xiaomi has been developing tri-fold devices for a while, but OPPO's China President, Liu Bo, has confirmed that the company will not be releasing a tri-fold device in the near future.
OPPO's Perspective on Tri-Fold Technology
During a communication meeting at an OPPO flagship store, the company shared that while they have researched the tri-fold design in the past, they do not see enough market demand for such a product currently. Liu Bo stated that OPPO's main focus is on creating high-quality smartphones and essential accessories. He believes there is still significant potential for improvement in their current product lines and wants to concentrate on enhancing those aspects before looking into new formats like the tri-fold.
Huawei's Pricey Innovation
Although Huawei's cutting-edge tri-fold device has drawn interest, it comes with a significant price point, reportedly over $10,000, and is currently only available in China. The tri-fold design seems to function more as a technology demonstration rather than a product aimed at the mass market. This might explain why OPPO has chosen to wait while other brands experiment with this emerging format.
Xiaomi's Upcoming Tri-Fold Plans
On a different note, Xiaomi is rumored to be planning its own tri-fold device, expected to debut by 2025. A Xiaomi tri-fold model has already been detected in the IMEI database, with a launch scheduled for 2026. Reports indicate that Xiaomi is exploring three distinct tri-fold designs, which may feature innovative folding mechanisms. Furthermore, the 2025 model is anticipated to be buttonless, potentially making it one of the first smartphones in the market to completely eliminate physical buttons.
For the time being, it appears we'll have to wait to see if OPPO decides to join the tri-fold market. In the meantime, the company is concentrating on its flagship 2024 lineup, the Find X8 series, which is set to launch on October 21.
