Foldable smartphones shift toward passport-style designs

The smartphone market is shifting toward a new premium silhouette known as the ‘passport-style’ foldable. Unlike traditional book-style foldables that are tall and narrow, this new generation features a shorter, wider, and more square-like form factor when closed, resembling a passport.

Major manufacturers including Samsung, Apple, Xiaomi, and Google are participating in this trend. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 exemplifies this evolution, weighing 201 grams and featuring a 7.6-inch internal display. This design aims to provide a compact device when folded that transforms into a mini-tablet when opened.

While hardware improvements in hinges and thickness have been consistent since 2019, there is ongoing debate regarding the user experience. For Apple, the entry into this category with the iPhone Duo highlights a focus on hardware, though questions remain about whether software can fully optimize the dual-screen experience to meet user demands.