# Smartphone competition in foldable technology

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/smartphone-competition-in-foldable-technology
> Updated: 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z. Sources: 12. Developments: 4.

The competitive landscape in the foldable smartphone market continues to evolve between Honor and Huawei.

Honor is accelerating the development of its first wide-aspect ratio foldable smartphone, which is currently in the engineering machine testing phase. The device is expected to feature a 7.6-inch inner screen with a 14:10 aspect ratio and a 5.5-inch outer screen designed to function like a standard smartphone for messaging and navigation. Technical leaks suggest the device may utilize a 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite series platform, a 200-megapixel main camera, and a battery capacity of approximately 7000mAh. A potential launch is projected for the first quarter of 2027.

Huawei is expanding its foldable portfolio with several upcoming releases. While the company is reportedly developing a compact, affordable clamshell-style foldable for its Nova series—potentially named the Nova Flip 2—to target entry-level segments by late 2026, new reports indicate a broader rollout in late 2024.

Huawei is reportedly preparing to launch the Mate X8 foldable smartphone in November. This device is rumored to feature a 6.5-inch cover display, an 8.15-inch main panel, a 50MP triple camera setup, and a battery exceeding 6000mAh with 100W wired charging, potentially powered by a Kirin 9050 or Kirin 9050 Pro chipset. Additionally, Huawei is developing a smaller foldable notebook under the codename ‘Semporna’. Expected to launch around November or December, this notebook may be roughly half the size of the MateBook Fold Ultimate Design and could include an external display for tasks such as viewing appointments and scanning QR codes.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-19: Huawei reportedly planning November launch for Mate X8 and new foldable notebook

Huawei is rumored to launch the Mate X8 foldable smartphone and a new smaller foldable notebook, codenamed ‘Semporna’, in late 2024.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/huawei-reportedly-planning-november-launch-for-mate-x8-and-new-foldable-notebook

### 2026-10-15: Honor accelerates development of wide-aspect ratio foldable smartphone

Honor is developing its first wide-aspect ratio foldable smartphone, featuring a 7.58-inch BOE screen, a 200MP camera, and a 2nm Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, with a potential 2027 release.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/honor-accelerates-development-of-wide-aspect-ratio-foldable-smartphone

### 2026-10-06: Huawei develops compact, affordable Nova Flip foldable

Huawei is reportedly working on a more compact and affordable clamshell foldable smartphone in its Nova series, potentially launching before the end of 2026.

3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/huawei-develops-compact-affordable-nova-flip-foldable

### 2026-09-19: Honor to develop wide foldable and non-foldable smartphones

Honor is reportedly developing wide-format foldable and non-foldable smartphones to compete with Huawei, while Huawei’s MatePad Air receives attention for its anti-glare PaperMatte display.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/honor-to-develop-wide-foldable-and-non-foldable-smartphones

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Cite as: Smartphone competition in foldable technology. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/smartphone-competition-in-foldable-technology