Vivo and Honor are working on widescreen flip phones, which means this format is no longer reserved for Huawei. According to new information released by tipsters Smart Pikachu and Guan Tongxue GiM, both companies are developing wide book-style folding models, although they are not expected to appear this year.
For Vivo, the situation seems like a gradual transition rather than an immediate turnaround. The Vivo X Fold 6, which is expected later this year, will bring a significant improvement to the screen’s fold. That’s important, because the visible crease has been one of the most common complaints about the X Fold series since the beginning.
Another, more strategically important detail is the claim that Vivo is gradually moving its foldable line towards a wider book-style format. This does not necessarily mean that the X Fold 6 itself will be a wide model, but that such a design could arrive in one of the next generations. The source specifically mentions users who like large flip phones, which seems like a clear signal that Vivo is preparing a wider aspect ratio.
Wide flip phones are becoming the new trend
The Honor model seems more concrete based on the displayed design. Guan Tongxue GiM posted an image that purportedly reveals the device’s wide form factor, a triple rear camera system, and an additional display on the back. When opened, the phone looks more like a horizontal small tablet than a tall portrait screen like the classic book-style flip models.
That extra screen on the back is an interesting detail, because the Huawei Pura X Max doesn’t have it. Honor could thus retain a recognizable element and make a difference compared to the competition. With three cameras and a wide internal screen, the device seems more ambitious than just copying a new format.
The expected release date for the Honor wide flip phone is the first quarter of 2027. That gives the company enough time to refine the design and see how the market will accept the Huawei Pura X Max and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Wide.
The reason for switching to wide format is simple. Classic book-style phones often have a tall and narrow internal screen, so they look more like elongated phones than true small tablets. The wider aspect ratio gives a more practical almost square display when the device is open, which is better suited to split-screen, video content and creative applications.
Huawei showed with the Pura X Max model that there is interest in such a concept, because the device sold out on the day of the presentation. Samsung, Apple, Vivo and Honor are now apparently drawing the same conclusion from it: wide flip phones could be the next big direction in this segment, reports Gizchina.