Horizontal Flip Foldables Could Shake Up the Market — If Only They Were Easier to Find

Are Horizontal Flip Phones the Future of Foldables?

In a recent poll, we explored which foldable smartphone design you prefer, and the results have revealed some surprising insights. The classic vertical clamshell, exemplified by Samsung's Galaxy Z Flip 7, received just 7.4% of votes — making it the least favored design among respondents. Remarkably, nearly 9% said they have no interest in any foldable device, sticking to traditional slab smartphones instead.

However, the frontrunner by far was the horizontal flip foldable style, with over half of you (52.6%) voting for a device like the Huawei Pura X. Dubbed “the coolest flip phone this year,” the Pura X's unique design flips horizontally to reveal a 6.3-inch internal display with a 16:10 aspect ratio. Unfortunately, its availability remains limited, as the Pura X is only sold in the Chinese market.

Vote: Which Foldable Style Do You Prefer?

A horizontal flip foldable, like the Pura X
A vertical flip foldable, like the Galaxy Z Flip 7
A book-style foldable, like the Galaxy Z Fold 7
I don’t want any foldable
Vote

Why Aren’t More Horizontal Flip Foldables Available?

Huawei, the current undisputed leader of the foldable smartphone market, continues to innovate with its daring designs. Its Pura X remains the sole horizontal flip foldable on the market, standing apart from the more common vertical flip and book-style smartphones other manufacturers release.

Despite the Pura X’s popularity among enthusiasts, its exclusivity to China and limited international availability have prevented this form factor from gaining widespread traction. Other brands are hesitant to stray from the familiar vertical flip and book- style models that dominate the market, like Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7.

Looking Ahead: A Market Ready for Innovation?

With nearly one-third of voters leaning toward the book-style foldables (31.23%), and a significant majority dreaming of horizontal flips, the foldable market is ripe for a shake-up. Consumers seem eager for fresh form factors that challenge the status quo, but only if these devices become easier to access.