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The origami foldable from Honor is great and all, but on planet Earth people still want an iPhone

By Sebastian Pier

Published: Oct 03, 2024, 9:28 AM

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Articles honor

The Mate XT by Huawei in red on a white background.

Imagine a smartphone that folds.

Now, imagine one that folds again, from the other side!

No, no that! I'm not talking about the (pictured above) Huawei Mate XT – the $3,000 folding harmonica (that's also being sold for $21,190 by some resellers) is a tri-foldable. It looks like an accordion.

I'm talking about a phone that folds like an origami, if you will.

Apparently, it's Honor that has the honor to manufacture such a device.

Tri-fold phones are already old news: Honor working on phone that folds multiple ways

Here's what the patent apparently looks like:

The origami foldable from Honor is great and all, but on planet Earth people still want an iPhone

Image credit – CNIPA

In the last 30 years, we had to go through some major design shocks. The brands first asked us to accept the tank-like phones with protruding antennas and keyboard covers that flipped out. Then, the antennas were taken care of (what I mean by "taken care of" is exactly what every other Little Italy mobster means, too).

Then, the phones either had a physical keyboard and weren't bending (think of the good old Nokia 3310, or did the fancy flip (think of the foxy Motorola Razr V3).

Steve Jobs had enough of it and made us embrace the touchscreen revolution some (almost) 20 years ago.

Today, we're in the foldables era.

It's kind of strange to say that, since that era is neither in full swing (as in, not every other person out there rocks an expensive, exotic foldable), nor the foldable as a form-factor has matured enough to reign supreme. The revolution hasn't yet earned a spot in the evolution graph.

The origami phone: yay or nay?

The Honor Magic 6 Pro is amazing, so I'm sure this bizarre multiple folding phone will be fascinating specs-wise. | Image credit – PhoneArena

Innovation is cool, innovation is important. Be it far from me to desire all phones to look the same. Heck, that's Apple's way of doing things, particularly when it comes to the iPhone in recent years!

I crave different, bizarre, bold design decisions. For example, I've got zero problems with a camera island that's (almost) as thick as the phone itself that it's attached to. Hey, if that's what it takes to give me a 1-inch sensor and a couple of periscope cameras!

However, the origami foldable – at least as seen on these patent sketches above – is a little hard to comprehend for me.

So, it can fold vertically… and horizontally, as well. But isn't that already the case with the book style foldable? I mean, you just rotate the darn thing and what vertical becomes horizontal.

If, in contrast, the upcoming bijou by Honor can fold once (like a book style) and then once more (like a flip-style foldable) – essentially to a "square" – that's impressive.

But why? Is it done in the name of compactness? Probably, but in order for that to happen, the multiple folding handset will need to be "all screens and no back". This screams "problems" and "brutally expensive repair costs" to me. In other words: not very practical.

Will this finally force Apple to release the iPhold?

As far as sales go, Honor itself won't be betting any amount of money that this super-duper origami foldable will be a market miracle. It's a niche product for niche (and rich) buyers. I'm sure its price will cause a major sticker shock once it's unveiled in the near future. All those hinges and screens… I don't even want to think about it.

Will this impressive Honor gadget be enough of a sensation to force Apple into finally releasing a foldable of its own? Nope.

Apple is about the last big name out there that doesn't have a foldable at the moment. People want an iPhold, so to speak – but Tim Cook and company are preoccupied with giving us Apple Intelligence in 2024. Sorry, sorry: in 2025, as Apple's set of AI features is going to get delayed.

At the moment, the majority of people in the US (and in certain other parts of the world) just want an iPhone.

So, what's the verdict?

If a 10-inch book-style foldable can fold twice (once vertically, and once horizontally) to a 2,5-inch square, sure – I'm amazed by what the Honor engineers are capable of. Will I buy it? Certainly not.

I mean, back on planet Earth, I like to get things done quickly. As in: get the phone in my hand, unlock it in a breeze and proceed with whatever I need to do on it. I don't mind a quick unfolding, if that's going to get me double the screen estate. If I have to do it twice, it's a pass from me.

Maybe those who are into tablets and crave a folding slate will fancy it.

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Sebastian, a veteran of a tech writer with over 15 years of experience in media and marketing, blends his lifelong fascination with writing and technology to provide valuable insights into the realm of mobile devices. Embracing the evolution from PCs to smartphones, he harbors a special appreciation for the Google Pixel line due to their superior camera capabilities. Known for his engaging storytelling style, sprinkled with rich literary and film references, Sebastian critically explores the impact of technology on society, while also perpetually seeking out the next great tech deal, making him a distinct and relatable voice in the tech world.