While we already seem to know an awful lot about at least two Motorola handsets expected to see daylight in 2026, a third and considerably more exciting one is likely being teased in a fun, mysterious, and most unusual way.
As if the existing Razr lineup was not a serious enough threat for the otherwise hugely popular Galaxy Z Flip 7, the Z Fold 7 could also get a direct and undoubtedly dangerous Moto rival soon. That's at least my interpretation of a holiday gift package recently received by a number of tech journalists (not including yours truly) from the Lenovo-owned brand.
That included a notebook-like object that might seem inconspicuous at first glance... until you read the text on the front cover. "Every fold reveals a possibility." Interesting, right? What's even more interesting is the little note accompanying the gift package that encourages us to keep an eye on the Lenovo Tech World event on January 6, 2026, where the company plans to "unfold new perspectives."
Recommended For You
Another clear indication that Motorola is trying to tell us something here without spelling it out is that what looks to be a notebook is actually a clever lamp that lights up in an eye-catching red color if you unfold it like a book. You know what else looks like a book and unfolds like a book without actually being a book?
Would you buy a book-style Motorola foldable?
Absolutely
0%
Maybe... at the right price
0%
It's too early to tell
100%
Probably not
0%
Absolutely not
0%
That's right, a foldable device like the Galaxy Z Fold 7. And that's precisely what I think Lenovo will take the wraps off in a few weeks, although in the absence of any evidence or concrete leaks supporting the existence of such a product, I'm not sure we should also expect a commercial release to take place in the very near future. Still, Motorola looks to be taking the foldable market more and more seriously, and that's got to scare Samsung, not to mention Huawei, Honor, or Vivo.
What else should we expect on January 6?
I can't make any firm predictions without proof in hand, but history suggests Lenovo's glamorous year-opening ceremony will be focused primarily on laptops and desktop computers. That was the case in both 2025 and 2024, although last year, the company did also dedicate a little time (emphasis on "little") to hyping up a series of new Motorola AI features.
Tech World 2026 will likely be mainly about AI-centric computers. | Image Credit -- Lenovo
"Smarter AI for all" is the tagline of the 2026 Lenovo Tech World shindig as well, which will take place inside the Las Vegas Sphere as part of the larger Consumer Electronics Show (CES).
My hope is that Lenovo will also unveil a few new affordable Android tablets with hard-to-beat specifications, although if Motorola's first book-style foldable ends up actually seeing daylight on January 6, 2026 (ideally, in commercial-ready form), I'm willing to forgive the possible absence of upgraded slates from the special launch event.
Is it too late for Motorola?
Now that, my friends and dear readers, is the million-dollar question, and as far as I'm concerned, the answer is a resounding no. Yes, book-style foldables are approaching maturity and mainstream popularity, but they're not quite there yet, and if Apple can enter the arena in 2026 with the reasonable expectation of conquering it soon after, I strongly believe Motorola has what it takes to quickly become a contender too despite a late arrival to the party.
Motorola is obviously not a foldable market newcomer, looking to build on the success of devices like the Razr Ultra. | Image Credit -- PhoneArena
What the brand needs is to stay true to what makes it special and different from the competition in other market segments, and on that note, it's certainly promising to see the wooden-style finish of the lamp used to tease Lenovo's upcoming "new perspectives-unfolding" event.
That could well suggest the first Motorola-branded Galaxy Z Fold alternative will look like no other book-style foldable on the market today, which is enough to get me excited... for the time being. Who's with me?
Adrian, a mobile technology enthusiast since the Nokia 3310 era, has been a dynamic presence in the tech journalism field, contributing to Android Authority, Digital Trends, and Pocketnow before joining PhoneArena in 2018. His expertise spans across various platforms, with a particular fondness for the diversity of the Android ecosystem. Despite the challenges of balancing full-time parenthood with his work, Adrian's passion for tech trends, running, and movies keeps him energized. His commitment to mid-range smartphones has led to an eclectic collection of devices, saved from personal bankruptcy by his preference for 'adequate' over 'overpriced'.
A discussion is a place, where people can voice their opinion, no matter if it
is positive, neutral or negative. However, when posting, one must stay true to the topic, and not just share some
random thoughts, which are not directly related to the matter.
Things that are NOT allowed:
Off-topic talk - you must stick to the subject of discussion
Offensive, hate speech - if you want to say something, say it politely
Spam/Advertisements - these posts are deleted
Multiple accounts - one person can have only one account
Impersonations and offensive nicknames - these accounts get banned
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts:
New accounts created within the last 24 hours may experience restrictions on how frequently they can
post or comment.
These limits are in place as a precaution and will automatically lift.
Moderation is done by humans. We try to be as objective as possible and moderate with zero bias. If you think a
post should be moderated - please, report it.
Have a question about the rules or why you have been moderated/limited/banned? Please,
contact us.
FCC OKs Cingular\'s purchase of AT&T Wireless
Things that are NOT allowed:
To help keep our community safe and free from spam, we apply temporary limits to newly created accounts: