Huawei has drawn attention again after a patent leak revealed a concept for a vertically oriented tri-fold phone. The design stands out because it takes a very different direction from the tri-fold format that most consumers already associate with foldable devices.
The information surfaced through tech leaker xleaks7 via PostFast and was reported by GSM Arena. According to that report, the concept is believed to be the first vertically folded tri-fold phone shown by any manufacturer so far.
A fold pattern unlike the usual tri-fold approach
The patent shows a device built around two hinges, allowing the screen to fold into a more compact form. When fully opened, the device takes on an “S” shape and presents a larger display area.
At a certain fold position, the handset can shrink to roughly one-third of its full-screen size. That folding behavior makes the concept feel noticeably different from other foldable phones currently on the market.
Possible link to the Pura lineup
The patent also suggests the design could become part of Huawei’s Pura smartphone family. Even so, the filing remains only a concept and does not confirm that a commercial product is already on the way.
Huawei has already become the first brand to release a tri-fold smartphone with the Huawei Mate XT Ultimate in 2024. This newer idea shows that the company is still exploring more experimental directions in foldable hardware.
Built with signal loss in mind
One notable detail in the patent is a special protective element intended to help reduce signal loss when the device is folded. That kind of adjustment matters because foldable phones often face technical limitations in certain closed positions.
Whether the concept will move beyond the patent stage remains unclear, but the filing reinforces Huawei’s effort to create a distinct position in the foldable segment. If it ever reaches production, this vertical tri-fold model could open an entirely new niche in premium smartphones.