Tri-foldable phones are no longer just a futuristic idea - Huawei has officially launched the world's first device of this kind, the Mate XT. However, it looks like Huawei might not be flying solo in this innovative space for long; another Chinese smartphone manufacturer is reportedly working on its own tri-foldable device, and it could be incredibly slim.

Slimmer tri-foldable phones could be on the way

A recent rumor hints that Honor is developing a tri-fold smartphone that measures just 10 mm thick when folded. Honor has been at the forefront of innovative designs in the foldable smartphone space, with the recently announced Honor Magic V3 holding the title of the world's thinnest and lightest book-style foldable. So, it wouldn't be too shocking if this latest rumor about a tri-fold device turns out to be spot on.

I mean if anyone can create a tri-fold smartphone that is that much slimmer than Huawei's, it is likely Honor. The Huawei Mate XT measures 12.8 mm when folded, so an Honor device at just 10 mm is set to be sleeker. However, Honor may not be the only player in the game in crafting ultra-thin tri-foldable phones.

Recently, Tecno, another Chinese smartphone maker, unveiled its concept for the tri-fold Phantom Ultimate 2, boasting a slim profile at just 11 mm thick when folded. For a bit of comparison, the newly released Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Pixel 9 Pro Fold measure 12.1 mm and 10.5 mm, respectively, when folded. I think it's exciting to see how competition in the tri-fold market pushes for thinner designs.

So, while Honor's tri-foldable device isn't expected to hit the market just yet, it seems the company is working on it. Xiaomi is also said to be developing its own tri-fold smartphone, and even Samsung is rumored to work on a tri-fold Galaxy phone. With more companies setting their sights on this innovative form factor, especially after Huawei's successful launch, we'll likely see a wave of new brands soon jumping into the tri-fold game.

The foldables market is kind of flooded right now with a bunch of different choices. You have high-end flagships like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6, but that is one thick phone. If you're looking for something slimmer, then perhaps the Honor Magic V3 could be the foldable for you.

The handset was originally announced a while ago, but at that time, the handset was limited to the Chinese market, but it has now made its global debut. For those who are learning about the handset for the first time, the Honor Magic V3 is the company's latest foldable smartphone.

It is also possibly the thinnest foldable handset to date. It measures a mere 9.2mm thick when folded shut. This is thick compared to traditional phones, but when you compare it against other foldables, it is downright slim! It also weighs 226 grams which is pretty light for a phone that essentially has two displays.

In terms of hardware, we're looking at a 7.92-inch foldable screen on the inside, and a 6.43-inch display on the outside. It boasts a 120Hz refresh rate so scrolling on it should be nice and smooth. According to Honor, the handset focuses a lot on durability, thanks to the use of Honor's Aerospace Spatial Fiber that has a tensile strength of 5,800 MPa, which for context is 100% stronger than steel.

Under the hood, we're looking at the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset with a base of 12GB of RAM, but it can go up to 16GB. It has a triple camera setup on the back consisting of a 50MP main wide camera, a 50MP periscope, and a 40MP ultrawide, with a 20MP selfie to top things off. The handset also packs a 5,150mAh battery with support for 66W charging.

Last month, Chinese tech company Honor added the Magic V3 to its lineup of foldable phones. It initially launched just in China, but Honor promised that would soon change. Now, we have a date for its global debut.

The global debut of the Honor Magic V3 is set for September 5 at IFA

Honor revealed that the global version of its book-style foldable, the Magic V3, will make its debut on September 5 in Berlin at this year's IFA, one of Germany's oldest industrial exhibitions. Alongside the Magic V3, the company will also introduce its next-gen tablet, the MagicPad 2, and the new MagicBook Art 14 laptop.

The spotlight at the event will undoubtedly be on the Honor Magic V3. This foldable phone is among the thinnest around, measuring just 4.35mm when unfolded and only 9.2mm when folded. For comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 is 5.6mm thick unfolded and 12.1mm folded, while the recently unveiled Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold comes in at 10.5mm folded and 5.1mm unfolded. So, clearly, the Magic V3 stands out as notably slimmer than both of its main competitors.

Honor had previously announced its new Honor 200 series in China. If you were enamored by the handset, then you might be interested to learn that Honor has since announced that they will be launching the handset for the European market, making it more widely available than before.

One of the main highlights of the new Honor smartphone is its photography capabilities. The Honor 200 Pro comes with a 50MP f/1.9 main camera. It uses a Super Dynamic H9000 sensor and the lens also supports 4-in-1 pixel binning technology. The main camera is then accompanied by a 50MP f/2.4 telephoto camera and a 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide. There will be a 50MP selfie cam on the front.

As for hardware, the Honor 200 Pro comes with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. It is accompanied by 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. It features a 6.78-inch 120Hz AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 4,000 nits. The handset also packs a 5,200mAh battery with support for 100W wired charging.

As for the base Honor 200 model, it comes in slightly smaller with a 6.7-inch 120Hz AMOLED display. Under the hood, a Qualcomm Snapdragon 7 Gen 3 chipset can be found, along with a base of 8GB of RAM, but there is an option to pick a 12GB RAM model. The cameras are also slightly different with the main shooter seeing a slight increase in aperture from f/1.9 to f/1.95.

In terms of price, the Honor 200 will start at €599, while the Honor 200 Pro will retail for €799. Pre-orders will kick off on the 21st of June for those who are interested.

Honor has launched foldable phones in the past. But the previous models adopted the smartphone-tablet hybrid design. If you prefer the flip design, Honor is working on such a device. In fact, over in China, the company has confirmed the launch date for the Honor Magic V Flip.

According to the announcement, the company will officially unveil the handset on the 13th of June, 2024 at 7:30PM in Shanghai. The full specs of the phone remain a mystery for now. We have heard the rumors that the handset's external display could be the biggest amongst its competitors.

The handset is listed on the Honor Mall but it only reveals the RAM and storage configurations. This includes three options - 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage, and 12GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. It also looks like it will be available in Champagne Pink, Camilla White, and Iris Black.

Honor has not mentioned anything about a global launch. But seeing as the company operates in various international markets, perhaps global availability of the Honor Magic V Flip could be announced at a later date. If the handset intrigues you, check back with us on June 13 for the official details.