Huawei Pura X: Innovative Clamshell Foldable With Unique Side Hinge

The Huawei Pura X is a newly announced clamshell foldable smartphone that introduces a unique design, merging elements of both book-style and clamshell foldables. Unlike traditional foldable phones, it features a hinge positioned on the side, allowing for an unconventional folding mechanism. When unfolded, it measures 143.2 mm in height and 91.7 mm in width, making it significantly wider than standard smartphones. When folded, its dimensions shrink to 91.7 mm by 74.3 mm, maintaining a compact yet unusual form factor.

The device boasts a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED main display with a 16:10 aspect ratio and a 120 Hz refresh rate. The cover screen is a 3.5-inch square panel, allowing users to interact with various apps, including messaging, health tracking, calls, and music playback, without unfolding the phone. The cover screen also offers customizable wallpapers, including live animated options.

For photography, the Huawei Pura X is equipped with a triple-camera setup on the cover, featuring a 50 MP wide camera with an f/1.6 aperture, RYYB sensor, and optical image stabilization (OIS). Additionally, there is a 40 MP ultrawide camera and an 8 MP telephoto shooter with 3.5x optical zoom and OIS. A spectral image sensor, previously introduced in the Mate 70 Pro, enhances imaging capabilities. The main display also houses a 10 MP front-facing camera for video calls.

The Pura X’s hinge utilizes a teardrop design and is constructed with space-grade materials for enhanced durability. Huawei has included satellite communication capabilities, though this feature is restricted to Chinese satellites and certain memory configurations.

The phone runs on HarmonyOS 5.0, Huawei’s in-house operating system, though details about its chipset remain undisclosed. The Pura X is powered by a 4,720 mAh battery, split into two cells, and supports 66W wired charging and 40W wireless charging. Advanced heat dissipation technology, including a graphite plate with 2000 W/m.k thermal conductivity, ensures efficient cooling.

Specs

Huawei Pura X – Key Specifications
Display	6.3-inch LTPO OLED, 120Hz refresh rate, 2,500 nits peak brightness
Cover Screen	3.5-inch square OLED display
Folded Dimensions	91.7 mm x 74.3 mm
Unfolded Dimensions	143.2 mm x 91.7 mm
Rear Cameras	– 50 MP wide (f/1.6, OIS, RYYB sensor) – 40 MP ultrawide (f/2.2) – 8 MP telephoto (3.5x optical zoom, OIS) – Spectral image sensor
Front Camera	10 MP (punch-hole in main display)
Battery	4,720 mAh (dual-cell)
Charging	66W wired, 40W wireless
Operating System	HarmonyOS 5.0.1
Chipset	Kirin 9020
Special Features	Satellite connectivity (China only), heat dissipation with graphite plate
Colors	Black, White, Silver, Pattern Green (Collector’s Edition), Pattern Red (Collector’s Edition)
Storage & RAM Options	– 12GB + 256GB – 12GB + 512GB – 16GB + 512GB – 16GB + 1TB
Availability	China (March 21, 2024), no global launch confirmed

Availability and Price

The Pura X comes in standard and Collector’s Edition models, with the latter featuring exclusive panel designs. It is available in Black, White, Silver, and two special Collector’s Edition colors, Pattern Green and Pattern Red. Prices start at CNY 7,499 ($1,035) for the base 12 GB RAM and 256 GB storage model, reaching CNY 9,999 ($1,380) for the top-tier version with 16 GB RAM and 1 TB storage. The phone launches in China on March 21, with no confirmed plans for international availability.

Filed in Cellphones. Read more about Foldable Smartphones.