Huawei Pura X2 to Redefine Foldables? Why Small Folds are Out and Large Wide-Folds are In

Almost exactly a year ago, Huawei launched the Pura X, the industry's first wide-foldable phone. It was a device that defied easy categorization. It wasn't a compact flip phone; when folded, it presented a 3.5-inch, 1:1 square screen that was viewable but impractical for completing any complex task. Nor was it a large book-style foldable; its unfolded 6.3-inch, 16:10 wide screen was closer to a tablet's aspect ratio but significantly smaller in size. Built on the debut of HarmonyOS 5, the Pura X was an ambitious attempt to define a new foldable form factor.

However, a year later, multiple sources, including Digital Chat Station, indicate that the Pura X2 is slated for an April release. Unlike its predecessor, the Pura X2 is expected to be significantly larger—so much so that it feels less like an iteration and more like a complete redesign.

 

Huawei Pura X2 to Redefine Foldables? Why Small Folds are Out and Large Wide-Folds are In

 

Specifically, the Pura X2 is rumored to feature a ~7.69-inch inner screen (up from 6.3 inches) and a ~5.5-inch outer screen (up from 3.5 inches). While maintaining a similar 16:10 aspect ratio, this is essentially a ground-up rework. These dimensions bring the Pura X2 much closer to the rumored iPhone Fold, which is expected to have a ~7.8-inch inner and ~5.5-inch outer display. In one leap, the Pura X2 has gone from a compact concept to a large foldable, completely changing its competitive landscape. But why the drastic change? What was the fundamental issue with the Pura X that required making it bigger?

The Pura X's "Small Fold Trap"

Revisiting the Pura X, its advantages are still apparent. The 16:10, 6.3-inch inner screen excels at content consumption, making full use of the display for apps like TikTok, Bilibili, and browsing photos and web pages. However, the device is plagued by unavoidable problems. The 3.5-inch, 1:1 outer screen, while looking chic, quickly reveals a critical flaw in practice: you can hardly 'complete a task' on it. It’s fine for checking notifications or sending a quick reply, but any slightly more complex scenario, like a continuous conversation or browsing a feed, becomes a broken experience. The issue isn't a lack of willingness to use it, but an inability to do so effectively, as most apps are not optimized for a small square display.

This leads to a counterintuitive outcome: the folded state becomes merely a 'transitional state,' forcing you to unfold the device for almost any meaningful interaction. This isn't just an efficiency problem; it's a rhythm problem. The inner screen also falls short. At 6.3 inches, the 16:10 display is too small to deliver on the promise of a true tablet-like multitasking experience. While you can use split-screen, it often feels like two compressed phone interfaces squished together, with many apps displaying poorly or not supporting the feature at all. The core issue is that both screens fail to cross a crucial human-computer interaction threshold. The outer screen is too small to be a primary display, and the inner screen is too small to offer a compelling tablet experience. This problem reflects a broader, visible decline in the compact foldable market, with brands like vivo, OPPO, Xiaomi, and Honor pausing or struggling with their flip phone lines.

Is the Large Wide-Foldable the Only Future?

Since the Samsung Galaxy Fold in 2019, foldable phones have been evolving for nearly seven years. Apple's anticipated entry with a large wide-foldable device is telling. The Pura X2, expected this month, directly addresses the shortcomings of its predecessor. Its 5.5-inch outer screen is large enough for most daily operations, while the 7.69-inch inner screen finally approaches the boundary of a small tablet. This isn't just a departure from compact foldables; it's a significant evolution from conventional large foldables. The near 16:10 or 4:3 aspect ratio is designed to restore a familiar interaction logic for content consumption, multitasking, and even light productivity, all while ensuring a 'normal' smartphone experience when folded.

 

Huawei Pura X2 to Redefine Foldables? Why Small Folds are Out and Large Wide-Folds are In

 

This change, while seemingly minor, could represent a leap in user experience. The Pura X had the right idea with its 16:10 ratio, but its insufficient size made every intended benefit feel 'forced.' The dramatic shift in the Pura X2 signals a clear trade-off: prioritize the logic of the unfolded experience while guaranteeing the usability of the folded state. This changes the fundamental proposition of a foldable. In the past, small and large foldables were distinct product lines. Now, the 'wide-foldable' aims to merge them:

When folded, it's a perfectly usable phone; when unfolded, it's a genuinely valuable large-screen device, or a small tablet.

Ultimately, the challenge for foldables isn't just about the form factor itself, but about reducing the cost of switching between device modes. When a single device can seamlessly transition between a 'phone' and a 'tablet'—and excel in both states—the need for separate form factors diminishes.

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