Yes, foldables are cool, but they are still one of the most expensive smartphones you can own today. However, despite how expensive they all are, Apple, pegged to be one of the most expensive contenders in the segment, has yet to debut. Now, ahead of its mysterious launch, a new rumor has potentially spoiled what the foldable iPhone will cost.

According to Arthur Liao, an analyst from Fubon Research (via Investing.com), the upcoming foldable iPhone will cost much more than its contemporaries. The common assumption is that the device will cost somewhere between US$ 2,000 and US$ 2,500. Liao puts a firmer pinpoint on US$ 2,399 as the potential price tag.

For reference, Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold7 is only around US$ 1,999. Both are still expensive, but Apple’s projected price tag is a distance away from its peers.

The iPhone Fold, as it’s potentially called, is shrouded in mystery. No one knows, except for a few rumors, when the phone will eventually launch. No one knows what’s going on with its development. The usual understanding is that Apple is waiting to perfect its technology before unleashing it to the public.

In the meantime, other brands, especially Samsung, are thriving in the segment. In fact, Samsung is already moving on to tri-fold smartphones to join Huawei. When Apple finally joins the foldable party, the brand will have some catching up to do.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new iPhone Pocket is a stylish way to carry your iPhone

The all-new HONOR 500 series has been officially launched in China.

The new series is composed of the standard HONOR 500 and the HONOR 500 Pro.

These latest midrange offerings from HONOR features flagship-level portrait imaging, all-scenario live capture capabilities, extended endurance, and MagicOS 10.

Price, availability

The HONOR 500 series is available in Blue, Pink, Silver and Black.

In China, the series has the following prices:

• HONOR 500: Starts at RMB 2699
• HONOR 500 Pro: Starts at RMB 3599

Flagship performance

The HONOR 500 series phones are powered by Snapdragon processors for smooth, fast, and reliable performance.

Inside the HONOR 500 is the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, while the HONOR 500 Pro upgrades to the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

Paired with the HONOR Phantom Engine 3.0, which accurate anticipates graphical workloads and optimizes rendering processes, the series delivers remarkably stable gaming performance, with consistent frame rates.

These processors are also complemented by 8000mAh silicon-carbon batteries, enabling up to two-day endurance.

Both models support 80W wired charging and 27W reverse charging, while the Pro variant also supports 50W wireless charging.

Cameras

For their cameras, both the HONOR 500 and HONOR 500 Pro feature the new 200MP AI Ultra-Clear Main Camera.

This shooter is equipped with a category-leading 1/1.4-inch CMOS sensor.

The HONOR 500 also has a 12MP ultra-wide camera while the HONOR 500 Pro also comes with a 50MP telephoto camera that supports HONOR’s self-developed SOIS stabilization system, delivering flagship-grade CIPA5.0 image stabilization performance.

In terms of new camera performance features, the series delivers a comprehensive live imaging experience with industry-first front-and-rear Live portrait modes.

These modes add background blur, beauty effects, and atmosphere to every frame.

In addition, new immersive film-inspired color options, offering six distinct Film Live modes for users to choose from.

The HONOR 500 handsets also support 4K-to-Live conversion, enabling users to easily transform 4K videos into 4K Live clips for seamless sharing on social media.

MagicOS 10

Furthermore, the HONOR 500 series comes out of the box with MagicOS 10, the latest version of HONOR’s operating system.

The phones come with a slew of eye protection features, while the self-developed HONOR C1+ RF Enhanced Chip significantly improves signal reception, network stability, and uplink speed.

Display, design

The HONOR 500 series integrates a cold-carved unibody design, in which the camera module and rear glass are crafted as a single seamless piece.

This creates a unified, sculptural surface with a refined hand feel.

Benefiting from the redesigned body architecture, the device achieves an ultra-slim 7.75mm profile and an industry-leading narrow 1.05mm bezel.

Both models have a 6.55-inch displays and are reinforced with IP68, IP69, and IP69K water and dust resistance ratings.

The highly-anticipated vivo X300 series is officially coming to the Philippines next week. The smartphones will launch on November 26 via a vivo Philippines Facebook live event starting at 6 in the evening.

There will be three available colorways for the Philippine market: Phantom Black, Dune Brown, and Halo Pink. Memory and storage configurations are yet to be announced.

vivo’s latest flagships were announced globally less than a month ago. They are composed of the vivo X300 and vivo X300 Pro models, which both boast of 200MP ZEISS camera systems.

The Pro debuts a 200MP ZEISS APO Telephoto Camera with an upgraded Ultra-Sensing Sensor HPB.

Meanwhile, the 50MP ZEISS Gimbal-Grade Main Camera boasts of a large 1/1.28″ sensor and industry-leading CIPA 5.5-rated stabilization.

These enable the main camera to deliver more stable, faster, and clearer shots while greatly improving the overall imaging performance.

On the other hand, the X300 features a 200MP ZEISS Main Camera, along with a ZEISS APO Telephoto Camera with a LYT-602 sensor.

Leading performance, efficiency, and endurance

Aside from impressive camera systems, the vivo X300 handsets also feature improvements across OS, performance, and design.

They run on the new OriginOS, which is supported by ultra-core computing, memory fusion, and dual-rendering engines.

Inside, the X300 phones are powered by a Dimensity 9500 chipset jointly defined by vivo and MediaTek.

Built on the 3nm process, the platform delivers exceptional power and remarkable energy efficiency. It features a fully-upgraded 12-core G1-Ultra GPU and ultra-efficient NPU.

In front are 8T LTPO displays (6.31-inch for the X300 and 6.78-inch for the X300 Pro) with up to 2000 nits global peak brightness.

Lastly, the phones have long-lasting batteries (X300 Pro: 6510mAh; X300: 6040mAh) both supporting 90W FlashCharge and wireless charging.