Smartphones

All the foldable phones and how much you have to flex to get each one

A lot of $$$, basically

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We’re entering another technological era: The time of foldable smartphones. And no, I’m not talking about flip phones, no matter how cool those sound.

If you’re as confused as I am, this is all you need to know: For years, tech folks have been obsessed with foldable phones — with Samsung showing off a concept as early as 2014 — but it’s never really happened until this year.

All the bendy innovation comes at a price, though, that brings the famously expensive iPhone XS Max to shame. But, since price has never stopped anyone from liking weird stuff, I’ve rounded up all the foldable phones and added how much you’ll have to shell out to get one.

Royole FlexPai 

Talk about beating the big tech companies to the punch, Royole launched the first-ever commercially available folding smartphone in China.

At this year’s CES, Royole showcased a folding phone that features a bendable display. The FlexPai wasn’t the only interesting flexible screen display application we saw from Royole.

Not really surprised, though. This is the same company marketing a screen-fitted top hat for US$ 900 — which, TBH, is sort of worth it. 😂

Cost: US$ 1,200 or just US$ 250 shy of that iPhone XS Max. If you think that’s expensive, oh, you have no idea. 

Samsung Galaxy Fold

When Samsung finally unveiled its foldable phone at this year’s MWC, it was a 7.3-inch tablet that turns into a 4.3-inch phone by folding inward.

It has a total of six cameras on three different areas (there are so many phone sides now 😅).

Cost: US$ 1,980 or just about two reasonably priced 2018 smartphone flagships, because why get one phone when you can get yourself one that bends. 🤯

READ MORE: The Samsung Galaxy Fold is official!

Huawei Mate X

Huawei’s entry into the foldable phone race folds outward and utilizes a bar on the back side for triple-camera Leica shooters.

It’s an 8-inch tablet that turns into a phone with a 6.6-inch front screen and a 6.38-inch back screen.

Cost: EUR 2,299 or around US$ 2,600 which is exactly the amount of money I do not have for a smartphone. Fun fact, the same price tag will get you two and a half Louis Vuitton Speedy Monogram bags or around 24 bottles of Moet.

READ MORE: Huawei Mate X launches as world’s fastest foldable 5G phone

OPPO foldable prototype 

Not to be outdone and in true “if you can do it, we can do it, too!” fashion, OPPO also showed off a foldable device which looks a whole lot like Huawei’s Mate X.

Cost: Not coming to market… yet. OPPO admits that the cost of this phone is way too much for such a small market — finally, real talk from a multi-billion yuan company. 😅

READ MORE: OPPO showcases own foldable phone, but won’t sell it yet

TCL’s DragonHinge phones

Not to be outdone, TCL showcased a folding phone, well, sort of.

TCL unveiled the DragonHinge, which is a mechanism that will allow for even more foldable phones.

Cost: Phones with DragonHinge come with a 2020 shipping date so you can at least hold on to your cash until then.

READ MORE: TCL’s DragonHinge enables mobile devices to go foldable

LG V50 ThinQ with a case which is also technically something that folds 

LG hasn’t jumped on the foldable screen bandwagon but instead offers a foldable phone option with their Dual Screen case. It’s literally an accessory that turns your single-screened V50 into a foldable phone with double screens — perfect for those who can’t commit to these flexy phones.

Cost: No pricing yet, but surely a phone and a phone case would cost less than 24 bottles of Moet?

READ MORE: V50 ThinQ is LG’s first 5G smartphone, still a multimedia powerhouse

ZTE Nubia Alpha Wearable, basically a phone bent around your wrist

So sure, these phones fold, but what if your flex is more of a bend than a fold? Worry not, dear reader, 2019 tech has you covered.

ZTE’s Nubia Alpha wearable is sort of a smartwatch but is also almost a smartphone. It can house a 4G eSIM which means you can use it to call and text without pairing it to a phone!

Cost: EUR 549 for the basic 4G eSIM version, but there’s a luxxe 18-karat gold-coated version that retails for EUR 649.

READ MORE: ZTE Nubia’s Alpha wearable is basically a phone on your wrist

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News

TECNO EllaClaw is your next-gen Agentic AI

Smarter yet more practical

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June 24, 2026

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Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

TECNO is giving its experimental AI assistant, EllaClaw, a major upgrade.

Still in its Beta stage, EllaClaw is evolving from a simple AI chatbot into a more proactive Agentic AI (not to confuse with AI Agent) that can manage your phone, learn your habits, and even interact with third-party apps on your behalf.

From chatbot to personal phone caretaker

TECNO says EllaClaw now goes beyond answering questions and can actively help optimize your smartphone.

Graphics by Vincenz Lee | GadgetMatch

Powered by over 40 Smart Skills, the AI agent can perform tasks such as:

  • Cleaning up RAM and CPU resources to reduce lag
  • Identifying apps that consume excessive battery power
  • Optimizing background activity to cool down the device during heavy use
  • Monitoring mobile data consumption based on your usage habits

Importantly, major changes still require user approval, keeping people in control before any action is executed.

Learning your routines

EllaClaw is also gaining persistent memory capabilities, allowing it to remember user habits and preferences over time.

This enables more personalized features such as morning briefings, combining your calendar, weather, travel plans, and news updates in one.

There’s also Trip Preparation Assistance that can arrange transportation and set departure reminders. Moreover, context-aware reminders to stay connected with family members and loved ones.

The idea is to transform EllaClaw into a digital companion that proactively helps organize daily life.

Cross-app support

Perhaps the biggest leap forward is EllaClaw’s ability to work across different apps. With user permission, it can interact alongside shopping apps, transportation services, food delivery platforms, as well as smart home ecosystems.

Rather than operating invisibly in the background, TECNO says EllaClaw uses a visible, human-like interface that lets users see every action it takes which include:

  • Booking rides through a single voice or text command
  • Monitoring connected smart home devices
  • Acting as a shopping assistant that finds products inside e-commerce apps such as Lazada

The future of Ella?

TECNO emphasizes that EllaClaw remains an exploratory project undergoing internal testing and closed beta development.

The move is part of TECNO’s broader “Practical AI” strategy, which aims to make advanced AI features more useful and accessible, particularly for users in emerging markets.

While there’s no official release date yet, the company says more details about future availability and additional capabilities will be announced as its development continues even further.

Still, with the latest update, it offers a glimpse at where mobile AI is headed: less about asking questions and more about having an assistant that can proactively get things done for you.

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Smartphones

HONOR continues APAC expansion, to launch 600 series in Taiwan

HONOR pushes aggressively in new markets

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June 24, 2026

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Smartphone brand HONOR continues its marketing expansion in the Asia-Pacific, with a new teaser confirming it will release the HONOR 600 Series in Taiwan.

HONOR recently entered the Taiwanese market with the flagship HONOR Magic8 Pro releasing last April. It was followed by the budget segment HONOR X6d 5G.

Now, consumers in the island country are set to get an accessible midrange choice in the number series model. Once the phones officially release, it means Taiwan will have HONOR devices in the budget, midrange, and flagship tiers.

HONOR Magic8 Pro

The HONOR Magic8 Pro launched in Taiwan last April 2026.

In a grander scale, HONOR has launched devices in Papua New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand as part of a strategic expansion in the region.

Following its launch in China, the HONOR 600 Series also became available in key markets like Malaysia and the Philippines.

HONOR 600 Series

At the heart of the series is AI Image to Video 2.0. This is powered by the industry’s first unified multi-modal video generation model, a system that integrates video generation, editing, and comprehension into a seamless workflow.

Users can combine up to three images with natural language prompts to produce stunning 3-8 second video sequences, define both opening and ending frames for narrative control, and access the industry’s most extensive library of cinematic templates for stylized film-quality results.

Here’s an overview of each model’s specs:

HONOR 600 5G

  • Processor: Snapdragon 7 Gen 4
  • System: MagicOS 10
  • Display: 6.57-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 3840Hz, HDR Vivid, 8000 nits peak brightness, 458 ppi
  • Camera: 200MP f/1.9 OIS main, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 50MP front
  • Battery: 7,000mAh, 80W SuperCharge, 27W wired reverse
  • IP68/IP69/IP69K dust and water resistance

HONOR 500 Pro 5G

  • Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite
  • System: MagicOS 10
  • Display: 6.57-inch AMOLED, 120Hz, 3840Hz, HDR Vivid, 8000 nits peak brightness, 458 ppi
  • Camera: 200MP f/1.9 OIS main, 50MP f/2.8 3.5x OIS telephoto, 12MP f/2.2 ultrawide, 50MP front
  • Battery: 7,000mAh, 80W SuperCharge, 50W wireless, 27W wired reverse
  • IP68/IP69/IP69K dust and water resistance
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News

Nothing will launch the Phone (4b) next month

It will feature an all-new design.

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June 24, 2026

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Earlier this week, Nothing confirmed that CMF will no longer get a new smartphone later this year. However, the company also teased that a new model is still coming to Nothing itself. The initial tease did not include a model name or an image, thereby shrouding the new phone in mystery. Now, the mystery is gone as Nothing has definitively confirmed what’s coming: the Nothing (4b).

Nope, that’s not a typo. Nothing is following up the Phone (4a) series with the Phone (4b).

On X, Nothing teased the upcoming smartphone with a rough sketch of the model. Surrounded by designs from the Phone (4a) series, the Phone (4b)’s design shakes things up by introducing the usual wide camera island but affixing only a small vertical camera setup on the left side.

Meanwhile, a smaller pill-shaped cutout likely houses the phone’s LED flashes. Finally, a light strip on the lower right of the island will probably feature the model’s lighting element.

The Nothing (4b)’s launch is just over the horizon. The company has confirmed that the model will launch on July 7.

This is likely Nothing’s last ace up its sleeve this year. Earlier this year, Carl Pei already confirmed that the flagship-level Phone (4) will not arrive until next year.

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