Huawei’s Clamshell Pura X Finally Says Goodbye to Android
It’s HarmonyOS NEXT from here on out.
Huawei is finally moving away from Android for good. The company’s new clamshell foldable, Pura X, is the first phone to fully ditch the Android Operating System Project (AOSP) for its homegrown HarmonyOS NEXT.
Huawei’s Opted for a Different Fold-Flip Formula; Pura X Opens Sideways and Uses 16:10 On the Inside
After Huawei was hit hard with US sanctions in 2019, the phone maker sped development on its in-house operating system, which will fully debut with the Pura X, without support for any Android apps.
The company has, in the last few years, gone aggressive with its market dominance strategy. It recently launched the $3,660 tri-fold, and now, with the unconventional clamshell design, it’s no secret that the company has placed strong bets on the foldable segment.
Technically, the new Pura X is different from other flip phones in the global market. For one, it uses a 1:1 screen on the outside, paired with a tri-camera layout on top. But, the interesting bit is instead of unfolding vertically, it opens up sideways, much like a traditional “Fold.”
On the inside, the screen is oddly wide, wider than any other flip phone. The 16:10 aspect ratio makes it one-off in the said category. The phone is also the first to sport the company’s new homegrown AI assistant, Harmony Intelligence.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang recently called Huawei ‘the single most formidable technology company in China,’ saying it has ‘conquered every market they’ve engaged‘ and that it continues to grow in AI despite US trade restrictions.
In China, Huawei has already seen massive growth in the last year, closing in at 16.2% market share, up from 13.7% in 2023. At the same time, other manufacturers, such as Apple were hit hard in the region, and despite (relatively) weak hardware, the company is thriving in Chinese markets.
This is all we know for now, but rest assured that we will keep you updated as new information becomes available.
