Beyond tri-fold phones: Honor’s latest patent is a sliding display mechanism

A few months ago, Huawei launched the Mate XT, the first tri-fold smartphone in the world in China. Following this, other smartphone manufacturers like Oppo and Tecno have showcased their concept of triple-folding devices, with Samsung rumoured to jump on the bandwagon sometime in 2026.

Now, a freshly filed patent by Honor and published by the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) showcases a new smartphone with a sliding display. According to the Chinese publication IT Home, which first spotted the patent, it looks like the sliding display will use a support structure that acts as a hinge for the sliding phone.