Numerous smartphones were released in 2025 as well.
Among them, I will introduce the smartphone that I, the author, feel is the best of the year: Huawei's "Pura X."
The Pura X is a vertically folding flip-type model, and its excellent size and usability make it a standout from other products on the market.
The Pura X's Excellent Size Makes It Easy to Use
The display size of the Pura X is 6.3 inches when open and 3.5 inches when closed.
Typical flip-type smartphones have displays that are slightly under 7 inches when opened and around 4 inches when closed.
While the numbers alone make it seem small for a flip-type, display size is expressed diagonally, so a simple comparison is not possible if the display shapes are different.
Despite appearing small, the Pura X is equipped with a practical display.
When closed, a camera is mounted above the 3.5-inch square display.
The camera is quite high-spec, with a 50-megapixel wide-angle, 40-megapixel ultra-wide-angle, and 8-megapixel 3.5x telephoto lens.
Although the display is small, you can use apps as they are.
This means you can watch videos, search maps, and check social media timelines even when the phone is closed.
The weight is 195.9g, and the size when closed is 91.7 x 74.3 x 15.1 mm, which is not significantly different from a typical flip-type model.
When the device is opened, a 6.3-inch display appears, but the aspect ratio is what is noteworthy.
The Pura X's display is 2,120 x 1,320 pixels (16:10).
Many flip-type models use a vertically long display, such as 20:9, but the Pura X is horizontally wider.
Therefore, the information displayed on one screen is easier to view.
Even in landscape orientation, 16:9 videos and others can be displayed with room to spare.
Furthermore, because it is a wide display, the display appears large and easy to see.
The usability is similar to a horizontally folding foldable smartphone—a so-called Fold-type model—but two sizes smaller.
The size of the main unit when opened is 143.2 x 91.7 x 7.15 mm.
Although it is slightly thick, the small body size makes it feel easy to hold.
It is also clear that it is considerably smaller than a horizontally folding Fold-type model.
By the way, when viewed from the back in the open state, it looks like this.
The atmosphere is significantly different from other smartphones.
The 16:10 display is not only convenient when displaying content in full screen.
When two apps are displayed vertically, they fit perfectly.
This allows you to view two apps simultaneously without much difference from the aspect ratio of PC displays.
These two apps are similarly easy to view in landscape orientation.
The size of the two apps can also be changed by touching and dragging the divider line.
Although Fold-type smartphones can do the same, the Pura X can do this with a compact body that fits in one hand.
The so-called "Flex Mode," where the device is bent into an L-shape, is also easy to use.
It is mainly used with the camera app, allowing you to operate the device on the bottom half while viewing the camera preview on the top half.
Many apps will be compatible with this kind of split display in the future.
Screen Size That Is Easy to Use for Games, Too
How about the Pura X's display for gaming?
First, let's try it in landscape orientation.
Although the overall size is small, the wide size gives a feeling of extra vertical room when turned sideways.
In fact, if you go to a Huawei store in China, you often see customers (especially children) engrossed in games on the Pura X.
It may be easy to use because it is almost the same size as a pocket-sized game console.
Similarly, in portrait orientation, the extra room on the left and right sides feels good.
I think the Pura X is actually a smartphone that is also suitable for gaming.
The chipset is HiSilicon's Kirin 9020, a subsidiary of Huawei.
Although it is an older generation, the tuning with HarmonyOS installed on the Pura X is well done, and the overall response is good.
A Model with a Focus on Design
There is also a model of the Pura X called the 典蔵版 (Collection Edition).
In English, this would be a Collector's Edition.
This model has a leather-look finish on the body surface, giving it an even more luxurious feel.
Incidentally, the standard finish model starts from 7,499 CNY.
The Collection Edition, which also has a higher memory configuration, is also premium in price, starting from 8,999 CNY.
On the other hand, cute cases targeting women are also sold.
Huawei's smartphone share is very high in China, and many third-party cases are available, but Huawei itself also offers cases like this.
Judging from its price, it may be positioned as a higher-end model than other companies' flip-type models.
I feel this when looking at the types of genuine cases.
Flagship-Class Camera
As mentioned earlier, the camera is also sufficiently high-performance.
Since the wide-angle and ultra-wide-angle have high pixel counts, it is possible to shoot clear photos and videos not only during the day but also in dark scenes.
The telephoto is also fully practical up to about 10x digital zoom, allowing for versatile shooting using the compact body.
It is equipped with all the features found in recent smartphones, such as AI photo editing.
So-called Magic Eraser features also allow for the one-touch deletion of unwanted objects.
HarmonyOS is also fully capable in terms of camera performance, including a gesture function that allows you to copy photos without touching the screen.
While some Huawei smartphones, such as camera phones, are released overseas, this Pura X is sold exclusively in China.
Not only does it have excellent basic performance, but its exquisite size cannot be experienced with other products.
We sincerely hope for a global rollout.
▼Photo & Written by Yasuhiro Yamane
Blog: http://www.hkyamane.com/
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