Updated September 2026 · Confirmed information and industry forecasts are labeled separately.
Yes—the arrival of the iPhone Duo is likely to make wide foldable phones far more common in 2027.
HONOR, OPPO and vivo are reportedly preparing wider book-style foldables, while new Samsung, Google and Xiaomi models are also expected.
The next competition will not be only about thinness. Brands will fight over screen proportions, crease visibility, battery size and software continuity.
Not every rival is confirmed to use Apple’s matte nano-texture finish, but many are expected to pursue the same goal through anti-glare surfaces, dual-layer UTG or improved hinges.
Apple did not invent the foldable phone, and it was not the first company to build a wider, passport-style folding device. Samsung, Huawei, Xiaomi and other Android manufacturers had already spent years developing the category.
But the iPhone Duo changes the scale of the conversation.
Once Apple places a foldable iPhone beside its mainstream Pro models, the form factor stops looking like an experimental Android niche. It becomes a major smartphone category that accessory makers, app developers, display suppliers and competing phone brands must take seriously.
That is why 2027 could be remembered as the year when wide foldable phones became the new normal.
Is the iPhone Duo Making Wide Foldable Phones Mainstream?
The iPhone Duo is unlikely to make traditional slab phones disappear. Foldables will remain more expensive, mechanically complex and harder to protect.
However, Apple’s entry removes one of the category’s biggest psychological barriers: the idea that a foldable is an unfinished experiment rather than a practical everyday phone.
The Duo also reinforces a different type of foldable design. Instead of using an unusually tall and narrow outer screen, it folds into a shorter, wider shape that resembles a small notebook or passport.
A wider cover display feels closer to a regular phone when closed. When opened, the inner display becomes better suited to reading, split-screen multitasking, video, photo editing and tablet-style apps.
This balance between normal phone use and compact tablet use is likely to influence many of the best new foldable phones coming in 2027.
Which Wide Foldable Phones Are Expected in 2027?
The 2027 foldable phone calendar is still developing. None of the manufacturers below has confirmed every model name, specification or release date.
The cards separate predictable annual upgrades from products currently supported mainly by leaks or supply-chain reports.
HONOR Wide Foldable
HONOR is reportedly developing a shorter and wider book-style foldable that could arrive early in 2027.
Rumored priorities include a large battery, a 200MP-class camera and a wide inner display. The final product name remains unknown.
Next OPPO Find N Foldable
OPPO is expected to continue its work on compact, low-crease foldables with another wider Find N-series device.
Its biggest upgrades could involve a revised display stack, stronger hinge support and a larger battery rather than a completely new concept.
Next vivo X Fold
vivo is also linked to a new foldable display structure using two layers of ultra-thin glass, commonly shortened to dual UTG.
The goal is to support the flexible OLED panel from both sides and reduce stress around the folding area.
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold9
A Galaxy Z Fold9 is the most predictable annual update on this list, although Samsung has not officially announced it.
Samsung is expected to continue improving the wider Fold design while competing on durability, multitasking, cameras and crease control.
Google Pixel 12 Pro Fold
Google’s next Pixel Fold is reportedly another candidate for a dual-UTG display supplied through Samsung Display.
If the report proves accurate, the inner-screen crease could become one of its most visible upgrades.
Next Xiaomi Wide Foldable
After moving toward a wider form with the Xiaomi 18 Fold, Xiaomi is likely to keep developing this shape.
The next model’s name, global availability and display technology have not been confirmed.
iPhone Duo 2
A second-generation iPhone Duo is widely expected, but Apple has not confirmed its release cycle.
Likely areas of improvement include weight, durability, cameras, battery efficiency and refinement of the folding display.
This does not mean every company waited for Apple and then copied the Duo. Foldable phones take years to develop, and many of these projects were probably underway before Apple’s announcement.
The more important point is that manufacturers are now moving in the same general direction: wider proportions, less visible creases and a more tablet-like inner-screen experience.
Will 2027 Foldables Copy the iPhone Duo Matte Display?
Some probably will experiment with similar anti-glare or matte surface treatments, but it is too early to say that every 2027 foldable will use Apple’s nano-texture solution.
Apple says the iPhone Duo’s inner display uses a custom nano-texture finish that reduces glare and reflections. This does not physically erase the folding line. Instead, it makes reflections across the center less distracting, so the crease becomes harder to see in everyday conditions.
That distinction matters because there are two different ways to attack the foldable screen crease.
Matte or Anti-Glare Surface
Reduces sharp reflections that normally highlight the center folding line.
The crease may still exist physically, but it becomes less visually obvious under indoor lights or sunlight.
Dual-Layer UTG
Uses ultra-thin glass above and below the flexible OLED assembly to improve support and distribute bending stress.
This approach is intended to reduce the depth and deformation of the physical crease itself.
Wider Hinge Radius
A redesigned hinge can allow the display to bend in a smoother waterdrop shape instead of forming a sharp fold.
It can improve crease control but may affect thickness, internal space and water resistance.
Multiple Technologies Together
The most convincing low-crease display may combine reinforced UTG, a better hinge and an anti-reflective top layer.
That would reduce both the physical crease and the reflections that make it easier to notice.
From ZEERA’s industry perspective, the iPhone Duo is likely to accelerate interest in matte foldable displays, nano-texture alternatives and anti-reflective polymer cover layers.
Some Android brands may adopt a visibly matte inner screen. Others may prefer a clearer glossy finish while using dual UTG and improved coatings to reach a similar low-crease result.
In other words, competitors may copy the objective without copying the exact material stack.
Why Are Wide Foldable Phones Replacing Tall Designs?
The first generations of book-style foldables often had narrow outer screens. They were easy to hold, but typing, browsing and viewing standard apps could feel cramped.
A wider foldable changes that balance.
A More Normal Cover Screen
The closed phone can use a more familiar aspect ratio, reducing the need for apps to squeeze into an unusually narrow layout.
A Better Mini-Tablet
The unfolded screen becomes more useful for documents, webpages, video and side-by-side apps.
Smoother App Continuity
Similar inner and outer proportions can make transitions feel more intentional when a user opens or closes the device.
More Room for Hardware
A wider body may create additional internal space for batteries, cameras and cooling, although hinge design still imposes major limits.
The challenge is weight. A wider foldable can feel more balanced when open, but it may also become bulky in a pocket once a protective case and hinge cover are added.
That is why the best 2027 foldable phone will not necessarily be the model with the largest display. The winner will be the one that makes the fewest compromises when closed, open and carried throughout the day.
What Should Buyers Watch Before Choosing a 2027 Foldable?
If you are deciding whether to buy an iPhone Duo now or wait for the next wave of foldable phones, do not judge them only from front-facing promotional photos.
Pay attention to the details that affect daily use:
Crease Under Side Lighting
A crease that looks invisible directly in front of the screen may become obvious when viewed from an angle.
Matte Display Clarity
Anti-glare treatments can reduce reflections, but buyers should check text sharpness, contrast and color clarity in person.
Closed-Phone Comfort
Test the width, thickness and weight while using the outer display with one hand.
Case and Hinge Protection
Check whether a case protects the hinge without making the phone too thick or interfering with stands and car mounts.
App Scaling
Look beyond first-party demos. Social apps, banking apps, games and video platforms may behave differently across screen modes.
Repair and Warranty Costs
Inner-display and hinge repairs can materially change the true cost of owning a premium foldable phone.
The iPhone Duo has raised expectations, but it has not eliminated the classic foldable-phone compromises. Crease visibility, inner-screen durability, added weight, repair costs and accessory compatibility still matter.
Will Wide Foldables Really Become the New Normal?
They are likely to become the new normal within the premium foldable category, but not necessarily across the entire smartphone market in 2027.
Regular iPhones and Android flagships will remain cheaper, lighter and easier to repair. Foldable phones will still represent a smaller part of total smartphone sales.
What changes is consumer choice.
Instead of choosing between only one or two expensive experimental foldables, buyers could soon compare wide models from Apple, Samsung, Google, HONOR, OPPO, vivo and Xiaomi.
That competition should accelerate improvements in display durability, hinge design, battery capacity, software multitasking, cases, chargers and repair support.
The lasting influence of the iPhone Duo may therefore be bigger than its first-year sales. Apple has helped turn the wide foldable from an unusual design into a format almost every major smartphone manufacturer must now consider.
FAQ
What foldable phones are coming in 2027?
Reported or expected models include new wide foldables from HONOR, OPPO and vivo, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold9, Google Pixel 12 Pro Fold, a Xiaomi Fold successor and a possible iPhone Duo 2. Most remain unannounced.
Will there be an iPhone Duo 2 in 2027?
A second-generation iPhone Duo is rumored for 2027, potentially around Apple’s usual September launch period. Apple has not officially confirmed the model or release date.
Will Android foldables copy the iPhone Duo screen?
Several Android manufacturers are expected to target a similarly less-visible crease. Some may test matte or anti-glare surfaces, while others are reportedly using dual-layer UTG and improved hinge structures.
Does the iPhone Duo have a crease?
Yes. The folding line still exists, but Apple’s nano-texture inner-display finish reduces reflections and makes the crease harder to see in many viewing conditions.
What is dual UTG on a foldable phone?
Dual UTG uses two ultra-thin glass layers around the flexible display assembly. The structure is intended to improve support, distribute hinge stress and reduce center-screen deformation.
Are matte foldable screens better than glossy screens?
Matte screens can reduce glare and hide the crease more effectively, while glossy screens may appear clearer or more vivid. The better option depends on how well each manufacturer balances reflections, sharpness and durability.
Should I buy an iPhone Duo or wait for 2027 foldables?
Buy the iPhone Duo if you want Apple’s foldable experience now and accept its first-generation compromises. Wait if crease reduction, lower prices, lighter hardware or more model choices are more important to you.
Reporting note: Apple has officially described the iPhone Duo’s nano-texture inner display. Information concerning 2027 HONOR, OPPO, vivo, Google, Samsung, Xiaomi and second-generation iPhone models is based on current industry and supply-chain reporting and may change before launch.
