Huawei's next foldable phone could closely resemble the Galaxy Z Fold 2

Huawei‘s next foldable phone may more closely resemble the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2, according to designs in a patent filing uncovered by LetsGoDigital.

The designs point to a switch in HUAWEI’s foldable philosophy and suggest that the company is considering switching to an inward-folding design instead of the outward-folding system used by the Mate XS.

But this isn’t the only similarity to Samsung’s device the foldable could feature. For starters, HUAWEI’s design features a large primary display, a larger screen when the device is unfolded, and a rectangular camera slab on the foldable’s rear panel. A side-mounted fingerprint sensor/power button combo also sits below a volume rocker.

While the design points to a punch-hole selfie camera in the primary screen, HUAWEI’s is oval in shape and top-left aligned, unlike Samsung’s smaller center-mounted snapper. At the rear, HUAWEI’s design also uses a rectangular camera array, but it houses five cameras instead of the Galaxy Z Fold 2’s three.

While the inward-fold design does offer better protection for the delicate folding screen, there are disadvantages.

Huawei’s outward-folding layout allowed it to use its rear cameras for selfies. This design meant it could get away with less camera hardware, too. The company would also need to concentrate on strengthening and securing its hinge design from bumps, bruises, and dust. These tweaks could push the revised design’s price well above the Mate XS’s ~$2,400 premium.

This isn’t the first time we heard rumors of HUAWEI tweaking its foldable phone philosophy. In August, the phone was first referred to as the Mate X2 and was said to feature am 8.03-inch display. Earlier patent filings spotted in April pointed to a Galaxy Fold-like device, too.

HUAWEI has yet to announce its next-gen foldable phone, so take these designs with a pinch of salt. Although they are patent filings, they may not resemble a ready-to-launch product. Still, the inward fold seems the most practical design for foldable phones, giving users the benefit of a large, more traditional single display up front and the benefit of a larger screen when required.

Next: HUAWEI Mate 40 Pro: Everything we know so far and what we want to see