October 21, 2026 – Huawei has turned the “wide-screen” phone into a real commercial category, and its latest wide-form slab device is already pulling users away from Apple.
Channel shipment data show Huawei’s wide-form slab model, the Pura X View, has exceeded 710,000 units since its September launch, with an average selling price of around 7,000 yuan. About 30 percent of buyers came from Apple, and iPhone Pro Max users accounted for the largest share among those switching brands.
Huawei executive Richard Yu has previously suggested that Apple users try the device as a secondary phone, noting that Pura X View can exchange most common file formats with iPhone. He said many users who buy it as a backup end up making it their primary device.
The success of Huawei’s wide-screen lineup has accelerated follow-up plans across Android. OPPO is reportedly testing a wide-form slab prototype and is likely to become the first Android brand to launch a competing model. OPPO is also advancing a wide-fold project codenamed Find N7, expected in the first quarter of 2027. Honor, Xiaomi and other major manufacturers are also developing wide-fold and wide-slab devices, indicating the segment is entering a rapid expansion phase.
Industry analysts do not expect wide-slab phones to fully replace traditional slab devices. The wider body improves media consumption, reading, split-screen multitasking and light productivity, but it sacrifices one-handed usability. Users with smaller hands or those who frequently operate their phones on crowded commutes may still prefer conventional proportions.
The more likely outcome is a diversified slab market, where different screen ratios serve different use cases rather than one form factor wiping out the other. For Chinese brands, the rise of wide-screen phones marks a shift away from simply following Apple’s design playbook. If manufacturers can improve portability and one-handed control, the category could become the next growth engine after foldables.
