Huawei Pura X: A Foldable Built Differently — But Is South Africa Ready?

In a world where foldables often feel like clones of each other, Huawei has decided to rewrite the rules. Their latest launch, the Pura X, doesn’t just flip — it reimagines the whole concept of a flip phone. While Samsung’s Z Flip 5 and Motorola’s Razr still dominate South Africa’s limited foldables market, Huawei’s Pura X could be the fresh alternative we didn’t know we needed. That is, if it ever reaches our shores.

Wide-Screen Wonder or Just a Gimmick?

The first thing you notice about the Pura X is how wide it is. Most foldables opt for the narrow and vertical, opening like a book. But Huawei has rotated the narrative — quite literally — delivering a 16:10 aspect ratio that feels more like an iPad Mini than a stretched-out phone. The 6.3-inch OLED screen is immersive, and far better suited to media consumption, multitasking, and document editing.

On the outside, a neat 3.5-inch square OLED display lets you manage notifications and take selfies without even opening the phone — something Samsung and Motorola also do, but with less screen real estate.

For South Africans, where data bundles don’t come cheap and a phone is often both entertainment hub and productivity tool, this form factor might just be a better fit than the tall, narrow flips that currently dominate.

A Battery That Matches the Screen

One of the most common criticisms of foldables is poor battery life. Huawei addresses that head-on with a 4,720mAh battery, much larger than the sub-4,000mAh cells in rivals like the Z Flip 5. You also get 66W wired and 40W wireless charging, meaning your phone won’t leave you stranded before the day ends.

This could be a game-changer in the local context. For many South Africans, access to reliable power can be inconsistent (yes, we’re talking about you, loadshedding), so a fast-charging, long-lasting foldable is not just a luxury — it’s practical.

How It Stacks Up

When compared to foldables currently available in South Africa like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 and the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra, the Huawei Pura X holds its own — and in many ways, pulls ahead. Its 16:10 aspect ratio is significantly wider than the tall, narrow 22:9 layouts of the Z Flip and Razr, offering a more natural experience for browsing and video. Battery life is another clear win — with a 4,720mAh capacity, it far outpaces the 3,700mAh in Samsung’s foldable and the 3,800mAh found in Motorola’s model. Charging is equally impressive, thanks to 66W wired and 40W wireless options.

Camera-wise, Huawei delivers a triple-lens system that includes a 50MP main sensor, a 40MP ultra-wide, and an 8MP telephoto lens with 3.5x optical zoom. Neither the Z Flip 5 nor the Razr 40 Ultra include a telephoto lens at all, and their primary sensors (12MP and 13MP respectively) are clearly outclassed. The major compromise for the Pura X remains its software: it runs on HarmonyOS 5 with no access to Google services or Android apps. That said, its starting price of around R19,000 (based on the Chinese launch price) undercuts both Samsung and Motorola’s flip phones, which often retail for R21,000 to R25,000 and beyond in the local market.

So, Is It Coming to SA?

As of now, the Pura X has launched in China only. There is no confirmed release date for South Africa, but Huawei does have a growing presence here and has previously brought in flagship models — albeit with delays.

If Huawei does choose to bring the Pura X to SA, it would likely appeal to a niche market: tech-savvy users who want bold design, excellent cameras, and don’t mind side-loading apps or using Huawei’s ecosystem instead of Google’s.

Final Word

The Huawei Pura X isn’t just a new foldable — it’s a whole new take on what a flip phone can be. It’s bold, well-designed, and refreshingly different. But in South Africa, where Google’s grip on mobile life is strong, its success would hinge not just on hardware, but on how well Huawei can sell its vision of a Google-free future.