Phurunhanal Trading Co. has unveiled a new folding smartphone, marking the first time the country’s leading mobile brand has entered the foldable device market. The handset, designated as the “Phurunhanal 2026,” debuted during state media coverage of the 18th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair, which officially opened on October 26.
Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair Debuts Folding Handset
State television broadcasts and official wire service images captured the new foldable device displayed alongside older hardware at the exhibition floor. The Phurunhanal 2026 was positioned on the left side of the company’s display stand. The booth also heavily promoted the Phurunhanal 9-4, a smartphone model placed on the right side of the stand. Television coverage of the trade event displayed very few other mobile devices, with Sujongchon Technology Trading Co. shifting its focus to promote smart TVs instead of the smartphones and smartwatches it exhibited previously. Meanwhile, a Chinese enterprise, China Liaoning HPR Business Co. Ltd., used the trade fair to promote home appliances manufactured by Japan’s Panasonic.
Phurunhanal 2026 shares camera design with Huawei
The manufacturing origin of the Phurunhanal 2026 remains opaque, though its octagonal camera module bears a resemblance to hardware found in the Huawei Mate series. However, the camera layout utilizes a slightly different configuration than its foreign counterparts. The retail price of the new device has not been disclosed. For comparison, the only other known folding phone in the country—the Madusan 2222, launched earlier in the year—carries a price tag of $2,000 and appears modeled after the Honor Magic V2 RSR. Several other flip-style folding phones also circulate within the domestic market.
Common Questions About North Korean Mobile Technology
Is the Phurunhanal 2026 the first folding phone in North Korea?
While it represents the first foldable device from top brand Phurunhanal Trading Co., other models like the Madusan 2222 were launched earlier in the year at a price of $2,000, alongside several other flip-type folding phones on sale.
Where was the new folding phone first shown to the public?
The device appeared during state media coverage of the 18th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair, which opened on October 26.
What other foreign companies participated in the trade exhibition?
China Liaoning HPR Business Co. Ltd. attended the event to promote home appliances from Japan’s Panasonic.
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