Foldable phones are still a premium niche in Malaysia, but the brand winning them over may not be the one you would expect. HONOR says one in every three foldable smartphones sold in the country is now one of its own, a sign the challenger has moved from curiosity to a genuine force at the top of the market. For anyone weighing a folding phone, it is a reminder that the field has more than one serious option.
Editor
Kai T. chevron_right
Table of Contents
One in three, and mostly premium buyers
According to HONOR's internal consumer data, it now accounts for roughly a third of foldable sales locally, and those buyers lean toward the premium end. That is a notable share in a category that big-name flagships have dominated since folding phones first went mainstream. The company frames it as evidence that shoppers who once defaulted to the biggest names are willing to give a newer brand a serious look when the hardware holds up.
Why buyers are switching
HONOR points to five reasons customers give for moving over: value for money, durability, battery life, the foldable design itself, and the company's worry-free protection guarantee. Taken together, they describe a buyer who wants the flexibility of a folding screen without the anxiety that usually comes with an expensive, delicate device. The protection guarantee in particular speaks to a common worry with foldables, which is what happens if the hinge or screen gives out.
The value argument
The timing is pointed. With a rival's newest foldable arriving at a high price, HONOR is leaning on a simple message: you do not have to pay flagship prices to get flagship features. It points to the HONOR Magic V6 as its example, highlighting the phone's durability, large battery, camera performance and multitasking as proof that capable hardware and a sensible price can share the same device.
The takeaway
Market-share claims drawn from a brand's own data are worth reading with a little caution, but the trend is hard to ignore: foldables are no longer a one-brand category in Malaysia. For anyone who has been curious about a folding phone yet put off by the sticker price, HONOR's pitch is that the gap between premium and affordable has narrowed.
