North Korea’s Phurunhanal Trading Co. has debuted its folding smartphone at the 18th Pyongyang Autumn International Trade Fair, media reports indicate. While alternative folding handsets have trickled into the domestic market previously, this release marks the initial folding device manufactured under the country’s leading smartphone brand.
Trade Fair Debut and Hardware Design
State media coverage captured the new device displayed prominently alongside the company’s established Phurunhanal 9-4 handset. The unnamed folding model features an octagonal camera module that shares visual similarities with certain Huawei Mate series devices, though the layout retains a distinct structural configuration. Pricing details for the newly unveiled unit remain unreleased by state distributors.
The device enters a nascent domestic market for flexible screens. Earlier in the year, the Madusan 2222 launched as the country’s first known folding phone, carrying a retail price tag of US$2,000 and bearing structural similarities to the Honor Magic V2 RSR. Several traditional flip-type folding handsets also circulate within local markets, though availability remains limited.
Exhibitor Shifts at the Pyongyang Trade Fair
Television broadcasts from the exhibition floor revealed a narrow selection of telecommunications hardware compared to previous years. Sujongchon Technology Trading Co., a firm previously recognized for displaying homegrown smartphones and smartwatches, shifted its promotional focus exclusively to smart TVs at the October event. Meanwhile, foreign participation included China Liaoning HPR Business Co. Ltd., which utilized the venue to showcase home appliances manufactured by Japan’s Panasonic.
North Korean smartphones have typically utilized Chinese-manufactured hardware & North Korean software. But a new model from Phurunhanal Electronics appears to utilize the Lava Agni 3 from India's Lava International. @martyn_williams analyzes this new find https://t.co/UfZ3jq5E4w
| Device Model | Brand / Manufacturer | Known Pricing | Release Timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phurunhanal 2026 | Phurunhanal Trading Co. | Undeclared | October 2026 |
| Madusan 2222 | Madusan | US$2,000 | Early 2026 |
| Phurunhanal 9-4 | Phurunhanal Trading Co. | Undeclared | Prior Release |
The event remains open as state broadcasters document evolving consumer electronics trends across Pyongyang.
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