HUAWEI trademarks Mate names for folding phone, suggests it's close to release

HUAWEI could release its first foldable phone as part of the Mate lineup. Android Headlines reports the company has applied to trademark the names Mate F, Mate Flex, Mate Flexi, and Mate Fold.

It’s unclear which of these names HUAWEI will eventually choose. It may not even use any of these choices, as companies often trademark names they don’t end up using.

Out of the four names suggested, I’d be most surprised if the company went with Mate F. The Samsung foldable phone has long been associated with the name Galaxy F so it seems unlikely HUAWEI would choose a name that is so similar. Mate Fold also seems a bit too obvious, although that’s just my opinion.

Putting the phone in the Mate lineup does make sense, however. The Mate series is more productivity-focused than the P series — the company’s other line of flagship phones — and the foldable phone is rumored to have features that could make it a productivity powerhouse. These features supposedly include an 8-inch display and 5G support. It will also likely use Google’s new foldable phone interface that allows for improved multitasking.

This is just the latest rumor to suggest the phone is close to completion. Earlier this week, we reported that the Chinese manufacturer may have shown off a final version of the device to a South Korean carrier.

Next up: Samsung foldable phone — All the rumors in one place