Motorola is poised to make a major leap into the competitive foldable smartphone market, officially announcing the imminent launch of its first-ever flagship book-style foldable device. The company has confirmed the smartphone will be unveiled at the CES 2026 event in Las Vegas, United States, next week.
The Official Teaser and Launch Details
The announcement came via a LinkedIn post by Sergio Buniac, President of Motorola Mobility, on Wednesday, December 31. The teaser image highlights a device with a distinctive curved design and a textured back, housing a setup of four camera lenses. This marks a significant departure for Motorola, whose foldable portfolio has so far been exclusively clamshell-style with the Razr series, leaving the book-style segment dominated by rivals like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold line.
"On January 6th, we'll set a new bar for what a flagship device can be. Stay tuned as we enter into our new signature era at Lenovo Tech World 2026 in Las Vegas," Buniac wrote. Adding to the buzz, Motorola has sent curated gift boxes to editors globally, containing notes that read, "We are getting ready to unfold new perspectives at the Lenovo Tech World."
Design Leaks and Market Context
Earlier leaks from March 2025 suggested Motorola's approach might differ from existing book-style foldables. Instead of a large cover display like on the Galaxy Z Fold 7, the Motorola foldable could sport a smaller front screen, similar to the philosophy of its Razr phones, allowing users to handle tasks without opening the device. The teased textured finish, potentially a wood-inspired or fabric material, signals a fresh design direction away from the ubiquitous glass and metal builds.
This launch comes at a time when the foldable phone market is experiencing explosive growth. A recent Counterpoint Research report projects a 38 per cent surge in shipments of foldable devices in the new year, with book-style models expected to lead this expansion. The industry is also rife with speculation that Apple may finally launch an iPhone Fold in late 2026, after years of internal testing.
The Motorola Signature Series Debut
In a related premium launch, Motorola is also set to introduce a new high-end smartphone series called "Motorola Signature" on January 7, 2026. This device, confirmed to feature a fabric-style finish, Snapdragon 8 Gen 5 chip, and flagship cameras, represents a new premium tier for the brand. Promotional material shows a flat display with a central punch-hole selfie camera. The pricing for this inaugural Signature model remains under wraps.
Motorola's dual launch strategy at CES 2026—a groundbreaking book-style foldable and a new premium Signature series—clearly indicates its ambition to reclaim a strong position in the high-end smartphone segment, offering consumers innovative design and cutting-edge technology.
