Design

In the Fold 

  • The prototype Pentatonic speaker by industrial design studio All Design Lab is folding tech in possibly one of its best expressions. Made from five aluminium panels, it opens up into a variety of shapes, so you can change how it looks and how it projects sound, depending on your space. Fold it up, and it snaps into a neat pentagon – easy to carry, and built to last. It’s a speaker that adjusts itself to the way you live your life.
    The prototype Pentatonic speaker by industrial design studio All Design Lab is folding tech in possibly one of its best expressions. Made from five aluminium panels, it opens up into a variety of shapes, so you can change how it looks and how it projects sound, depending on your space. Fold it up, and it snaps into a neat pentagon – easy to carry, and built to last. It’s a speaker that adjusts itself to the way you live your life. |
  • The prototype Pentatonic speaker by industrial design studio All Design Lab is folding tech in possibly one of its best expressions. Made from five aluminium panels, it opens up into a variety of shapes, so you can change how it looks and how it projects sound, depending on your space. Fold it up, and it snaps into a neat pentagon – easy to carry, and built to last. It’s a speaker that adjusts itself to the way you live your life.
    The prototype Pentatonic speaker by industrial design studio All Design Lab is folding tech in possibly one of its best expressions. Made from five aluminium panels, it opens up into a variety of shapes, so you can change how it looks and how it projects sound, depending on your space. Fold it up, and it snaps into a neat pentagon – easy to carry, and built to last. It’s a speaker that adjusts itself to the way you live your life. |
  • The prototype Pentatonic speaker by industrial design studio All Design Lab is folding tech in possibly one of its best expressions. Made from five aluminium panels, it opens up into a variety of shapes, so you can change how it looks and how it projects sound, depending on your space. Fold it up, and it snaps into a neat pentagon – easy to carry, and built to last. It’s a speaker that adjusts itself to the way you live your life.
    The prototype Pentatonic speaker by industrial design studio All Design Lab is folding tech in possibly one of its best expressions. Made from five aluminium panels, it opens up into a variety of shapes, so you can change how it looks and how it projects sound, depending on your space. Fold it up, and it snaps into a neat pentagon – easy to carry, and built to last. It’s a speaker that adjusts itself to the way you live your life. |
  • The prototype Pentatonic speaker by industrial design studio All Design Lab is folding tech in possibly one of its best expressions. Made from five aluminium panels, it opens up into a variety of shapes, so you can change how it looks and how it projects sound, depending on your space. Fold it up, and it snaps into a neat pentagon – easy to carry, and built to last. It’s a speaker that adjusts itself to the way you live your life.
    The prototype Pentatonic speaker by industrial design studio All Design Lab is folding tech in possibly one of its best expressions. Made from five aluminium panels, it opens up into a variety of shapes, so you can change how it looks and how it projects sound, depending on your space. Fold it up, and it snaps into a neat pentagon – easy to carry, and built to last. It’s a speaker that adjusts itself to the way you live your life. |
  • MONO is a study pod designed by Dutch creatives Philip Bogaerts and René Vullings for modern spaces that need flexibility without sacrificing style. Sleek and foldable, it sets up in minutes to create a focused corner for work or study. Made from recycled PET felt, MONO also dampens sound with its eco-conscious design. Available in Solo or Duo, it can stand alone or link up with others for a more tailored setup – ideal for homes, studios or space-savvy co-working hubs.
    MONO is a study pod designed by Dutch creatives Philip Bogaerts and René Vullings for modern spaces that need flexibility without sacrificing style. Sleek and foldable, it sets up in minutes to create a focused corner for work or study. Made from recycled PET felt, MONO also dampens sound with its eco-conscious design. Available in Solo or Duo, it can stand alone or link up with others for a more tailored setup – ideal for homes, studios or space-savvy co-working hubs. |
  • MONO is a study pod designed by Dutch creatives Philip Bogaerts and René Vullings for modern spaces that need flexibility without sacrificing style. Sleek and foldable, it sets up in minutes to create a focused corner for work or study. Made from recycled PET felt, MONO also dampens sound with its eco-conscious design. Available in Solo or Duo, it can stand alone or link up with others for a more tailored setup – ideal for homes, studios or space-savvy co-working hubs.
    MONO is a study pod designed by Dutch creatives Philip Bogaerts and René Vullings for modern spaces that need flexibility without sacrificing style. Sleek and foldable, it sets up in minutes to create a focused corner for work or study. Made from recycled PET felt, MONO also dampens sound with its eco-conscious design. Available in Solo or Duo, it can stand alone or link up with others for a more tailored setup – ideal for homes, studios or space-savvy co-working hubs. |
  • Meet the world’s most compact pour-over brewer: the MiiR Pourigami. This origami-inspired dripper folds flat to fit in your pocket, then assembles in seconds for the perfect cup on the go. Made from durable stainless steel and weighing just 113g, it’s built for travel, trails – and tiny kitchens. Big brew, zero bulk!
    Meet the world’s most compact pour-over brewer: the MiiR Pourigami. This origami-inspired dripper folds flat to fit in your pocket, then assembles in seconds for the perfect cup on the go. Made from durable stainless steel and weighing just 113g, it’s built for travel, trails – and tiny kitchens. Big brew, zero bulk! |

From pocket-sized powerhouses to full-on portable workspaces, foldable tech is having a moment.

WORDS Jo Buitendach PHOTOS Supplied

Whether it’s a phone that bends, an origami-inspired portable kayak, or a sleek work pod you can fold away, this new wave of gear is all about flexibility, mobility and clever design. Here’s our edit of the smartest foldables out now – and the ones we seriously hope make it to market soon. 

When it comes to foldable tech, smartphones are leading the pack – and Huawei’s Mate XT might just be the most impressive example. This clever device folds twice, transforming from a regular-sized phone into a tablet-like screen big enough to binge, browse or get some work done on the go. It opens like a glossy three-page brochure, with hinges that stay put and magnets to keep it neatly shut when not in use. Super-slim when open and satisfyingly compact when closed, it feels like a glimpse into the future. Also in the foldable spotlight is the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold6 – the brand’s thinnest, lightest Z Fold yet. With its large interior display, it’s practically a tablet in disguise – perfect for everything from sketching to on-the-fly edits. huawei.com/za | samsung.com

The origami-inspired Oru kayak folds out from box to boat in minutes, no tools (or roof racks!) required. Made from tough, lightweight and foldable polypropylene, it’s built to handle real adventures – and over 20 000 folds. If you’re living in a cosy flat or hitting the road in a compact car, this clever craft proves that big fun can come in a surprisingly small package. orukayak.com 

Okay, we may have officially found every Millennial’s dream foldable… Still in the prototype stage, the exciting Samsung Flex gaming console was just unveiled at Mobile World Congress 2025. This retro-inspired handheld folds in half around a 7.2-inch display, with joysticks that tuck neatly into dedicated indentations. Drenched in acid green, bright blue and bold yellow, it’s giving serious ’90s energy in the best possible way. While still very much a concept – and likely a long way from actual production – we’re crossing fingers that Samsung makes this blast- from-the-future a reality. samsung.com 

Meet the world’s most compact pour-over brewer: the MiiR Pourigami. This origami-inspired dripper folds flat to fi t in your pocket, then assembles in seconds for the perfect cup on the go. Made from durable stainless steel and weighing just 113g, it’s built for travel, trails – and tiny kitchens. Big brew, zero bulk! miir.com | yuppiechef.com 

MONO is a study pod designed by Dutch creatives Philip Bogaerts and René Vullings for modern spaces that need flexibility without sacrificing style. Sleek and foldable, it sets up in minutes to create a focused corner for work or study. Made from recycled PET felt, MONO also dampens sound with its eco-conscious design. Available in Solo or Duo, it can stand alone or link up with others for a more tailored setup – ideal for homes, studios or space-savvy co-working hubs. bogaerts.design

The prototype Pentatonic speaker by industrial design studio All Design Lab is folding tech in possibly one of its best expressions. Made from five aluminium panels, it opens up into a variety of shapes, so you can change how it looks and how it projects sound, depending on your space. Fold it up, and it snaps into a neat pentagon – easy to carry, and built to last. It’s a speaker that adjusts itself to the way you live your life. alldesignlab.co 

Next-level Concept 

Another one to watch out for in the future: Apple is jumping on the foldable tech wagon with a newly filed patent for a dual-screen watch. The design is set to feature flexible displays, integrated hinges and a built-in camera, aiming to deliver smartphone-level functionality in wearable form. apple.com 

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