Maybe I'm unique, but nowadays 99% of my phone time is spent in a browser. If anything, it seems easier now to get something like this going because all you'd need is a bare bones UI and a good web browser.
Sure, it's not competitive with a Samsung foldable, but he I've gotta start somewhere...
I do sort of wonder if an x86-based phone is at all a reasonable prospect. It seems a bit weird to go backwards but at least they've sorted out the generally open ecosystem part XD. Power consumption is 99% about the software anyway.
We have really interesting and good hardware, but it is all moot because the software landscape is plain hell. I really puts me off to ever use a Apple or Google platform.
I would immediately jump to x86 regardless of power consumption. Would probably still run better than my current phone with a sizeable battery because 95% of CPU time is crappy routine you didn't even want running, so that is a software problem as well.
With the power usage of screens, I doubt an x86 processor would be noticeably worse.
Sorry for the rant, but I don't understand how anyone could react differently if they hear the word Android or iOS. Why did we end up with this crap?