The HONOR V Purse has been released as a consumer phone, but it is recommended to hold off for the V2.

HONOR introduced the V Purse foldable phone at IFA 2023 as a prototype. However, the company has recently released the device in China for sale.

The HONOR V Purse is reminiscent of other devices such as the HUAWEI Mate XS, featuring a unique out-folding design instead of the typical in-folding format. According to the company, this device is 8.6mm thick when folded and 4.3mm when unfolded, with a weight of 214 grams.

According to HONOR, the device will feature a folding OLED screen with a size of 7.71 inches and a refresh rate of 90Hz, with a resolution of 2,348 x 2,016. This is equivalent to a 6.45-inch screen on a regular smartphone. However, there may be concerns about its durability due to the exposed folding display. The company claims that the screen has received a five-star rating for impact resistance from the SGS body.

Average horsepower for a foldable

Moderate power output for a collapsible device

Surprisingly, HONOR’s foldable device utilizes a mid-range Snapdragon 778G processor instead of a high-end one. Interestingly, this processor was first introduced in 2021. It is uncertain why the company opted for this chipset, but it is speculated that it was for budget and heat-related considerations in the slim design.

Some notable features of this device are a 4,500mAh battery that can be charged with approximately 35 watts, 16GB of RAM, and either 256GB or 512GB of storage space. The V Purse also has a dual rear camera setup, including a 50MP main camera and a 12MP wide-angle lens (without a telephoto lens). Additionally, there is an 8MP front-facing camera on the foldable screen for taking selfies.

HONOR is embracing the idea of using the phone as a handbag, promoting various optional straps to carry the phone as a stylish accessory. They also offer wallpapers and live wallpapers with purse-inspired designs.

The cost and release date of the HONOR V Purse.

The HONOR V Purse will be available for purchase in China starting September 26. The starting price for the device is 5,999 yuan (~$823) for the 16GB/256GB version, and the 16GB/512GB model is priced at 6,599 yuan (~$905).

We inquired with HONOR about the device’s availability worldwide and a spokesperson informed Android Authority that it will be available in Europe next year. We still anticipate that the Magic V2 will be released globally, as it appears to be a more comprehensive and versatile foldable phone. The V2 boasts a stronger processor, a more adaptable camera setup, quicker charging, and a larger battery.