Chinese tech brand Honor has released a new foldable concept smartphone, which mimics a handbag by using a series of customisable always-on display screens.
However, the firm didn’t indicate when the device will go on sale or what the retail price will be.
The Honor V Purse measures less than 9mm when folded, and the customisable screens allow the wearer to imitate physical designs such as chains, feathers and tassels, which react and sway with the smartphone as it moves.
The concept phone is also compatible with a range of straps and chains, which clip onto the hinge to allow the smartphone to be worn over your shoulder like an ordinary purse or handbag.
Honor was originally part of smartphone mega firm Huawei before it was spun off in 2020, potentially due to some of the sanctions placed on Huawei by foreign governments like the U.S. over alleged security concerns.
The announcement implies that by using this type of customizable digital screen technology, consumers will be able to cut down on their impact on the environment, presumably using the digital screen to achieve different looks instead of buying new phone cases.
Honor says there are currently no plans for a release in the United States.
If you’re not holding out for a handbag phone, the Honor Magic V2 Galaxy Z Fold 5, also unveiled at German tech show IFA, will be available in the UK before the first quarter of next year.
We have no idea how much the Honor Magic V2 will cost UK consumers, though Chinese consumers will expect to pay 8,999 yuan, roughly £970.
The company emphasizes the phone’s compact nature, coming in at 9.9mm thick and just 231 grams.
Some of its key features include the Honor Super Light Titanium hinge, which supposedly handles 400,000 opening and closing sessions. This gives consumers a lifespan of around a decade for their folding phone, assuming you fold the phone 100 times per day.
Foldable phones have been commercially available since 2018, but have as of yet failed to capture a significant portion of the smartphone market, with Samsung being the first to market in 2018.
Some of the most high-profile foldable phones, such as Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip and Lenovo’s Motorola Razr have received criticism both for their high price and durability from some quarters.
Camera fans are also in for a treat, The Honor Magic V2 features a triple rear camera setup that includes a 50MP Main Camera (f/1.9), a 50MP Ultra-Wide Camera (f/2.0), and a 20MP Telephoto Camera (f/2.4). In addition, the front-facing dual camera setup features two 16MP Cameras (f/2.2).
