Ryan Haynes / Android Authority
TL; DR
- HONOR has launched V Purse as a commercial device in China.
- The new foldable phone packs some mid-range specs, such as a Snapdragon 778G chip.
- The starting price of the V Purse is ~$823.
HONOR revealed the V Purse foldable phone at IFA 2023 and claimed that it is a concept phone. But, the company has now launched the device as a commercial product in China.
The HONOR V Wallet really brings to mind devices like the HUAWEI Mate XS, packing an out-folding design instead of the more traditional in-folding form factor. According to the company, the device measures 8.6mm thin when folded and 4.3mm when unfolded. Also its weight is 214 grams.
HONOR says you can expect a 7.71-inch 90Hz folding OLED screen here (2,348 x 2,016). This translates to a 6.45-inch smartphone screen. The unfolded folding display makes us wonder about durability over time. But the company says the screen has received a five-star rating for impact resistance from the SGS body.
Mid-range horsepower for a foldable
Chris Karlen / Android Authority
Oddly, HONOR’s foldable uses a mid-range Snapdragon 778G processor instead of flagship-level silicon. For what it’s worth, the Snapdragon 778G launches first in 2021. It is not clear why the smartphone brand chose this chipset but we are guessing that the decision was made due to the price and heating concerns in the slim body.
Other notable features include a 4,500mAh battery with ~35W wired charging, 16GB of RAM, and either 256GB or 512GB of storage. The V Purse also has a dual rear camera system, with a 50MP main camera and a 12MP ultrawide lens (no telephoto lens here). Otherwise, an 8MP camera is available on the folding screen for selfies.
HONOR is actually leaning towards wearing the phone as a purse, using a variety of optional physical straps so you can carry the phone as a fashion accessory. This is in addition to wallpapers and live wallpapers that offer patterns like purses.
HONOR V Wallet Price and Availability
Ryan Haynes / Android Authority
HONOR V Wallet goes on sale in China on September 26. The device starts at 5,999 Yuan (~$823) for the 16GB/256GB variant, while the 16GB/512GB model will set you back 6,599 Yuan (~$905).
We asked HONOR about global availability and a representative suggested it Android Authority The device will land in Europe next year. Still we hope the company prioritizes a global release of the Magic V2 as it looks like a more rounded foldable phone. The V2 brings a more powerful processor, a more flexible camera system, faster charging and a larger battery.