Honor announces its first flip phone is coming

Honor announces its first flip phone is coming

In a statement HONOR’s CEO, George Zhao, shared the news confirming that the brand is in the final stages of these new devices.

 “This year we are preparing for the flip phone launch — now that we are internally in the final stage.” Both products are set to launch later in the year, with an exact date is still to be confirmed. This will be the technology firm’s first vertical-folding smartphone, adding to HONOR’s multiple foldable phones available for purchase, including the HONOR Magic V2 that launched in 2023.

As of now, no official announcement has been made regarding the name of Honor’s upcoming flip phone. However, there’s strong speculation that it might adopt the moniker ‘Magic’, a name that has graced several of Honor’s previous mobile devices. Interestingly, Honor’s book-style devices have often featured a distinctive ‘V’ branding, which subtly alludes to the shape they form when elegantly unfolded. If Honor follows this trend, we might just see their flip phones affectionately referred to as ‘F’ devices. Alternatively, it may simply be known as the ‘Honor Magic Flip’. We’ll have to wait and see.

Honor has yet to disclose a precise release date for its newest phone. However, during an interview with CNBC in February 2024, CEO George Zhao indicated that the company was gearing up for a launch within this year. Furthermore, he mentioned that the phone was in its final internal stages, which strongly suggests that we can anticipate an official launch before the close of 2024.

Regarding a more precise release date, making predictions is akin to trying to predict the winning lottery numbers blindfolded. However, given Honor’s historical patterns, we can anticipate an initial launch in China, followed by a global release several months later. Considering this, it’s conceivable that the phone won’t grace European shores until early 2025, but please note that this is purely speculative at this juncture.

Interestingly, Honor has been subtly adjusting its binoculars towards the global market. This year’s launch might just be the one where the device sees the light of day simultaneously in both China and Europe. However, there’s a twist in this international tale: Honor has yet to sprinkle its magic dust on the United States. So, if you’re across the pond, don’t hold your breath for a sudden change in that tradition.

As of now, there is no official information available regarding the price of the upcoming Honor flip phone. Given that this will be the manufacturer’s inaugural device of its kind, we lack any historical context to estimate its potential cost based on previous generations. However, it’s worth noting that Honor’s most recent book-style foldable, the Magic V2, comes with a price tag that is more budget-friendly compared to its counterparts from Samsung or Google.

Given the current landscape, our anticipation is that the forthcoming Honor flip phone will be priced either below or at least on par with the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (starting at $999.99/£1,049) and the Motorola Razr 40 Ultra (also priced at $999/£1,049).

However, it would be a feather in Honor’s cap if they manage to undercut the regular Razr 40’s price of £799 in the UK. Let’s hope they pull off this budget-friendly magic trick

Honor has yet to officially unveil details about its forthcoming flip phone. However, according to Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station (via GSMArena), the inaugural flip foldable from Honor is expected to boast a 4,500mAh battery, which would be the most capacious among such devices.

During the MWC 2024 tech show in Barcelona, Honor placed significant emphasis on artificial intelligence (AI). While several features are slated for the flagship Magic 6 Pro (a conventional slab phone), it would be a delightful twist if these innovations also found their way into the realm of the flip phone.

Honor’s AI is poised to evolve into a more sophisticated entity over time, potentially introducing novel AI features by the flip phone’s launch. Assuming the device falls into the high-end category, it will likely be powered by either Qualcomm’s current Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 or the upcoming 8 Gen 4. Brace yourselves for a main display that surpasses the Magic V2’s modest 6.43-inch cover screen, perhaps even rivaling the Magic 6 Pro’s 6.8-inch panel.

During the same CNBC interview, Honor’s CEO, George Zhao, spilled the beans about an intriguing project: a smart ring that could very well lock horns with Samsung’s Galaxy Ring. As for the release date of this mysterious ring, it remains more elusive than a ninja in a foggy forest. However, one thing seems certain: these two devices are destined to dance harmoniously within Honor’s ecosystem