Honor's latest flip phone again copies Samsung's designer foldable idea

Samsung hasn't launched one for a few years now, but the company has made designer versions of its foldable phones in the past. It collaborated with Thom Browne on special versions of both the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip phones.

The idea has caught on with Samsung's Chinese rivals who have made similar moves. Honor's latest flip foldable, the Magic V Flip 2, is also being offered in a Jimmy Choo-branded edition.

These special edition phones don't have anything different under the hood when compared to the normal variants. It's simply a cosmetic affair with designer-branded accessories, wallpapers, and some additional digital content.

That was the extent of Samsung's designer versions with Thom Browne, and the company hasn't done that for a few years now. It released the Thom Browne edition of the Galaxy Z Fold 5 in 2023 and even a Maison Margiela-branded Galaxy Z Flip 5 that same year. Samsung didn't bother with designer collaborations last year and didn't mention anything at launch for this year's foldables.

Honor teamed up with Jimmy Choo for the Magic V Flip last year and has continued that partnership with the new Magic V Flip 2. The device is available in a special colorway, has a hinge engraved with the designer's name, comes with custom wallpapers, and some very sparkly cases. The device, much like the regular V Flip 2, is only available in China right now.

Perhaps Samsung feels that its foldables no longer need that designer glamour to stand out, or it's simply waiting for a better creative fit. Be that as it may, Samsung's rivals will certainly seek to fill that designer foldable vacuum.