If you thought the mid-2000s nostalgia for tiny clamshells would be restrained and tasteful, Honor is here to politely disagree. The company unveiled the Magic V Flip 2 this week — and alongside the sensible purples, whites, and greys, there’s a version so unapologetically sparkly it practically needs its own runway lighting. It’s a limited-run collaboration with Jimmy Choo, the fashion house that makes shoes many of us can’t afford but enjoy gawking at, and Honor has leaned hard into the glitz.
The Jimmy Choo edition swaps last year’s glittery green for a deep, jewel-like blue that’s covered in micro-sparkles. Honor has added custom wallpapers and watch-face clock screens that match the phone’s over-the-top mood, and even the hinge is engraved with Choo’s full styling credits — an oddly formal touch on an otherwise party-ready device. To keep the sparkle intact (and your phone from becoming a glitter grenade), the bundle ships with two shimmering protective cases. If minimalism is your jam, the non-Choo colorways are still on the table; this edition is very much for the people who like their tech to accessorize their outfit.
But this isn’t style over substance. Under the rhinestones, the V Flip 2 is a serious piece of hardware: Honor fitted a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 3-class chipset, and the smaller outside screen is a full-size OLED that actually works as a useful cover display rather than a gimmick. What really raises eyebrows is the battery: Honor says the flip packs a 5,500 mAh “silicon-carbon” cell — enormous for a clamshell — and supports fast charging at 80W wired and 50W wirelessly. It’s worth flagging the IP rating too: Honor lists IP58/IP59 dust and splash protection, which is solid but still short of the IP68 some rivals boast. So yes, it’s sparkly — and yes, it can still outlast a long night out.
For now, however, most people outside China will have to admire from afar. Honor has opened preorders in China; there’s no broad global rollout announced for the V Flip 2 just yet. If you’re clutching your credit card for a Jimmy Choo phone, the reality is you’ll either need to shop through import channels or wait for Honor to decide on wider availability. The company does have a London event scheduled for August 28, where it will show off the larger Magic V5 — itself being promoted as one of the thinnest book-style foldables — so global plans may be revealed soon.
If your lust for blinged-out tech can’t wait for Honor to ship overseas, you’ve got options: Motorola has been leaning into fashion pairings too, rolling out a Razr collection with Swarovski crystals and other sparkly treatments — some of those models are reaching retail in select markets. In short, the clamshell flip that’s also jewelry is becoming a small but real niche.
Why is a phone company doing glitter? For Honor, it’s part of a larger pattern. The brand has been cozying up to fashion houses and design partners for years — collaborations help it stand out in a crowded foldable market where performance differences are marginal and personality helps sell devices. The Jimmy Choo phone is less about practical utility and more about signaling: it’s a tiny object that says something about taste, confidence, and whether you plan to take your tech as seriously as your outfit. For some buyers, that’s just as important as camera megapixels.
So what should you take away? If you live in China and want something equal parts runway and capable phone, the Magic V Flip 2’s Jimmy Choo edition is a clear, glittering choice. If you’re elsewhere, keep an eye on Honor’s London show later this month and on rival offerings — fashion-fused Razrs are on the way, and they might be the closest alternative if you’re chasing sparkle with a side of foldable tech. Either way, the trendline is obvious: foldables are graduating from tech demo to fashion statement, and manufacturers are having fun with the fact.
