The foldable smartphone market just got a new contender that dares to make a statement: the HONOR Magic V5. Slim, powerful, and packed with features, this device pushes the boundaries of what we expect from foldables. Let’s see whether it lives up to its ambitious claims.
A Thin Marvel in Your Hands
The HONOR Magic V5 is all about slimness, measuring a mere 8.8mm when folded and 4.1mm when unfolded. That’s thinner than some of the sleekest flagships out there, even rivaling a stack of bank cards. Despite its impressive dimensions, it doesn’t feel like a fragile gimmick. The lightweight design, at just 217g, makes it comfortable for daily use, with the added bonus of a gorgeous frosted back for easy handling.
It feels premium without being too flashy. When unfolded, you’re greeted with a 7.95-inch OLED display that’s sharp and vibrant—ideal for gaming, multitasking, or watching your favorite content. The 120Hz refresh rate ensures that everything moves smoothly, with the 1300 nits of peak brightness making it viewable even under direct sunlight.
However, the notorious crease on foldables is still present, though HONOR has made improvements. It’s barely noticeable during regular use, and it’s something that, frankly, most users will get used to over time.
Display: A Stunning Visual Experience
The HONOR Magic V5 impresses with its OLED inner display, delivering a bright and vibrant viewing experience. Whether you’re watching videos, gaming, or multitasking, the 2,352 x 2,172 resolution ensures everything is sharp and clear. Scrolling feels incredibly smooth and content remains crisp—even when you’re outdoors under direct sunlight.
When folded, the outer screen still offers a great experience for day-to-day tasks like checking messages or taking calls. It’s tall and narrow, making it perfect for single-handed use. Despite being slightly smaller than the unfolded display, it retains vivid colors and deep blacks, characteristic of OLED technology.
Battery Life That Won’t Let You Down
Battery life is often a concern with foldables, especially as their thin designs seem to leave little room for large batteries. Fortunately, the HONOR Magic V5 defies expectations. Equipped with a 5820mAh silicon-carbon battery, it powered through my day with ease—even with both screens running simultaneously. Whether I was streaming content, checking emails, or playing PUBG, I had no complaints about power.
Even more impressive is the 66W Wired and 50W Wireless HONOR SuperCharge. A full charge took just 43 minutes, and a 50% charge in just 16 minutes. The Magic V5 is a productivity beast, ensuring you don’t have to wait long to get back to work or play. No more frantic charging before heading out—just top it up in a pinch, and you’re good to go.
Camera System That’s a Game Changer
With the HONOR Magic V5, the camera experience gets an upgrade, especially for a foldable. It boasts a 64MP periscope lens with 100x zoom, a 50MP wide-angle camera, and a 50MP ultra-wide lens. Whether you’re taking a quick selfie, capturing a scenic shot, or zooming in on distant objects, the Magic V5 delivers excellent detail. The OIS + EIS ensures steady shots, even in low light.
That said, the 100x zoom is a bit gimmicky. While it’s fun to play with, the image quality starts to degrade quickly as you zoom in. I found 6x to be the sweet spot for decent quality. The night mode is great, but HONOR’s AI can sometimes over-process images, leading to over-sharpening, especially in low-light environments.
For selfie lovers, HONOR offers dual 20MP cameras on both the inner and outer screens, making it versatile for both quick shots and video calls. The ability to take advantage of the rear cameras using the outer screen as a viewfinder is a nice touch, and the Harcourt Studio portrait mode delivers stunning, professional-looking results.
However, one downside is the camera bump on the back. While it houses some impressive lenses, the bump makes the phone less stable when placed on a flat surface. It’s something that takes a little getting used to, but it’s a minor trade-off for such powerful optics.
Here are some camera samples:
Built to Last: Durability and Design
While the HONOR Magic V5 is incredibly thin, it doesn’t sacrifice durability. It’s built with HONOR’s Super Steel Hinge that can withstand 500,000 folding cycles—meaning it’ll last you years of heavy use.
Additionally, the Non-Newtonian fluid technology inside the display makes it resistant to drops and impacts, which is a much-needed feature for foldable devices. I also appreciated the IP59 rating for water and dust resistance—making it more durable than some of its competitors in the foldable category. Plus, the nano-crystal shield outer display helps resist scratches from everyday objects like keys.
Smooth Multitasking and Connectivity
With its Snapdragon 8 Elite Mobile Platform, the HONOR Magic V5 is built to perform, whether you’re gaming, multitasking, or running demanding apps. The AI-powered Multi-Tasking feature allows you to run up to three apps on screen simultaneously. Want to shop for ingredients, chat with your mom, and browse recipes all at once? The Magic V5 has you covered with split-screen functionality and floating windows.
Another notable feature is the cross-OS connectivity. The Magic V5 makes it easy to transfer files between iOS and Android devices, with the ability to copy over your iCloud content seamlessly. Whether you’re working with Word, Excel, or Keynote, you’ll have no trouble managing files from various platforms.
Final Thoughts
The HONOR Magic V5 doesn’t just stand out in the foldable category—it redefines it. While it might not have the market share or reputation of its competitors, it’s certainly a phone worth considering. With its slim, stylish design, powerful performance, excellent cameras, and unbeatable durability, this phone is more than just a pretty face.
Yes, it has its quirks—like the slightly over-sharpened images and the prominent camera bump—but these are small prices to pay for the overall value it offers. If you’re in the market for a foldable that’s both practical and high-performance, the Magic V5 should be at the top of your list.
