The Honor Magic V5 is the latest entrant in the foldable smartphone market that has been dominated by the likes of Samsung. But Chinese smartphone makers like Vivo, Oppo and Honor, have been punching above their weight in this genre recently and the Honor Magic V5 is the latest testament.
- Price: S$2,199, get it at Shopee and Lazada
- Inner screen: 7.95 inches, 2,172 x 2,352 pixels
- Outer screen: 6.43 inches, 1,060 x 2,376 pixels
- Rear cameras: 50MP, f/1.6 (wide); 64 MP, f/2.5 (periscope telephoto), 3.5x optical zoom; 50 MP, f/2.0 (ultra-wide)
- Selfie camera: 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
- Cover camera: 20 MP, f/2.2, (wide)
- Weight: 217g
| PROS | CONS |
| Beautiful thin design | Camera module is a tad big |
| Gorgeous inner and outer screens | Might still be a bit expensive for some |
| Great all-round performance | |
| Takes really nice photos | |
| Superb value for money |
To start, the Magic V5’s design is one of its standout features. Coming in four colours of Dawn Gold, Silk Brown, Black and Ivory White (version tested), this smartphone is really a beauty. At only 4.1mm when open, 8.88mm thin when folded (not including the camera module) and weighing 217g, this is an ultra-thin, lightweight foldable smartphone with an aluminium frame and a nearly gapless hinge. It really feels like you are using a normal “slab” smartphone when the phone is folded. Thus, it is still great for one-hand use.
Honor claims to have improved the hinge mechanism, making it more durable and less prone to visible creases on the inner display—a key pain point for other foldables. I would not know about the hinge durability, but if you look at the inner screen from the front, you can hardly make out the hinge crease. You will only see the crease at an angle. Perhaps, the only downer is the large camera module that adds to the thickness of the phone. But it is a minor issue.
Not to mention, the 7.95-inch OLED inner screen is stunning, boasting a 120Hz adaptive refresh rate with deep blacks, vivid colours, and excellent brightness whether you are watching movies, gaming, or multitasking. The 6.43-inch outer screen is equally impressive, offering a compact yet fully functional screen for quick tasks and one-handed use.
Under the hood, the Magic V5 is powered by Qualcomm’s latest Snapdragon 8 Gen Elite processor, paired with 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage (only configuration available in Singapore). Whether you are running demanding apps, gaming, or multitasking with multiple windows, performance is lag free and as smooth as silk.
Running on MagicOS 8.0, based on Android 13, the Magic V5 delivers an intuitive user experience. The software has been optimised for foldable screens, with features like split-screen (up to three screens) multitasking, floating windows and app continuity when switching between the screens. While you can share photos with Mac or iOS devices using Honor Share, it is not as intuitive and straightforward as AirDrop. You will require an extra few steps to complete even a simple photo transfer.
Of course, everyone takes photos with their smartphones these days. The Magic V5 is equipped with a versatile triple-camera setup, This camera system consists of a powerful 64-megapixel (MP) periscope telephoto camera capable of up to 3.5x zoom and up to 100x hybrid zoom, alongside a 50MP wide camera and a 50MP ultra-wide camera.
The photos are crisp, with excellent dynamic range and natural colour reproduction. Low light performance is also commendable, enhances details and reduces noise in darker environments. Even the front-facing cameras on both the inner and outer screens are really good for all your selfies or vlogging needs.
The Magic V5 comes with a 5,820mAh silicon-carbon battery and it supports 66W wired fast charging, which theoretically can top up the phone from 0 to 100% in under 45 minutes. In practice, I just know it charges very fast that I didn’t even have time to properly time it. While it can be charged folded, it will remind you to unfold the smartphone for more efficient and faster charging. It also supports 50W wireless charging.
Mileage will differ depending on your usage. During the review, I found that there is usually around 45% battery charge left after a day of regularly checking emails, social media and light gaming, such as Pokemon Go and Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Basically, I don’t think you will need to worry about the Magic V5 running out of juice before you end your day.
VERDICT: The Honor Magic V5 is a compelling addition to the foldable smartphone market, blending cutting-edge hardware with a refined design. Its vibrant inner and outer displays, top-tier performance, and versatile cameras make it a strong contender for anyone considering a foldable smartphone.
At S$2,199 compared to Samsung’s latest foldable Galaxy Fold7 starting at S$2,698, the Magic V5 also represents superb value for money. For anyone looking for a foldable smartphone, the Honor Magic V5 is well worth considering and probably your best choice in the market right now.