Honor Magic V5 Review: Top-Notch Foldable Phones Need Improved Android Software | Smartphone Insights

Honor’s newest folding phone-tablet aims to challenge Samsung’s dominance with a sleek SuperSuma design, an impressive battery, and a camera module reminiscent of a giant lens on the back.

Closed, the Magic V5 measures approximately 8.9mm thick, which is comparable to the USB-C port thickness, and feels similar to a conventional flat phone while being able to unfold into a mini tablet format.

Priced at £1,699.99 (€1,999.99), this folding device competes fiercely with offerings from Samsung and Google, though it remains on the pricier side, which may deter some consumers.

The Magic V5 comes in several colors, featuring different materials on the back that affect both thickness and weight. At 222g or less, it is slightly heavier than Samsung’s latest foldable, yet remains lighter than many other competitors, equating its weight to that of a larger standard phone.

The external 6.43-inch OLED display is remarkable and functions like a standard smartphone, while the internal 7.95-inch folding screen stands out for its brightness. Though it has visible creasing in the middle, it remains unobtrusive during use. The inner screen is more flexible than typical smartphone displays and requires careful handling, plus it tends to attract fingerprints.

This device is one of the first folding phones to offer water resistance comparable to standard smartphones, ensuring that dust and particles cannot penetrate behind the flexible screen or around the metal hinges, addressing concerns about durability.

Specifications

• Main screen: 7.95in (403ppi) 120Hz OLED Flexible Display

• Cover screen: 6.43in (405PPI) 120Hz OLED

• Processor: Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite

• RAM: 16 GB

• Storage: 512GB

• Operating system: Magicos 9.0.1 (Android 15)

• Camera: 50MP + 50MP Ultrawide + 64MP 3x Tele; 2x 20MP Selfie

• Connectivity: 5G, Dual SIM + ESIM, USB-C, WiFi 7, NFC, Bluetooth 6, GNSS

• Water resistance: IP58 and IP59 (Immersion and high pressure jet)

• Folded dimensions: 156.8 x 74.3 x 8.88-9mm

• Expanded dimensions: 156.8 x 145.9 x 4.1-4.2mm

• Weight: 217-222g

Top Snapdragon Chip and Large Capacity Battery

The Magic V5 is powered by Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, offering robust performance that rivals flagship devices. It handles everyday tasks effortlessly, remains cool under pressure, and excels in gaming.

Its multitasking capabilities shine through, allowing up to four apps to be displayed simultaneously on-screen.

Moreover, the generous battery life extends the device’s usability while maintaining a sleek form factor, larger than typical flat phones. Its battery performance varies significantly based on screen usage; primarily used as a tablet with 5G for video watching, it lasts around 37 hours. Balanced use across both screens can get you through three days before requiring a charge.

Magicos Software Still Needs Improvement

Running Honor’s Magicos 9 (based on last year’s Android 15) instead of the latest Android 16, the Magic V5 promises seven years of Android updates and security patches for European customers.

While the software features some promising ideas, it still exhibits rough patches and unexpected behaviors. The outer screen operates like traditional Android devices, but the inner display is where the software shines, allowing for multitasking with three apps on split screen. One app can be partially hidden to maximize space without closing the others, a clever feature first seen on the OnePlus Open. The taskbar simplifies window management.

However, tapping on app notifications within the internal screen consistently opens the app in a mini window, which may be suitable for small messaging apps, but could be unsatisfactory for larger applications like Gmail.

Furthermore, the software doesn’t utilize the partially folded mode that the inner screen offers, lacking a counterpart to Samsung’s well-regarded flex mode—representing a missed opportunity. Another bug in Honor’s font choice makes it challenging to identify unread emails in bold within Gmail, which is frustrating.

While these minor irritations may be overlooked in budget devices, they stand out on a premium device priced at £1,700. Honor has work to do.

Camera

Equipped with a solid camera array nestled within a pronounced circular camera bump, the Magic V5 features a 50MP main camera that captures appealing images across varying lighting conditions, though details can soften in lower light.

The 50MP ultra-wide camera performs well but slightly distorts edges and loses fine detail. The standout is the 64MP 3x optical telephoto camera, which excels in clarity and color accuracy, even under indoor lighting, and can achieve a 6x zoom that softens details at full size but performs admirably in bright conditions.

The dual 20MP selfie cameras produce decent results, yet using the main camera with the outer screen as a viewfinder yields superior quality.

The camera app supports various modes, including smart motion capture for action shots and robust video capabilities. There’s a range of AI filters and effects typical of many Chinese smartphones, allowing for personalized aesthetics.

Overall, while the camera is one of the better options among folding devices, it falls short of the top-tier camera phones available on the market.

Sustainability

The expected battery lifespan is at least 1,200 charge cycles with a minimum of 80% original capacity remaining. The Magic V5 is generally easy to repair, with the internal screen priced around £700 and the external screen around £200. Additionally, Honor offers complimentary screen repairs for 12 months if purchased within the first month after release.

This device incorporates recycled plastics, and while Honor provides limited environmental reports, trade-in and refurbished options are available.

Price

The Honor Magic V5 retails for £1,699.99 (€1,999.99).

For context, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 is priced at £1,799; the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold costs £1,749; the Galaxy S25 Ultra is listed at £1,249, while the Honor Magic 7 Pro is available for £1,099.

Verdict

Honor has crafted an impressive folding phone, yet the software experience has room for improvement. While the Magicos has progressed over time, it lacks the customization and features seen in competitors.

The main issues are minor glitches, rough edges, and abnormal behaviors throughout the software. None of these detract significantly from the product, but they accumulate and cannot be ignored in a device priced at £1,700.

It’s unfortunate because the phone is rapid, boasts great battery life, has a capable camera, and presents aesthetically well. It’s great to see a meaningful rivalry among Samsung and Google in this foldable segment. Nonetheless, there’s insufficient incentive to choose the Magic V5 when it costs nearly the same as the industry-leading Samsung.

Pros: Super slim design, functions like a regular phone when closed, excellent performance, outstanding battery life, superb internal display, solid camera capabilities, effective fingerprint scanner, and a water and dust resistance rating.

Cons: High price point, software lacks polish for advanced behaviors, less durability compared to standard devices, expensive repairs, and limited folding modes.